St Johnstone vs Ross County Prediction & Betting Tips (13 January)

A meeting between St Johnstone and Ross County in the Challenge Cup arrives at an interesting moment for both clubs, with recent developments shaping expectations. St Johnstone have spent the past two months dealing with squad adjustments and fitness updates, including positive news around several returning players who featured in their late‑December Championship draw against Ross CountyESPN. Their October goalless meeting at McDiarmid Park also highlighted a team capable of controlling long stretches of play, something the Saints have been trying to build on as they look for greater consistency heading into knockout competitionSt Johnstone Football Club.

Ross County, meanwhile, have been navigating their own challenges, including tactical reshuffles and a push to stabilise results after a mixed run of league performances. Their most recent encounters with St Johnstone have been tight, including the 0–0 draw on 27 December 2025ESPN, which followed a narrow 1–0 defeat to the Saints in AugustSky Sports. Over the past two months, County have also been managing squad rotation as they balance league commitments with cup ambitions, hoping to rediscover the attacking sharpness that has occasionally gone missing.

Both sides enter this Challenge Cup tie with contrasting momentum but a shared awareness of how familiar this fixture has become. St Johnstone’s recent performances suggest a team edging toward greater fluency, especially after creating numerous chances in their October stalemate where they struck the post and forced key savesSt Johnstone Football Club. Ross County, on the other hand, have been working to tighten their defensive structure, something evident in their recent low‑scoring matches. With both teams having met repeatedly across league and cup formats, the tactical patterns are well‑established, setting the stage for a strategic and disciplined contest.

Given the context of recent form, squad updates, and the rhythm of their latest matches, this Challenge Cup meeting feels primed for a decisive moment from St Johnstone. Their ability to control possession in previous encounters, combined with Ross County’s struggle to convert chances in recent outings, points toward a match where the Saints could finally turn dominance into goals. With that in mind, the prediction leans toward a clear St Johnstone victory, settling on a 3–0 correct score as the most fitting outcome based on current trends.