Ladbrokes Premiership: Ross County to pile pain on Partick
Published:
With the top three not in action until Sunday, including a huge clash between Hearts and Aberdeen, our Saturday attention moves a little further down the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Ross County look to go four games unbeaten against table-propping Partick, while Dundee United look to end a dismal run of four straight defeats when they host Inverness.
Here’s your weekly preview…
Dundee United v Inverness
Having opened the campaign with four points from three games, things have taken a significant downturn for Dundee United.
The Terrors have lost four on the spin, including last time out where visitors Kilmarnock scored a galling 88th minute winner.
Jackie McNamara’s side have scored in five of their seven league games this term, but a sole clean sheet indicates where the majority of United’s problems lie.
Visitors Inverness claimed a big win last weekend at home to Hearts, but remain somewhat inconsistent.
Caley have netted in every away game this season however, picking up draws at St Johnstone and Dundee whilst suffering a 4-2 loss at Celtic.
A team yet to win at home meets a team yet to win away. This one is heading for a point apiece.
Best Bet: Draw @ 23/10
Hamilton v Motherwell
Three successive wins had seen Hamilton surge into the top four, but back-to-back defeats at St Johnstone and Aberdeen have since stunted that run.
At New Douglas Park however, the Accies have so far impressed, claiming seven points from a possible nine.
They defeated Hearts 3-2 in their most recent home tie, while comfortably seeing off Dundee United 4-0.
Martin Canning’s men host a Motherwell side whose only away points came in a 1-0 win at Inverness on the opening day.
Well have put a little run together of late though, edging Kilmarnock 1-0 before battling to a draw with Ross County a week ago, but goals remain in short supply.
The Accies have netted seven in their last two home games, while Motherwell haven’t scored more than once in a game this term.
Last season’s meetings produced a quartet of one-sided results. Hamilton claimed 5-0 and 2-0 wins at home, whilst experiencing a 4-0 win and a 4-0 loss at Fir Park.
Best Bet: Hamilton -1 @ 7/2
Kilmarnock v St Johnstone
Kilmarnock picked up a much-needed first win of the season last weekend, but a leaky defence could be in trouble once again.
Killie are yet to keep a clean sheet this term and both Ross County and Dundee have put four past them.
In contrast, St Johnstone have found the net in every game, and arrive in East Aryshire having thumped Inverness 4-1 last time out.
Nearly half of Saints’ goals have come through Steven MacLean. The 33-year-old is currently the joint-top scorer with six in the Ladbrokes Premiership, including a hat-trick in that Inverness win.
However, manager Tommy Wright is keen to avoid his in-form marksman suffering a recurrence of a knee-injury on Killie’s artificial surface and MacLean is not expected to feature this weekend.
Outside of MacLean’s goals, the Perth side haven’t netted more than once in a game since an opening day 4-3 loss at Hearts.
Only one of their four meetings last season yielded over 1.5 goals.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 17/20
Ross County v Partick Thistle
Ross County could be four points better off had they managed to hold onto leads against St Johnstone and Motherwell, but nevertheless Jim McIntyre finds himself currently in charge of a side in the top four and unbeaten in three games.
The hosts welcome a Partick side in dire need of a point, let alone a win, having slumped to three successive defeats.
While the Jags claimed a 2-1 win at Victoria Park in the last meeting in April, a failure to score in all but one league game this term suggests a repeat is unlikely for Alan Archibald’s goal-shy team.
Bar a 2-0 loss at Celtic to open the campaign, County have netted in all six subsequent matches to establish themselves firmly in the league’s top half.
Best Bet: Ross County to win to nil @ 9/4
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
