Ross County take on Dundee in the Scottish League Cup on Sunday, with the two Premiership sides aiming to take a stranglehold on Group C.
The hosts had to forfeit their match against Forfar last weekend due to a COVID-19 outbreak, while Dundee beat Brora Rangers 4-0.
Match preview
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After surviving in the Premiership for the second successive season last time around, Ross County's primary focus will be on securing their league safety once again.
Having been a Highlands League team until 1994, the Staggies have enjoyed quite the meteoric rise in recent years, with the 2021-22 campaign set to be their ninth season in the last decade in Scotland's top flight.
After being appointed as manager in May, Malky Mackay will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of Jim McIntyre, who led Ross County to the League Cup title in 2016.
First and foremost, however, a positive result on the pitch may be required against Dundee on Sunday if they are to progress to the knockout stages after having to call off their match against League Two outfit Forfar last weekend.
It remains to be seen how the outbreak – and consequential temporary closing of the football club – will affect Ross County in terms of their preparations for the game, or indeed how many of their first-team players will be available for it.
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Dundee will certainly be looking to exploit any disadvantages their forthcoming opponents may have heading into the important clash.
James McPake's side should be riding on a wave of confidence, too, after beating Kilmarnock over two legs to earn promotion to the Premiership in May, before starting the new campaign with an empathic 4-0 win over Highland League outfit Brora Rangers in the League Cup last weekend.
Paul McGowan's and Alex Jakubiak's strikes either side of half time were sandwiched by a brace from Paul McMullan as the Dees cruised to a comfortable victory.
While surviving their first season back in Scotland's top flight since 2019 will be McPake's main priority, the 37-year-old would surely relish a cup run, too.
Dundee last won the League Cup in 1996. With Ross County's forfeit last weekend, a win against Mackay's side would put them in an extremely strong position to top the group and reach the knockout stages.
From there, anything can happen in a cup competition.
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Team News
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It is unclear whether the eight players and coaching staff reportedly affected by positive COVID-19 tests ahead of last week's scheduled trip to Forfar will be involved against Dundee.
However, their quarantine period should be over in time, so providing there have been no negative physical affects of the virus, Mackay may have a full squad available for the test against the Premiership newcomers.
New signings Ross Callachan and Dominic Samuel both netted during Mackay's first game in charge in the 5-0 friendly win at Elgin City prior to the squad outbreak, so both should start.
Dundee, meanwhile, are unlikely to make any changes to the side which saw off Brora Rangers with ease last time out.
Danny Mullen, who started both legs of their playoff victory against Kilmarnock in May, may miss out due to an ankle injury, but should be available for selection in the near future.
Former Nottingham Forest forward Jason Cummings may have to settle for a place on the bench once again.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Randall, Watson, Donaldson, Vokins; Tilson, Callachan, Kelly; Samuel, White, Shaw
Dundee possible starting lineup:
Legzdins; Fontaine, Ashcroft, McGhee; Kerr, Byrne, Adam, Marshall; McGowan, Jakubiak, McMullan
We say: Ross County 1-2 Dundee
We can envisage Dundee taking advantage of Ross County's recent disruption with regards to their COVID-19 outbreak.
Should Mackay's side fall to defeat, they will be facing a seriously uphill battle in terms of progressing from the group stages.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Dundee win with a probability of 49.43%. A win for Ross County had a probability of 26.57% and a draw had a probability of 24%.
The most likely scoreline for a Dundee win was 0-1 with a probability of 9.58%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (9.56%) and 0-2 (8.11%). The likeliest Ross County win was 1-0 (6.67%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.29%). The actual scoreline of 0-3 was predicted with a 4.6% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Dundee would win this match.
