Ross County will host Edinburgh City on Tuesday at Victoria Park in each side’s third and fourth match of the Scottish League Cup.

The second-tier hosts are second in their five-team group with four points following their 1-0 win against Queen of the South on Saturday, whereas Edinburgh City are last with two points and drew 0-0 with Stranraer on Saturday in their most recent League Cup outing.

Match preview

Ross County’s win against Queen of the South was their first in any competitive game since March 1, a period encompassing nine defeats and three stalemates.

The hosts were relegated from the Scottish top flight last term after losing 5-3 on aggregate against Livingston in a relegation playoff, and boss Don Cowie will be immensely disappointed considering his side took a 2-0 lead in the second leg and led the tie 3-1 before ultimately suffering a 4-2 defeat.

In last year’s edition of the League Cup, the Staggies topped their group with four wins from four, scoring 10 goals while conceding three times.

Ross County were beaten on penalties by Stranraer in their first cup match on July 12 after drawing 1-1 in regulation time, but to their credit they have only lost one of their last six competitive outings when excluding shootouts, though they won just once in that period.

Cowie will hope his team can overcome their poor home record considering they are winless in five at Victoria Park, succumbing to defeat four times while scoring four and conceding 10.

The fourth-tier visitors were held to a stalemate by Stranraer but managed to win 5-3 on penalties, and they have failed to net in their past two outings.

Head coach Michael McIndoe guided his team to a third-placed finish in 2024-25 in League Two, but his side were beaten 3-1 on aggregate in a promotion playoff tie against East Fife in May.

The Citizens have only met Ross County once, though the encounter will not be fondly remembered given they lost 3-1 in July 2023 in the League Cup.

City have failed to triumph in any of their four most recent games, losing on three occasions while conceding at least three goals three times.

Supporters will be alarmed by the club’s showings on their travels considering they are on a losing streak away from home spanning six matches.

Ross County Scottish League Cup form:

Ross County form (all competitions):

Edinburgh City Scottish League Cup form:

Edinburgh City form (all competitions):

Team News

Ross County utilised a 4-4-2 formation last time out, and perhaps Cowie will select defenders Ben Crompton, Declan Gallagher, Akil Wright and Len O'Sullivan.

In the middle of the pitch, the hosts could look to start Ross Docherty and Dean Cornelius together.

Wide players Jay Henderson and Adam Emslie are candidates to support strikers Jordan White and Ronan Hale.

Opponents Edinburgh City are almost certain to station Mark Weir in goal, and he may be protected by central defenders Jack Duncan and Lewis McArthur.

Midfielders Callum Brodie and Logan Myles are likely to play in a double pivot, while centre-forwards Tiwi Daramola and Robert Mahon may partner each other up front.

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Laidlaw; Crompton, Gallagher, Wright, O'Sullivan; Henderson, Docherty, Cornelius, Emslie; White, Hale

Edinburgh City possible starting lineup:

Weir; Lynch, Duncan, McArthur, Mitchell; Lawson, Brodie, Myles, Stokes; Daramola, Mahon

We say: Ross County 3-1 Edinburgh City

Ross County should be expected to win considering they are two division’s above Edinburgh City and boast superior quality in their squad.

The visitors have also been poor away from home, so it would not be surprising if they were comfortably beaten.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Lewis Nolan

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