- Ross County have won their last 5 consecutive games, beating Peterhead (0-1) in League One earlier today and Airdrieonians (0-3) in League Cup Group D.
- Montrose have won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5 matches in all current competitions, losing their last 2 in a row.
Ross County are a work in progress
Ross County and Montrose are both in transition and it will be fascinating to see how they measure up against each other in Scotland on Saturday.
Stuart Kettlewell has made a brilliant start to his rebuilding project and his side have a much sharper edge to their play right now, running on the pace and width of their forward players and being more aggressive without the ball. His team have won their last 5 games in a row and they are unbeaten in their last 2 home games, winning both.
Montrose are also a work in progress, but the signs of progress are not so evident right now with Stewart Petrie's men having lost their last 2 straight - a 0-2 home defeat to Spartans in League Cup Group B and a 0-5 home thumping by Hamilton Academical in League One. Petrie's 4-4-2 system is built on organisation, a low-risk approach in defense and an ability to hurt teams on the counter-attack in transition rather than through long spells of possession.
Stewart Petrie’s team will look to stay compact
Ross County's forward line is led by Brian Graham, who has scored 1 goal in 1 League One appearance this season and 4 of his club's 8 goals in their last 5 overall. Adam Emslie has been very handy in terms of creativity and has 1 assist in his 1 League One match so far this term, but his eye for a sharp pass into the box will be important in this new rebuild.
Montrose have lacked a focal point up front in the early stages of the season, but Ewan Loudon is their biggest threat right now with 3 of his team's 5 goals in their last 5 coming from his boot. Loudon is a spark, and his energy will be a real test for Ross County's defence.
Ross County are the clear odds-on favourites here and it's hard to see them not coming through on the day at 33/100. However, we do think Montrose will give them a real game for long spells and both teams to score at 19/20 looks too low in the circumstances. Overs at 31/50 is also a bit skinny, although a Ross County win to nil does look a smart alternative angle, especially if they can pin the visitors back early on.
