Highlands & Islands

Ross County manager Malky Mackay says his side need to “dig in" again this season in a division he believes is only becoming tighter.

The Staggies are second bottom in the Scottish Premiership, four points above St Johnstone.

However, only three points separate fourth-placed Hearts from County, who have played a game less than the Tynecastle outfit, which encourages Mackay as he continues to battle against teams with bigger budgets.

"In the grand scheme of things, when I look at the league table, there is only a few points between a few teams right now," said Mackay.

"I think it is going to be an even tougher league this year, with how close it can be and how many teams are going to be involved.

"I also look at the finances that have been spent this summer by some of the city clubs and realise how difficult that is going to be for some of us provincial clubs.

"But it is what it is and we put our head down and dig in and get on with it again here this season. We always have to punch above our weight and we will try that again this year."

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• Motherwell have won each of their last two league games against Ross County, last beating the Staggies three times running in the top flight in September 2014 (run of five).

• Ross County have lost four of their last five league meetings with Motherwell (D1) since a 1-0 win away from home in March 2022.

• Motherwell have lost each of their last four league games, scoring just once during that time; they haven’t lost five in a row in the top flight since January 2015 under Ian Baraclough.

• Ross County are without a win in four league games (D2 L2), while they haven’t scored in their previous three; they last went four league games without scoring in January last season, though ended that run with a 1-1 draw away to Motherwell.

• Only Celtic (85) and Rangers (72) have completed more high turnovers in the Scottish Premiership this season than Ross County (69), however they’re yet to score a goal following any of those turnovers.

Ross County travel to Fir Park to face Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Malky Mackay's men drew 0-0 against Dundee midweek and will be looking to pick up more points against a Motherwell side who have lost five in a row.

Pick your County starting XI here.

The Scottish Premiership clash between Ross County and St Mirren in Dingwall has been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 28 and will kick-off at 19:45.

The game was originally meant to be played last weekend, but was postponed due to adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Babet.

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

Ross County, too, might feel aggrieved to return north with a mere point. However, the final ball was all too often chipped into the willing arms of Carson, instead of onto the head of White or Simon Murray.

Yan Dhanda is clearly a very good player, but Malky Mackay needs far more from his creator-in-chief if they are to stay safe this season.

Admittedly way too early for a six-pointer, but both sides lacked a clinical edge that they will need to find before the season is done - or else rely on St Johnstone's poor form to continue.

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Did you travel down to Dundee or listen in to Sportsound as Ross County took a point back to Dingwall?

What were your thoughts on the match? Just happy to be back? Let us know your thoughts here.

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Ross County boss Malky Mackay: "It was a game that both needed. Nip and tuck, we both and chances - I felt we had clearer chances.

"I'm looking at the goal again and again - Colin [Steven] has told me it's subjective. He thought Jordan's movement towards the ball interfered with the goalie. They're so far away from the goalkeeper. I'm amazed it's not been given. I thought it was a poor decision.

"I think we can be better. Tony [Docherty] might say the same. Dundee have been getting plaudits and rightly so. So for us to come down and get a point, sometimes we have to be happy with that."

Tony Docherty makes two changes from the Dundee side that frustrated Hibs in a 0-0 draw at Easter Road before the international break.

Stalwarts swap places as Jordan McGhee comes in for Cammy Kerr, while two impressive youngsters account for the other switch, with Lyall Cameron dropping out for Finlay Robertson.

Ross County make three alterations as top scorer Simon Murray returns, with Dylan Smith coming back into the heart of defence and Victor Loturi partnering Connor Randall in midfield.

Kyle Turner and Alex Samuel drop to the bench, with Will Nightingale missing out completely.

Image source, SNS

Dundee: Carson, Beck, Lamie, Shaughnessy, Portales, McGhee, McCowan, Boateng, Robertson, Rudden, Bakayoko

Substitutes: Legzdins, Kerr, Pineda, Ashcroft, Reilly, Howley, Donnelly, Sylla, Lewis

Ross County: Laidlaw, Brown, Baldwin, Smith, Leak, Purrington, Randall, Loturi, Dhanda, Murray, White

Substitutes: Munro, Allardice, Turner, Sims, Sheaf, Harmon, Samuel, Brophy

Ross Morren, The County Corner, external podcast

Ross County fans have gotten used to seeing matches postponed recently.

Saturday’s match against St Mirren was their second successive postponement after their visit to Dens Park was postponed prior to the international break.

The players will be keen to get back onto the pitch in tonight's rearranged County clash, as their last competitive match was against Hearts on September 30.

The postponed matches can begin to cause a problem further into the season. Clubs can start to build up games in hand over teams around them, but most managers would rather have points on the board instead of playing catch-up.

County are set to compete in 14 matches before the winter break and with the St Mirren match yet to be rearranged, Malky Mackay’s side are facing a tough schedule over the coming weeks.

Tonight's game is the perfect definition of a 'six pointer', and it’s a fantastic opportunity for County to lay down a marker against a direct rival and get their season back on track.

County fans only have to look back to their most recent midweek trip to Dens Park where a dominant 5-0 win against the home side was a springboard to success for the rest of the season.

County have a strong record in recent seasons against Dundee. County are unbeaten in their last seven trips to Dens, winning five and scoring 14 goals in the process. Malky Mackay will be hoping his side can continue that record on Tuesday night.

The Staggies will rack up plenty of miles over the next seven days with away journeys to Dundee, Motherwell and Hibernian. All three matches will provide different tests of the Dingwall side but Mackay and his players will be fully confident they can pick up a good amount of points, starting with Dundee on Tuesday.

Dundee midfielder Josh Mulligan completes a two-match ban, while boss Tony Docherty has doubts over Scott Tiffoney, Zach Robinson and Lyall Cameron.

Ross County remain without Josh Sims (leg wound), Josh Reid (toe), Ross Callachan and Ben Paton (both long-term knee injuries).