• St Mirren have won just two of their last 11 Scottish Premiership meetings with Hearts (D3 L6), a 2-0 victory in April 2023 and 1-0 in September 2023.
• Hearts have only lost one of their last seven top-flight away games at St Mirren (W3 D3), scoring two or more goals in five of these matches.
• St Mirren have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 league matches, conceding 32 goals in this period.
• The Buddies have shipped two or more goals in their last four, their longest such run within a single league season since conceding multiple goals in each of their final seven games of 2022-23.
• Hearts have lost their last four league games, more than their previous 23 beforehand (W13 D7 L3). It’s their longest such losing run since April 2023 (run of five).
• Not only are Hearts the lowest scorers in the Premiership this season (two goals), but they also have the poorest shot conversion rate (3.2%) and biggest underperformance of expected goals (-2.7, two goals from 4.7 xG).

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith tells BBC Scotland: "We need to have more of a threat going forward. That needs to be better.

"Being at Hearts is tough because there is a demand, an expectation.

"It takes time to realise that pressure and then how to deal with it. It's a learning curve for loads of players. As coaches all we can do is pass on the knowledge we have.

"From an ability point of view, we have a good squad. It's hard work and determination that gets you out of situations like these."

Image source, SNS

Steven Thompson
Former St Mirren striker on BBC Sportsound

I think Steven Naismith has credit in the bank from what he did last season but quite often you don't get given the time.

The supporters are right not to be happy. No wins is not good enough.

I don't think Naismith can afford to lose today. The pressure is already there and it would really ramp up if they lost again.

Image source, SNS

Stephen Robinson did the managers' union proud earlier this week by saying it is "utterly ridiculous" to suggest Steven Naismith's position is under threat.

The two will go head to head in the dugout today as bottom-of-the-table Hearts travel to Paisley.

Despite their woeful start, Robinson has "no doubt Hearts will be challenging at the top end of the table".

The Gorgie side are on a run of seven straight defeats in all competitions, while the Buddies are without a win in the same time frame, but Robinson said "nothing will be taken for granted".

"I think it's utterly ridiculous for a manager who got a team into Europe, that are in Europe, that haven't started their European campaign, to have any kind of talk like that," Robinson said.

"He is a young manager who's done very, very well, I have a lot of respect for him.

"Statistics can be twisted whatever way you want, managers are under pressure every minute. Steven has played at the top level and he will certainly deal with that and he will stick with his beliefs.

"I have no doubt Hearts will be up challenging at the top end of the table, they will have a run in Europe and we have to make sure we are at the very top of our game."

It's a four-game weekend in the second tier because of Falkirk's League Cup duties at Celtic Park tomorrow.

Therefore, Ayr can leapfrog the leaders with a win at Queen's Park, who will also be looking to close the gap.

Elsewhere, bottom-side Raith are in serious need of a win and welcome Hamilton to Kirkcaldy, while Morton host Airdrieonians and Dunfermline go to Partick Thistle.

BBC Radio Scotland

A bumper five-and-a-half-hour Sportsound is on offer today.

The gang will provide two live commentaries, firstly from Paisley as St Mirren host Hearts in the Premiership before Rangers welcome Dundee in the League Cup last 16 at Ibrox.

In the meantime, wrap your ears around the build-up on BBC Radio Scotland.

• Ross County have lost two of their last three Scottish Premiership games against St Johnstone (D1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W5 D8 L2).
• St Johnstone won their last away league game at Ross County 1-0 in February last season, last winning successive such trips in February 2017 (four in a row).
• After beating Dundee 2-0 last time out, Ross County are looking to win back-to-back league games for only the second time since the start of last season, having last done so in November-December 2023.
• St Johnstone have lost their last two away league games (both 2-0) against Dundee United and Hibernian. They last lost three in a row on the road in January 2023, while they last did so without scoring in January 2022 (run of four).
• No side has had more shots following high turnovers in the Scottish Premiership this season than Ross County (eight, level with Celtic).

