Neither side has had a particularly good start to the campaign. We've managed one point and one goal from two matches, while Ross County have lost all three of theirs. Weirdly, their most impressive display was at Parkhead on the opening day when only a late goal denied them a point. Since then they've been turned over by both Partick Thistle and St Johnstone. Normal teams would be pretty confident facing a side in that sort of form, but we're not a normal team. In these circumstances we're usually far too willing to help the opposition out. Let's just hope tomorrow is when we buck the trend.
Our games against County last season were a bit of a mixed bag. We had a rollercoaster game in September that was only resolved in our favour in the last minute, we had a goalless draw in Dingwall and then we were soundly gubbed at home the week before we beat Celtic at Hampden. Perhaps that series of results, more than any other, highlights our inconsistency last season. If we want to be doing anything other than battling to avoid the drop this season we need to be putting in good performances on a regular basis, not every now and again - and preferably for a full 90 minutes rather than a half or an hour.
And to achieve that we really need to be taking something from games like this. County shocked everyone by making the top six last season but their performances perhaps had more of an impact closer to home. Many Buddies were left wondering why we've never been close to making the top half in numerous attempts while the Staggies managed it first time despite having a similar, or perhaps smaller, budget. If we want to emulate them then we need to take points off them, especially early on when they are perhaps a bit unsettled after rebuilding their squad over the summer.
There will surely be a change in Saints' system, if not personnel, for tomorrow. Gary Harkins was deployed in a front two last week against Kilmarnock and struggled, his goal coming from a set play when he'd probably have been lurking about the box anyway. Either pull him back into midfield, where he can run at players and play passes, or bring Thomas Reilly into the front two so we can have a bit of movement and pace up top. If we are sticking with a 4-4-2 then we'd probably be better bringing John McGin back in for Kenny McLean. The latter, who has recently recovered from injury, didn't do too badly last week but McGinn seems the more comfortable of the pair when deployed on the left of a midfield four.
Someone else who could be coming back into the team is David van Zanten. Suspension meant he was unavailable last week but he's finished on the naughty step and is likely to take over from Darren McGregor. He had a decent game against Killie, especially when you consider he has hardly played for two years and was being used out of position, but it would probably be better having a natural rightback in there. Our other options for that position - Jon Robertson and David Barron - are both likely to be absent due to injury.
Ross County and Derek Adams seem to be made for each other. During Adams' first spell at the club he took them to the Scottish Cup Final, but when he left to take up the assistant manager's role at Hibs, County suddenly found themselves battling relegation from the first division. After Adams returned following a less than successful spell at Easter Road they charged to the first division title then stormed into the top six last season. Unsurprisingly, they have lost a few of their players since then but after bringing in a number of replacements there no reason why Adams can't steer County to another successful campaign, even if their start has been far from impressive.
If they want to do that he probably needs to get a striker scoring regularly - although Ivan Sproule didn't do too bad a job of that when he was played through the middle after being lured away from Hibs at the start of the year. In a bid to solve that problem Adams has gone Dutch, with forwards Kevin Luckassen, Melvin de Leeuw and Darren Maatsen all arriving during the summer. The latter scored a stunning goal on the opening day against Celtic, while there is a fourth Dutchman at the club in the shape of Marc Klok. His arrival should help make up for the losses of midfielders Iain Vigurs and Paul Lawson over the summer.
Not that everyone bolted for the exit door. Most of the strong defence is still there in the shape of Mihael Kovacevic, Branislav Micic, Scott Boyd and Grant Munro, while one of Munro's fellow ex Inverness Caley Thistle players Michael Fraser and Mark Brown will be used in goal. Rocco Quinn impressed in his first real shot at the SPL and it's a surprise that they managed to keep him along with fellow midfielder Stuart Kettlewell. Joining them over the summer - aside from the Dutch invasion - are three more defenders. I'd have been quite happy to see us sign Ben Gordon - once of Chelsea and Kilmarnock - to solve our leftback problems, while Brian McLean should be solid in the middle. Steven Saunders should also prove handy at the back if his injury problems are behind him.
There's a fair chance one of our former players could end up scoring a long range screamer against us tomorrow. Adams signed Graham Carey after we let him go during the summer, a move which is still confusing a number of Buddies fans. When in the mood Carey was superb, with his spectacular shots and decent free-kicks. Those days didn't come along very often last season but you can be sure Carey will be up for this one tomorrow. Richard Brittain left us five years ago but is even more of a threat from free-kicks and often pulls the strings in the middle of the park. The Staggies skipper was meant to be playing for St Johnstone this season but was allowed to stay at Victoria Park despite signing a contract with his prospective employers.
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