Our prediction for this Scottish Premiership match:
Tynecastle Park will host Saturday’s Premiership game between Hearts and Ross County. The Jambos quickly bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Preston, with the team beating Stoke City in their last warm-up game, and, no doubt, they are high on spirits ahead of the season opener. Summer signing Lawrence Shankland, who played for Beerschot last season, is widely expected to make his Hearts Premier League debut against Ross County.
The Staggies, on the other hand, did well to crush East Fife 7-0 in the League Cup, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry at Hearts. Even though there are no injury worries in the away team ahead of the season opener, we are tempted to put our money on the Jambos, who are a real force to be reckoned with at home. In their last meeting in the Scottish top flight the two sides played out a goalless draw.
Highlighted Player (Liam Boyce):
Liam Boyce is a Northern Ireland international who plays for Burton Albion in the League One. Boyce was born in Belfast on April 8, 1991 and he started his senior career at Cliftonville.
The 184-cm tall attacker played for the likes of Werder Bremen II and Ross County as well before becoming Burton Albion’s record signing in the 2017 summer transfer window.Liam Boyce missed almost entire 2017/2018 season through a serious knee injury, returning to action on February 3, 2018. Speaking of his international career, Boyce made his Northern Ireland debut against Scotland on February 9, 2011, coming as a substitute for Niall McGinn.
Six years later, on June 2, 2017, he scored his first goal for the Northern Ireland national team in a 1-0 win over New Zealand. Liam Boyce’s main position is centre-forward, but he is capable of producing fine performances as a second striker as well.
Highlighted Team (Ross County):
Founded back in 1929, Ross County are professional football club that compete in the Scotland Premier League. The Staggies welcome their rivals at Victoria Park, the stadium which can accommodate up to 6,541 (all-seated) people. Ross County have a bitter rivalry with fellow Highlanders Inverness Caledonian, with the two teams facing each other in Highland derby.
The Staggies recorded their biggest win against St Cuthbert Wanderers (11-0) in the 1993/94 Scottish Cup round 1, whereas their biggest loss came in the third round of the 1961/62 Scottish Cup campaign, with the team suffered a 7-0 defeat to Kilmarnock. Michael Gardyne, who scored 71 goals in 392 appearances for Ross County, is leading the club’s all-time goal-scoring chart.
Ross County have never won the Scottish Premier League trophy, but they did well to make it to the Scottish Cup final in the 2009/10 season. The Staggies were beaten by Dundee United (0-3) in the title game at Hampden Park, Glasgow.