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Ross County
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 24
Jan 29, 2022 at 12.30pm UK
Victoria Park
Rangers logo

Ross County
3 - 3
Rangers

White (25'), Charles-Cook (29'), Wright (90+6')
Vokins (7'), Baldwin (14'), Samuel (70')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Diallo (5'), Tavernier (49'), Goldson (72')

Preview: Ross County vs. Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Ross County and Rangers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rangers will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership when they travel to Ross County on Saturday lunchtime.

Meanwhile, the hosts, who have accumulated 10 points from their last five games at Victoria Park, will be hoping to move further away from the bottom two with a victory.


Match preview

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst on November 25, 2021© Reuters

Rangers extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to 12 matches when they secured a slender 1-0 victory at home against Livingston on Wednesday night.

After a goalless first half, a brilliant, improvised volley from Scott Arfield in the 70th minute helped the Gers claim all three points for the sixth successive league game at Ibrox.

With Glasgow rivals Celtic also winning in midweek, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men remain four points clear at the top of the table, though that gap could change when the Old Firm lock horns in just under a weeks' time.

Since the beginning of last season, Rangers have lost just one of their last 61 Scottish Premiership matches, winning 50 and drawing 10, with their only defeat away at Dundee United on the opening day of this campaign.

The Gers also head into Saturday's encounter with Ross County having won each of their last six visits to Victoria Park, scoring 18 goals in the process, so confidence is unsurprisingly high among Van Brockhorst's camp.

Rangers' Kemar Roofe celebrates scoring their second goal with Alfredo Morelos on October 21, 2021© Reuters

After beating Motherwell 3-1 with 10 men earlier this month, Ross County have since suffered back-to-back defeats, losing 1-0 to Livingston in the Scottish Cup and 2-1 in the league away at Dundee United on Wednesday night.

The Staggies took the lead through Regan Charles-Cook eight minutes after the break; however, a brace from Nicky Clark, including a 91st-minute winner, turned the game on its head and condemned Malky Mackay's men to their 11th defeat of the season.

Ross County are now just four points above the bottom two, Dundee and St Johnstone, who claimed a point each from their goalless draw in midweek.

The Staggies will be keen to return to winning ways quickly, though they may struggle to do so against a ruthless Rangers outfit, who have beaten them in each of their last 11 league meetings, conceding 33 goals in the process.

Mackay's men have, however, won three of their last five matches at Victoria Park, and should they cause an upset against the Premiership champions, they would secure successive home league victories for only the second time since March 2021.

Ross County Scottish Premiership form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L

Ross County form (all competitions):
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L

Rangers Scottish Premiership form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W

Rangers form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W


Team News

Manchester United's Amad Diallo celebrates scoring against AC Milan in the Europa League on March 11, 2021© Reuters

With Ianis Hagi ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Van Bronckhorst has already delved into the transfer market for a replacement as Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has joined the club on loan, and the 19-year-old will be available for Saturday's contest.

Ryan Kent is back from his one-match suspension and is expected to return to the first XI ahead of 18-year-old Alex Lowry, who started his first game for Rangers in midweek.

Midfielder Joe Aribo will be assessed ahead of kickoff, as he has only just returned from international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Alfredo Morelos, however, is still away on international duty with Colombia, so Cedric Itten and Kemar Roofe will continue to battle for a place up front, while Arfield will be looking to force his way into the starting lineup ahead of either Scott Wright or Fashion Sakala.

As for Ross County, Mackay is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup despite losing at Dundee United last time out.

Jordan Tillson has served his suspension and will be in contention to start in midfield ahead of Blair Spittal and brothers Harry Paton and Ben Paton.

Charles-Cook, who has scored four goals in as many matches, is expected to remain on the left flank, providing support in attack for striker Jordan White.

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Maynard-Brewer; Randall, Drysdale, Iacovitti, Vokins; H. Paton, Spittal; Hungbo, Callachan, Charles-Cook; White

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Bassey, Barisic; Kamara, Sands, Arfield; Sakala, Roofe, Kent


SM words green background

We say: Ross County 0-2 Rangers

Rangers will be the strong favourites to come away with all three points from Victoria Park, and they should have no problems in securing a routine win.

Ross County have fared better on home soil so far this term, but they are unlikely to cause an upset this weekend.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Rangers win with a probability of 75.15%. A draw had a probability of 15.7% and a win for Ross County had a probability of 9.16%.

The most likely scoreline for a Rangers win was 0-2 with a probability of 12.44%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-1 (10.16%) and 0-3 (10.16%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (7.45%), while for a Ross County win it was 1-0 (3.04%). The actual scoreline of 3-3 was predicted with a 0.7% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Ross County vs Rangers

Ross County
28.6%
Draw
2.4%
Rangers
69.0%
42
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Rangers' Ianis Hagi pictured on November 21, 2021
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic30225371234871
2RangersRangers29231564164870
3Hearts3017493930955
4Kilmarnock30111183933644
5St Mirren30126123637-142
6Hibernian30911104145-438
7Dundee2999114050-1036
8Motherwell30711124147-632
9Aberdeen3079143348-1530
10St Johnstone30610142141-2028
11Ross County3069152851-2327
12Livingston3038192052-3217


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