Dunfermline Athletic vs Ross County - prediction, team news, lineups

In the Scottish League Cup's circular of 16, Dunfermline Athletic volition invited Ross County to East End Park connected Saturday.

The 2 contestants were drawn unneurotic successful the competition's lone necktie betwixt little league clubs, with the hosts finishing 2nd successful Group C portion the visitors finished archetypal successful Group D.

Match preview

Dunfermline Athletic lone missed retired connected apical spot successful Group C owed to extremity difference, contempt the nine beating first-placed St Mirren 1-0 connected July 26.

The Scottish Championship outfit person played six games this play truthful far, and they person lone experienced 1 defeat, portion they are presently unbeaten successful 5 matches, winning connected 2 occasions.

Neil Lennon's broadside besides kept 3 cleanable sheets successful that unbeaten streak, though they person started their league run with 2 consecutive stalemates, leaving them sixth successful the table.

Prior to this season, the Pars had failed to beforehand retired of the radical signifier of the League Cup successful their past 4 attempts, and securing a spot successful the quarter-final would beryllium their champion placement since they reached the last 8 successful 2020-21.

Dunfermline Athletic person won 2 and drawn 1 of their 3 clashes astatine location this term, scoring 10 goals portion conceding twice, and a nonaccomplishment would beryllium their archetypal successful 7 games at East End Park.

Ross County ended their radical run with 11 points from a imaginable 12, and they volition anticipation to scope the quarter-finals of the contention for the 3rd clip successful 7 seasons.

The Scottish League One broadside person been fantabulous successful 2026-27, winning each 7 of the games they person played - 1 was a penalty-shootout triumph - and they lone conceded 5 times successful that period.

Ross County are presently 2nd successful the 3rd tier with six points from six, and they are 1 of lone 2 clubs successful the part with maximum points aft 2 matchweeks.

Stuart Kettlewell's squad faced Saturday's hosts connected 4 occasions past campaign, with each contests coming successful the Scottish Championship, but they drew 3 times and were beaten erstwhile successful those meetings.

The Staggies question to East End Park having won each 4 of their distant clashes this term, and the visitors managed to nett 10 goals successful that stretch.

Dunfermline Athletic Scottish League Cup form:

Dunfermline Athletic signifier (all competitions):

Ross County Scottish League Cup form:

Ross County signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Dunfermline Athletic are apt to sanction a akin starting XI to the 1 that bushed St Mirren, with forwards Callumn Morrison, Zak Rudden and Andy Tod imaginable inclusions.

If Lennon continues to tract a treble pivot, it would not beryllium astonishing to see Kian Corbally spouse Alfons Amade.

The hosts person shown a penchant for a three-man defence, and they could usage defenders Sam Cleall-Harding, Luke Robinson and John Tod successful their backline.

Ross County could besides usage a backmost three, and fans should expect to spot centre-backs Akil Wright, Dylan Smith and Lewis Reid unneurotic down a treble pivot of Jamie Lindsay and Ross Docherty.

The duo volition not lone beryllium tasked with shielding their defence, but besides with supporting attackers Jack Turner, Adam Emslie and Brian Graham.

Dunfermline Athletic imaginable starting lineup:

Oxborough; Cleall-Harding, Robinson, J Tod; Kearney, Corbally, Amade, Fraser; Morrison, Rudden, A Tod

Ross County imaginable starting lineup:

Foster; Wright, Smith, Reid; Chin, Lindsay, Docherty, Strapp; Turner, Emslie; Graham

We say: Dunfermline Athletic 2-3 Ross County

Both teams person enjoyed beardown starts to the season, and Saturday's lucifer could beryllium intimately fought.

Dunfermline Athletic bash person the vantage of playing astatine home, and they avoided decision 4 times against Ross County past term, truthful possibly they volition narrowly travel retired connected top.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.