Ross County will welcome Livingston to the Global Energy Stadium on Saturday for a Scottish Cup fourth-round tie with a final-16 place on the line.
The hosts enter this year's competition at this stage, while their visitors progressed past Brora Rangers to book their spot in the fourth round.
Match preview
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Ross County kick off their Scottish Cup campaign on Saturday aiming to reach the fifth round for the first time since the 2018-19 season, having fallen at this stage in each of their last four attempts.
The Staggies began at home to second-tier Partick Thistle last time around and dropped out following a concerning 3-0 defeat as Brian Graham, Scott Robinson and Stuart Bannigan helped themselves to goals at the Global Energy Stadium.
Their first cup action of the new term came in the Scottish League Cup, and after topping their group with a perfect record, Don Cowie's side experienced another disappointing exit, suffering a second-round 1-0 defeat away at fourth-tier The Spartans in August.
After majorly improving their position at the bottom end of the Scottish Premiership with a four-game run between Boxing Day and early January which produced three away wins and a draw to climb to 10th spot, the Dingwall outfit now head into cup action on the back of a 4-1 home defeat to Celtic last weekend, having drawn level through Jordan White on the hour, only to fall behind again before Arne Engels and Luke McCowan added injury-time goals.
Nevertheless, with renewed confidence from that hot streak around the turn of the year to strengthen their survival hopes, Ross County will now bid to book a final-16 spot in the Scottish Cup with a victory in Dingwall on Saturday.
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Their visitors, meanwhile, head to the Global Energy Stadium aiming to extend their run in this year's competition, having reached the quarter-finals in their previous attempt.
In the 2023-24 season, which ended in their relegation to the Scottish Championship, Livingston progressed to the Scottish Cup's final eight with victories over Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle, only to meet eventual winners Celtic in the quarter-finals and bow out following a 4-2 defeat in Glasgow, having been level at two goals apiece heading into the final five minutes.
Their latest bid then began at home to fifth-tier Brora Rangers in the third round in late November, and David Martindale's side made no mistake in progressing as they picked up a 2-0 victory thanks to first-half goals from Reece McAlear and Tete Yengi.
Livi headed into the festive period in a strong position in the fight for promotion back to Scotland's top flight at the first time of asking on 36 points from 17 outings, and after suffering three straight defeats around the turn of the year, they were able to bounce back on Tuesday, moving back within four points of top spot by beating Airdrieonians 2-1 thanks to a Lewis Strapp own goal and Robbie Fraser's 59th-minute winner.
Now aiming to build on that return to winning ways, Livingston will aim to take a top-flight scalp and advance to the Scottish Cup round of 16 again with a win on the road.
- W
Team News
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After netting his ninth goal of the season off the bench in their defeat to Celtic last time out, Jordan White should come back in to lead the Ross County attack from the start on Saturday.
He should join Ronan Hale, who has netted eight goals of his own so far this term, while Ryan Leak, Will Nightingale, Ross Laidlaw and Alex Samuel remain confined to the treatment room.
Elijah Campbell was fit to feature against the league leaders last weekend, though, and he should again line up in a back three with Kacper Lopata and Akil Wright, while new Blackpool loanee Zac Ashworth could earn a debut on the left-hand side.
Livingston could be unchanged from their 2-1 win over Airdrieonians last time out, with Stevie May continuing to lead the line having netted a team-high tally of eight goals so far this term.
Robbie Muirhead and Scott Pittman are attacking threats from the wing and midfield with six and five goals of their own respectively this season, while Stephen Kelly and veteran Andrew Shinnie will also continue in the engine room alongside Pittman.
If Michael Nottingham remains out of action, Danny Wilson will continue to partner mainstay Ryan McGowan at the heart of the back four.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Amissah; Wright, Lopata, Campbell; Brown, Chilvers, Randall, Kenneh, Ashworth; Hale, White
Livingston possible starting lineup:
Prior; Brandon, McGowan, Wilson, Fraser; Pittman, Shinnie, Kelly; Muirhead, May, Montano
We say: Ross County 2-1 Livingston
With renewed confidence having reignited their promotion bid with a return to winning ways last time out, Livingston will certainly pose a tough test for Ross County on Saturday, but we back the Staggies to make their quality count and get over the line on home turf.
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Sam Varley
