Ross County

Rangers centre-half Connor Goldson will be assessed after going off with a groin injury late on in the Christmas Eve win away to Motherwell.

The Ibrox side were already without Nico Raskin, Tom Lawrence, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, Ben Davies, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Jose Cifuentes and Danilo with various injuries.

Ross County are still missing defender Dylan Smith and long-term absentees Ross Callachan and Ben Paton.

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• Rangers have never lost in 23 previous meetings with Ross County in all competitions (W19 D4), the most they have faced a side in major competitions without ever losing.

• Ross County have lost their last eight successive league visits to Rangers since a 1-1 draw in February 2017.

• Rangers have won all five of their home league games under Philippe Clement by an aggregate score of 13-2, scoring 2+ goals in all five such games.

• Ross County have won just three of their last 20 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D5 L12), and are winless in their last six (D3 L3).

• James Tavernier has either scored (2) or assisted (2) each of Rangers’ last four league goals at Ibrox. Tavernier has both scored and assisted a goal in three of his last four home games in the Scottish Premiership, including both of his last two in a row.

Ross Morren, The County Corner podcast, external

Fans are always disappointed when a match is postponed due to the weather and condition of the pitch.

That disappointment was felt by everyone due to travel to Dingwall on Saturday to watch Ross County take on Hibernian.

This is the fourth match so far this season that The Staggies have had postponed and although County fans may be used to this frustrating occurrence, it’s the first time in several years a match has been postponed due to the condition of the Dingwall pitch.

Previous postponements at the Global Energy Stadium have been due to various circumstances such as severe weather warnings in the local area, Covid outbreaks etc.

Despite the postponement, credit must go to the ground staff at the club who have worked incredibly hard over the years to maintain this impressive record and ensure the playing surface in Dingwall is one of the best in the country. They will have worked incredibly hard to try to make sure the game could go ahead on Saturday - but on this occasion, Mother Nature won.

All eyes were on the match against Hibs to see how Derek Adams’ players would respond following his post-match comments against Dundee. Those eyes will now look to Ibrox.

Ross County have never beaten Rangers in the club’s history. You’d have to go back to February 2017 for the last time County took any points away from Ibrox after an Alex Schalk goal helped County earn a 1-1 draw.

In the seasons following that result, the Staggies have visited Ibrox eight times and lost on every occasion with an aggregate score across those matches of 25-5.

The head-to-head record underlines how tough a task lies ahead for Derek Adams’ side. The players will use the manager's criticism of them as fuel for the upcoming matches to prove him wrong ahead of the winter break.

Who knows? Maybe that extra bit of motivation could help County end their Rangers hoodoo and pick up their first win against the Ibrox side. Stranger things have happened in football!

After defeats to St Mirren and Dundee, Derek Adams' side will be looking to get back on track - but face a tough test against Rangers at Ibrox.

Would you change the starting XI?

Tell us here.

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What do you make of Derek Adams' recent criticism of the Scottish game? What business can he do in January? And are you worried about the County fixture buildup? – have your say here.

Ross County are still missing defender Dylan Smith (ankle) and long-term absentees Ross Callachan and Ben Paton (both knee).

Hibernian welcome back Joe Newell following suspension, while Paul Hanlon and Lewis Miller are expected to be fit after going off with minor issues in last weekend’s defeat at St Johnstone. Adam Le Fondre (hamstring), Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle), Harry McKirdy (heart) and Chris Cadden (Achilles) are all out until after the winter break.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Derek Adams has admitted his controversial comments on the state of Scottish football could inspire opposition teams.

The Ross County boss was criticised after he slammed the game north of the border after his side lost a last-gasp goal to Dundee last weekend.

Asked whether his remarks could prompt an on-field backlash from other players, he said: "There could be a bit of that, but generally speaking I spoke about the last five games.

“I spoke about the games that I witnessed. I didn’t speak about every other team in the league. I spoke about the games and how they were played since I came back, that’s all I said.

Adams added: “The players were disappointed because of what I said about my former employers,”

“But we have got to get the best players out there on the pitch performing week in, week out.

“It’s up to us to then look at it and be on top form and we need to be performing better, there’s no doubt about that.”

Ross County manager Derek Adams would be in favour of a larger Scottish top flight. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

• Ross County are unbeaten in three league meetings with Hibs (W1 D2) – previously going four without defeat to the Easter Road side once before in the top flight (October 2012 to August 2013).

• Hibs have only lost one of their last five Scottish Premiership visits to Ross County (W2 D2), a 1-0 defeat in November 2021.

• Ross County have kept three clean sheets in their last four home Premiership matches (W2 D1 L1), although they did concede last time out in Dingwall – a 1-0 defeat to Dundee.

• Hibs have lost two of their last three away league matches (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 10 (W2 D6 L2).

• Hibs manager Nick Montgomery has never lost consecutive matches in the Premiership, but could do so following their 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone last time out.

After Derek Adams' scathing assessment of Ross County and Scottish football last Saturday, can the Staggies provide a stirring response this weekend?

County have suffered back-to-back defeats and now face Hibs in Dingwall.

What changes should Adams make to the line-up? Make yourself the manager and choose your Staggies XI here.

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Derek Adams' comments about the standard of Scottish football are "unfounded and embarrassing", according to former Rangers, Falkirk and Dundee striker Rory Loy.

