Ross County will look to bounce back to winning ways when they travel to Tynecastle Park to take on a high-flying Hearts in their second Matchday tie of the Championship Group in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, with kickoff at 17:00.
Hearts already secured their third-place finish in the Championship Group long before the league was divided, as they finished the first phase of the season with 16 points above the fourth-placed Dundee United. They increased that gap last time out as they bettered United 3-2 at away last Sunday to hand them a 19-point lead on the bottom three in the Championship Group.
However, with four matches remaining Hearst cannot challenge the top-two for the title or the second place as they currently sit 19 points away from second-placed Rangers, who are six points behind league leaders Celtic.
They therefore have nothing to play for in this fixture expect wanting to keep their unbeaten run to the end of the season.
Meanwhile a 1-0 victory against Aberdeen on the final day of the first phase of the season saw Ross County secure a spot in the Championship Group after the league division. However, Ross County opened their Championship round on the back foot as fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Celtic last Sunday.
The defeat keeps them fifth in the table level on 40 points with sixth-placed Motherwell but just one point behind Dundee United in fourth. Three points on Saturday would see them climb above the Tangerines, making a victory vital for Ross County in the clash.
The two sides have drawn six of their last seven Premiership meetings, with Hearts winning 2-1 in the other match, but last time they met they drew 1-1 at Victoria Park. This is mostly likely also going to end in a share of the spoils or a win for Hearts.
Hearts vs Ross County head to head
Both sides have met in 22 encounters since 2012 2ith Hearts claiming eight victories while Ross County have claimed two victories and there have been 12 draws.
- Ross County 1-1 Hearts 02/04/22
- Hearts 2-1 Ross County 26/12/21
- Ross County 2-2 Hearts 18/09/21
- Ross County 0-0 Hearts 22/01/20
- Hearts 0-0 Ross County 10/08/19
Home
- Dundee United 2-3 Hearts
- Hearts 2-1 Hibernian
- Hearts 3-1 Hibernian
- Ross County 1-1 Hearts
- Hearts 2-0 Livingston
Away
- Ross County 0-2 Celtic
- Aberdeen 0-1 Ross County
- Ross County 1-1 Hearts
- Celtic 4-0 Ross County
- Ross County 1-0 St Mirren
Hearts team news
Hearts will be without Beni Baningime, John Soutar and Craig Hailkett due to injuries, while Stephen Kingsley, Andy Hallidya and Aaron McEneff are doubts.
Ross County team news
Ross County will be without Ashley Maynard-Brewer due to injury, while Jack Baldwin is a suspended.
Prediction and odds
- Hearts win
- Double Chance (1,X)
- Both sides to score