Ian Murray told BBC Scotland he would be interested in taking the St Johnstone manager's job following the exit of Craig Levein earlier this week.

Murray is seeking a return to management after being surprisingly sacked by Raith Rovers last month.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn also said "it's a compliment" to be linked to the vacant position but insists he is not looking for a move.

Would you be happy with either of those, Saints fans?

Image source, SNS

Craig Levein's St Johnstone exit was followed by the news majority shareholder Adam Webb is being treated for cancer.

The owner still intends to lead the appointment of a new boss before taking medical leave, aiming to return in December.

In the meantime, caretaker boss Andy Kirk will lead the team at Ross County. A win in Dingwall could take the Perth side into the top six.

A victory for the home side, though, would move them level on points with fourth-placed Dundee United.

Craig Levein admits his sacking at St Johnstone came as a "surprise" and insists there were "no issues" with owner Adam Webb.

"I’ve been in this movie before and no doubt I’ll be in it again, if I get back in," he says of his midweek exit.

"I do think performances have been good, results haven’t been as a good as the performances

"Five sendings off didn’t help. And we had a few injuries. I thought the team was competing in every match.

"But it’s Adam’s club. He’s calling the shots and he’s decided that it’s time for me to go.

"There's always a reason and not getting results is the most obvious reason there is."

There's one change for Ross County from their 2-0 victory over Dundee as Ryan Leak replaces George Harmon in the starting line-up.

Managerless St Johnstone make two alterations from the defeat to Hibs - Jack Sanders and Makenzie Kirk, son of interim boss Andy, who makes his first start for the club.

The pair replace Aaron Essel and Benjamin Kimpioka.

Image source, SNS

St Mirren haven't won since early August, Hearts haven't won a game yet this season, so what have the managers done?

One change for St Mirren as Killian Phillips takes over from Roland Idowu.

Charles Dunne is on the bench after returning to the Paisley club on a short-term deal.

Hearts, who battled well before falling to a 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park last time, replace a defender with a midfielder as Blair Spittal comes in for Kye Rowles.

Image source, SNS

Following his departure from St Johnstone, Craig Levein will be taking in the game at Paisley between ex-club Hearts and St Mirren.

He's on Sportsound duties today and is now giving his reaction to his sacking earlier this week.

Asked if he can explain why he was dismissed, he replies: "Not really". He was also surprised by the decision.

Image source, SNS

Ross County: Laidlaw, Brown, Leak, Wright, Randall, Hale, Chilvers, Campbell, Lopata, Nisbet, White.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Loturi, Grieves, Denholm, Telder, Efete, Samuel, Brophy, Smith.

St Johnstone: Sinclair, Raymond, Cameron, Sanders, Neilson, Holt, Clark, Wright, Smith, Sprangler, Kirk.

Substitutes: Rae, Keltjens, Carey, MacPherson, McPake, Bright, Dair, Essel, Kucheriavyi.

St Mirren: Balcombe, Rooney, Taylor, Gogic, Fraser, Brown, O'Hara, Phillips, Boyd-Munce, Olusanya, Mandron.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Bwomono, Dunne, Tanser, Smyth, Idowu, Scott, Ayunga, Van Veen.

Hearts: Gordon, Taylor, Halkett, Kingsley, Penrice, Baningime, Boateng, Grant, Spittal, Shankland, Vargas.

Substitutes: Clark, Oyegoke, Devlin, Oda, Rowles, Forrest, Dhand, Boyce, Drammeh.

We've got a league and cup combo to feast on today so get comfy, we ain't going anywhere for the foreseeable.

First up it's Premiership action from Dingwall and Paisley, then we're back at Ibrox and also up in Aberdeen for more League Cup quarter-final drama.

Scottish Premiership:

• Ross County v St Johnstone (15:00)
• St Mirren v Hearts (15:00)

Scottish League Cup quarter-finals:

• Aberdeen v The Spartans (17:30)
• Rangers v Dundee (17:30)