- Ross County have failed to win any of their last five games (D1, L4).
- Ayr United have lost four of their 16 away Championship 2025/2026 matches (W4, D8, L4).
- Ross County and Ayr United have drawn all three of their Championship 2025/2026 meetings, most recently 0-0 at Somerset Park seven weeks ago.
Home side’s woes to continue against plucky Honest Men
Ayr United have endured a similar season to Ross County so far, sitting 6th in the Championship 2025/2026 with 39 points from 33 games compared to County’s 10th place with 28 points from the same 33 fixtures.
They have been the poorer side over the last few weeks, losing three straight games and four of their last five. Stuart Kettlewell returned as manager in December 2025 to restore defensive structure and a more pragmatic style to County’s play, but his tactical influence has yet to be felt.
Ayr have also been in poor form with one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five Championship 2025/2026 fixtures, but Rankin will hope that last Saturday’s 1-0 home victory over Arbroath will settle some of the nerves in the dressing room.
Ayr’s momentum to continue with a win
Interim manager John Rankin has overseen a slightly simplified approach since taking over from Scott Brown, but Ayr’s identity remains a high-tempo, high-pressure game with a focus on forcing turnovers and quick transitions into the attacking third.
Kettlewell’s return to County brought about a renewed focus on defence and maintaining a compact, organised low block, with a more reactive approach in the attacking half of the field through quick vertical transitions and set pieces.
Kieran Phillips has scored two of County’s last three goals, and could be a threat to any defence on Saturday.
Given that Ross County have won four, drawn three and lost nine of their 16 home Championship 2025/2026 games, averaging 1.12 goals per game, we’re tipping Ayr United to edge out the home side in an open, goal-laden contest with both teams to find the net.
Ronan Hale leads County’s scoring charts with seven goals in 19 Championship 2025/2026 appearances and will provide a constant threat to any Ayr defence, while Jamie Murphy has been on fire for the Honest Men, with seven in 21 Championship 2025/2026 fixtures and both goals in their last five.
The last three head-to-head matches between these two sides have all ended all square, but Ayr have been the better side this season and have a good record away from home, so we’re backing Rankin’s side to take all three points at a favourable price of 23/10, with over 2.5 goals and both teams to score as our main selection for this fixture.
