St Mirren will hope to clinch the final top-six on Saturday afternoon as they welcome relegation-threatened Ross County to Paisley.
St Mirren had the chance to leapfrog Hearts into sixth position last Saturday but fluffed their lines, as they were beaten by a Simon Murray brace at Dundee.
That’s now eight defeats from their past 13 Premiership matches for The Buddies (W3-D2-L8), but they did thrash Kilmarnock 5-1 in their last home match and know they require a win and hope Hearts drop points at Motherwell to clinch the final top-six spot.
It was an even worse weekend for Ross County, as a 0-1 loss at home to Aberdeen – coupled with wins for Dundee and St Johnstone – saw Don Cowie’s side fall closer to danger.
That’s now four defeats from the last five for County – failing to even score in all four defeats – leaving them only five points clear of rock-bottom St Johnstone and only one ahead of Dundee, who currently occupy the relegation playoff spot.
How the bookies view it: Buddies favourites
Boylesports make St Mirren short 4/6 favourites to claim the victory they need to keep their top six hopes alive.
Ross County are 7/2 with the same firm to ease their relegation worries, with the draw at 11/4.
Head to head: Saints have the edge
The pair played out a drab goalless draw in Paisley at the beginning of November, but St Mirren grabbed a late winner up in Dingwall to win 1-2 a month later.
Players to watch: Toyosi to find the target?
Toyosi Olusanya is The Buddies' leading scorer in the Premiership with eight this season and should come in from the start after coming on at the start of the second half at Dens last week.
Ronan Hale is County’s leading scorer with eight in the Premiership this season but is without a goal since his brace at Motherwell in the middle of February.
Predicted line-ups:
The Buddies' top two scorers, Mikael Mandron and Toyosi Olusanya, were both second-half subs at Dundee last week following their returns from injury and suspension respectively, but both may get the nod from the start here.
Ross County could be once again without the injured Ryan Leak and Michee Efete, whilst Noah Chilvers is out for the season with an ACL injury.
St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Alebiosu, Boyd-Munce, O’Hara, Phillips, John, Mandron, Olusanya
Ross County: Amissah, Campbell, Lopata, Wright, Brown, Randall, Kenneh, Grieves, Tomkinson, White, Phillips
Anything else catch the eye?
There’s been a lack of goals in Ross County’s previous five Premiership matches, with just six goals being scored, with Both Teams to Score failing to land in any of them.
In fact, Both Teams to Score has only landed in 3/15 (20%) of Ross County’s Premiership contests on their travels this season – including a 0-0 draw in their last trip to Paisley – and backing both sides not to score is my main play here.
Prior to that 5-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock in their last home match, nine of The Buddies' 10 Premiership wins this season have featured fewer than five goals and a home win and under 4.5 goals also appeals.
This Scottish Premiership match between St Mirren and Ross County will be played on and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best St Mirren vs Ross County prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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