Match Preview - Kilmarnock (H)

A lot has changed in Dingwall since the last time us Staggies took to league action, including a change in the dugout.

Malky Mackay departed the club after a narrow 1-0 loss to St Johnstone which saw County fall back into the relegation zone.

Returning to the club to take over the vacant hot seat in the dugout is Derek Adams.

This is Adams' fifth spell at the club after two stints as a player, and this new era is his third stint as manager of Ross County Football Club.

He is being thrust straight back into league action with the Staggies as the visit of Kilmarnock on Saturday at 3:00 PM is fast approaching.

Kilmarnock

The Ayrshire side currently sit in sixth place with 16 points this season, having picked up four wins and four draws.

They seem to have improved their squad and fortunes as a whole this season, and the Killie aim will be to maintain their spot in the top six.

With a goal difference of zero, Derek McInnes’s’ side has both scored and conceded 15 times so far on league duty this campaign.

Kyle Vassell has started to live up to his expectations and is currently the side's top scorer, with five goals under his belt so far.

Winning three games in the last five matches, Kilmarnock have recently swapped their highly used back three formation in favour of starting with a back four. That has sometimes consisted of four ‘by trade’ central defenders – which makes them a rigid defensive unit that can be hard to play against.

Player to Watch

Former Ross County player Daniel Armstrong has been the standout performer for Kilmarnock over the past two seasons.

Despite often playing as a wingback, Armstrong has excelled in Ayrshire and is the key creative outlet for Killie.

His pace and dribbling make him a handful for any defence.

The 26-year-old has netted three times this season, alongside turning provider with four assists.

Ross County

We have already defeated Kilmarnock early on in this campaign in a closely contested match. Simon Murray headed in the winner that day from a perfectly weighted Yan Dhanda cross.

That should give great encouragement to the players who will not only be eager to bounce back from a poor loss in Perth but also to show new boss Derek Adams why they should hold their place in the team.

Of course, with Derek Adams making the return it gives a clean slate for the players to make a mark, and it should massively encourage those who haven’t been afforded as many minutes as they would have liked this season.

The Staggies do sit in the bottom two as things stand but on the other hand a just two points away from Motherwell in eighth place.

That shows just how big a shift in momentum a first win under Adams could be for us.

Derek has set sights high with initial targets, and a win in front of an eagerly awaiting home crowd could be just the start he needs to make those aims a reality.

Player to Watch

A key figure during the Malky Mackay era, there is no doubt that Yan Dhanda is going to continue to be an important cog in the Derek Adams wheel.

Mackay used Dhanda in a variety of positions, including wide areas. In his previous tenures at the club, Adams has used formation including wingers, and with the fitness of Jay Henderson and Josh Sims not being at its peak – could Dhanda be used in a wider role?

The former Swansea man has had us Staggies supporters starstruck at times, with his natural ability on the ball. Being used as a wide player could play to the strength of his delivery into the box.

No matter where the new boss decides to utilise Yan Dhanda, he has a chance to impress and be the first name on the team sheet under Adams.

Previous Encounters

We had a very mixed bag of results against Killie last season, winning both the home fixtures but losing twice away from home.

We have a positive record against the blue and white side, winning 15 matches and drawing six in the 35 times we have encountered each other.

Familiar Faces

Current Staggie Eamonn Brophy had his most fruitful spell in front of goal under Steve Clarke at Kilmarnock.

Club legends Michael Gardyne and Scott Boyd had spells with the Ayrshire side, whilst cup-winning hero Jackson Irvine had a loan spell in Kilmarnock from Celtic before signing for the Staggies.

Team News

Josh Sims is back in contention after recovering from a setback.

Jay Henderson will remain on the sidelines for this one with a hamstring issue.

Refereeing Team

Referee: Colin Steven

AR1: Calum Spence

AR2: Douglas Ross

VAR: William Collum

AVAR: David Dunne

FO: Ross Hardie

Ticket Information

Tickets for Derek Adams' first match back in charge of the Staggies can be purchased from the following link:

Ross County FC vs Kilmarnock FC - MyProVenue™ (tickets.com)