Aberdeen welcome Ross County to Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon, with the home side looking to improve their form after a recent slump that has seen them go four games in all competitions without a win.

The Staggies have enjoyed mixed fortunes against the Old Firm in their last two games, with midfielder Michael Gardyne involved in controversy during last weekend's home defeat to Rangers.

Match preview

Aberdeen have played St Mirren away in their last two games, and have failed to beat the men from Paisley in both matches.

The Dons followed up a 2-1 defeat to the Buddies in the League Cup with a 1-1 draw in their second trip west last weekend. The latter result has left them in fourth place in the table, a point behind third-placed Hibernian.

Aberdeen only avoided defeat thanks to Scotland international Andrew Considine's injury-time goalline clearance.

Derek McInnes's team are just three points behind second-placed Celtic, and a win over the Staggies would see them exert more pressure on the Bhoys, who currently look like a team in freefall.

A coronavirus outbreak in the Scotland Under-21 squad derailed the Dons' league campaign somewhat, with Lewis Ferguson, Ross McCrorie and Connor McLennan all sidelined for a spell as a result.

A match against the struggling Staggies therefore gives McInnes's Dons a good opportunity to reinject some much-needed momentum into their campaign.

Ross County have been through an interesting couple of weeks, after facing Celtic in the League Cup and then Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on successive weekends.

Their 2-0 victory at Celtic, which knocked the home side out of the League Cup, triggered some controversial scenes at Parkhead, with home fans protesting about their team's poor performance.

County followed that up with a 4-0 defeat at home to the other half of the Old Firm last weekend, a game that generated a fair degree of controversy of its own.

Staggies midfielder Michael Gardyne is now reportedly under investigation by the SFA and his club for allegedly making homophobic remarks in that game during an incident involving Gers striker Alfredo Morelos.

He was booked during the game for using foul and abusive language by referee John Beaton, who did not feel that the player's comment merited more stringent action.

The situation is sure to have proved something of a distraction for Stuart Kettlewell and his team, but they have been boosted by the return to the club of Jason Naismith, who has signed for the rest of the season after being released by Peterborough United.

Naismith cannot play until January but he has started training with the club, who currently sit in 11th place in the Scottish Premiership table, one point ahead of bottom side St Mirren.

County have now gone eight games without a win in the league, and also face tough away trips to Hibs and Celtic after this weekend's game at Aberdeen.

Aberdeen Scottish Premiership form: WDWLDD
Aberdeen form (all competitions): LWLDLD

Ross County Scottish Premiership form: DLLDLL
Ross County form (all competitions): DWWLWL

Team News

Lewis Ferguson is unavailable for Aberdeen after picking up a second yellow card in last week's defeat to St Mirren. The 21-year-old had only just returned to action after a period of self-isolation.

On-loan Bristol City forward Marley Watkins is ruled out with a hamstring injury that looks set to keep him on the sidelines until at least January.

Dons attacker Scott Wright is also out of action as he is recovering from a hernia operation that is expected to see him sidelined for around another four to six weeks.

County's on-loan Birmingham City midfielder Charlie Lakin is expected to be out for six weeks with a thigh problem, while defender Keith Watson will also miss the trip to Pittodrie with a glute injury.

The Staggies will also be without Ross Draper, Oli Shaw, Tom Grivosti and Carl Tremarco, as the injuries mount ahead of a festive period that will see the Highland outfit play seven games in 21 days.

Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Lewis; Hoban, Considine, Taylor, Leigh; Hayes, McCrorie, Ojo, Kennedy; Hedges, Cosgrove

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Randall, Donaldson, Morris, Iacovitti, Reid; Tillson, Paton, Vigurs, Hylton; Stewart

We say: Aberdeen 2-0 Ross County

We are backing Derek McInnes's side to return to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 win over the struggling Staggies on Saturday.

Aberdeen have faltered in recent weeks, but they still have too much quality to be overly concerned about Ross County, who have been mired in controversy after their drubbing at the hands of Rangers last week.

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