Ross County v Saints Preview

Last updated : 13 August 2004 By Stuart Gillespie
Saints have just the one player missing, Allan Russell escaping the trip north due to having a bug of some kind. Youngsters Ryan McCay and Craig Molloy both make the squad, and after the shambles of midweek must fancy their chances of a first team game. There have to be changes; Simon Lappin's crossing has been terrible, the defending was awful and some of our midfielders have been non existant, and I'm not talking about Mark Reilly either.

Even up front there will be changes, though Mixu will almost certainly still be there having notched a goal in each of the last two games. Russell obviously won't partner him, so it will be either Brian McGinty or Eddie Annand. Annand has started the last two games, and hasn't even looked like scoring, whilst McGinty will have a bit of pace so could well get the nod. John Baird will probably replace Russell on the bench.

There's a simple way to beat Ross County; boot the hell out of Alex Burke from the word go, or try and get him sent off. Ross County have scored six goals so far this season, and he's got every single one of them. It doesn't take a genius to work out who their danger man is, which is probably just as well from our point of view. Take him out of the game and we might have a chance.

Our record at Dingwall is, in a word, pish. One league win, an extra time league cup win and a penalty shoot out diddy cup win do not make for impressive reading. It is high time we beat them, and a thrashing at that as they've rattled four past us a good few times. Sadly, after Tuesday, they could be on for a high score again. County to win 3-0.