Premier Sports Cup: Ross County Preview

Posted on Friday, August 16th, 2024

The Spartans welcome Ross County to Ainslie Park on Saturday in the Last 16 Round of the Premier Sports Cup.

North Edinburgh has been no stranger to top flight Cup opposition in recent times of course, with the visit of Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Cup last season in an Edinburgh Derby that went right to the wire, courtesy of a James Craigen wonder-strike that had levelled proceedings.

Those with longer memories of course will remember *that* Scottish Cup run some twenty years ago when Livingston FC, then of the Premier League, visited the dilapidated / ramshackle (delete as applicable) City Park where 3,000 crammed around the grassy banks.

This weekend sees yet another chapter in David v Goliath cup encounters, with a place in the Quarter Final at stake.

For Douglas Samuel SPFL 2 men, it’s another opportunity to build on an impressive start to the campaign, enjoying four clean sheets in six games – or perhaps even four and a half if you include after the interval in Stranraer! 

One of those clean sheets of course, combined with a goal from Cammy Russell who has been in fine form from the off, earned victory away to Livingston who finished ten points behind Ross County in the Premiership last season.

Our opponents head to the Capital in a week that sees them celebrate thirty years since their debut in the Scottish Professional Football League after being voted in following restructuring of the SFL into four tiers.

The Staggies go into the game on the back of a pair of draws in the William Hill Premiership against Motherwell and Dundee United after a full set of wins in their Group H exploits.

Don Cowie’s side are no strangers of course to League Cup latter stages, having won the competition back in 2015-16 when they defeated Hibs 2-1 in the Final after disposing of Celtic 3-1 in the semis.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 3.00pm.  Ticket Prices are £20 Adults, £14 Concessions (16-18 and Over 65) and £5 for Under 16s.  Season Tickets are NOT valid for this Premier Sports Cup tie.

New to Ainslie Park? Here’s our Supporters Guide on getting to the Ground.