Adams stood by his original assertion that the level in Scotland is "shocking", but Loy believes the County manager has "been brainwashed" during his time managing south of the border.

"I think that he has to stand by them given how strong his words were at the weekend," Loy said, speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I feel quite strongly about this. I think his comments are unfounded. They are embarrassing. I think he spat the dummy out because his team have lost a last-minute winner to Dundee, and it just screamed desperation for me.

"I played down in League One for a couple of years. And I can assure you that the Dundee side I played in, in the top flight in Scotland, was every bit as good as the standard that I played in League One, and we finished eighth in League One.

"I think if you look at the results he picked up with Morecombe towards the end of his time there, it shows. There are so many bang average players down in League One and League Two who are good athletes; they lack technical ability and the standard of football in these leagues is not that good.

"To make those comments, it's poor and I think he's been brainwashed by people down south who have a low opinion of the game and players who aren't of a great standard themselves who talk in a bad way about the Scottish game.

"I think he's maybe been down south a little bit too long and if he wants to prove people wrong, or if he wants to get better standard then he needs to look at his own team first and start winning some games."

Jane Lewis discusses all the big news in Scottish football with former Rangers, Carlisle, Falkirk and Dundee striker Rory Loy and Ryan Cryle, joint sports editor of the Press and Journal and Evening Express.

As well as previewing Rangers v St Johnstone and Aberdeen v Livi, they take a look at the Old Firm ticketing row, celebrate the legend that is Kenny Dalglish and, as Derek Adams stands by his controversial critique of the game in this country, they assess a range of ideas for improving Scottish football.

Listen to the full episode here.

Derek Adams stands by his explosive assessment of Scottish football since his return to Ross County, but does "regret" bringing Morecambe into his point.

Adams pulled no punches in his post-match interview with the BBC, branding the top flight as "rubbish".

Previewing his side's final fixture before Christmas on Saturday against Hibernian, the County manager reiterated his comments.

"What I said on Saturday was based on what I've seen from the five games I have witnessed," he said.

"Sometimes, it's probably better if I keep my thoughts and opinions to myself.

"After the game, there was a situation where we'd lost a last minute goal and you probably do say things quite quickly after it, and that's what I did but what from what I've seen in the five games, I stand by what I said.

"What I probably shouldn't have done was refer to my former employer and that is something that I do regret."

Former Rangers and Aberdeen defender David Robertson says the comments made by Ross County manager Derek Adams after their league defeat to Dundee were a sign of “sheer frustration”.

County conceded in the last minute to lose 1-0, and Adams took out his frustration in his post-match interview, criticising the level of Scottish football as a whole.

“I think it was sheer frustration,” Robertson said on the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.

“I did a coaching course with Derek before and he is very level headed.

“It's never easy losing a goal in the last kick of the ball, particularly the type of goal it was when it came off the chest.

“But there's no excuse for coming out and saying those things. That's the problem being a manager, you get maybe five minutes before you've got to go and talk to the media and sometimes things come out your mouth that can go against you.

“This will live with Derek for many, many years, he could avoid relegation this year, win the Scottish Cup, do whatever, but he'll be remembered for this.

“It was bizarre because it's his fourth or fifth game in charge, so obviously the other four games couldn't have been that bad.

“He'll look back and probably be embarrassed by it, he might even apologise for the whole thing.

"I've been in those shoes before and it is the most frustrating job in the world, that's why I've got no hair and why I don't intend to get back into it.”

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

David Martindale has defended Derek Adams' rant about the standard of Scottish football, saying the Ross County boss is "educated enough" on the subject.

The former Morecombe manager slated the level of football being played in the Premiership after his side's 1-0 defeat to Dundee on Saturday, saying: "I've left a team down in League Two that's miles better than this team. Miles. That's saying something. We had the bottom budget in League Two, and they were 100 times better than this."

“Derek’s managed down south quite a bit, he’s now managing back up in Scotland so I think he’s entitled to his own opinion,” said Martindale. “It’s more of an educated opinion than what I can give you because I’ve not done what Derek’s done so he’s probably well within his rights to say it.

“He’s maybe articulated it wrong, I don’t know, I’ve not watched it back, but he’s educated enough in terms of his CV to have an opinion on the subject.

“I had a conversation with someone else who has managed down south at that level and in Scotland and it wasn’t Derek Adams. And privately that was the information, the consensus I was kind of getting from them.

“But I go back to recruitment. What markets can you recruit from? Me personally, I’m recruiting from National League, National League North, National League South.”

• Dundee have scored in their last six games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Ross County have failed to score in nine of their 17 games, only Livingston (10) have failed to score more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Dundee have kept a clean sheet in seven of their 16 games, only Rangers (10) and Hearts (eight) have done this more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Simon Murray attempted four shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a Ross County player in the Scottish Premiership this season.

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Image source, BBC Sport

We asked for your thoughts after Ross County suffered a late defeat to Dundee...

Davie: Didn't deserve to lose, didn't do enough to win. Shocker of a game. Ball will be bruised.

John: If Derek thinks County were bad he should have been here under Mackay. Is Derek playing Devils advocate? Difficult to believe he made these comments without carefully considering the impact on players and fans.

Jim: Please go back to Morecombe where you feel at ease. Totally disrespectful to the club, players, and chairman who gave him the job.