Motherwell V Ross County at Fir Park Stadium : Match Preview

12 December 2014 22:01
Motherwell V Ross County - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Carey keen to profit from turmoil

Graham Carey is hoping Ross County's early change of management this season will give them an advantage in the Scottish Premiership relegation battle.

Jim McIntyre took over from Derek Adams in September after a poor start to the season for the Staggies although as yet there has been no massive turnaround.

Last week's 3-2 home defeat to Dundee United kept County bottom of the table but only on goal difference behind St Mirren and two points behind Motherwell, whom they face at Fir Park on Saturday.

Struggling Saints are looking for a new boss after the departure of Tommy Craig on Tuesday while the Steelmen are also in the throes of finding a new boss, after Stuart McCall stood down last month.

Carey is hoping County can capitalise on their relegation rivals' state of uncertainty, starting in Lanarkshire.

The 25-year-old Irish midfielder said: "It is quite unusual having all the teams at the bottom changing their manager but one positive that we have is we have had a longer time with our manager and we know what he wants.

"We need to use that to our advantage and get some results because those two clubs are going to be in transition over the Christmas period when there are a lot of games and so we need to pick up points quickly, hopefully starting on Saturday.

"It is going to be a battle because it is a bottom of the table clash.

"So we need to go there and earn the right to play and hopefully come away with three points.

"It is going to be tight, it was tight the last time down there (in September) and they scored two terrific goals to win the game.

"We need to be positive and cut out the mistakes at the back.

"It is silly mistakes that are costing us and we know as a team that is not good enough.

"If we cut them out I think we will create enough chances to win any game."

Liam Boyce will be suspended for Ross County's trip, but Slovakian playmaker Filip Kiss could return to the Staggies' midfield after shaking off a thigh strain. Ben Frempah (ankle), Rocco Quinn (hip) and Darren Barr (knee) are all out for the long term.

Motherwell, meanwhile, have doubts over three players including Iain Vigurs, who will have a fitness test for the second week running despite facing Celtic last weekend, while caretaker manager Kenny Black declined to name the other two.

Craig Moore is not expected to make his return from injury and illness, while Paul Lawson (calf) is also set to miss out and Simon Ramsden is suspended, but Steven Hammell and Mark O'Brien are in contention after injury.


Source: PA