Digressive Celts

Matches › 2023/24

Ross County 3–0 Motherwell

Tuesday 5 December 2023, 19:45 · Global Energy Stadium · Round 16 · Half-time 2–0 · Referee David Dickinson · Attendance 2,835

Ross County Murray 2', Dhanda 18', Purrington 56' · Nightingale sent off 90+2'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

Ross CountyMotherwell
Goals30
xG1.431.18
Expected Points1.561.12

Ross County 41%Draw 32%Motherwell 27%

Most likely score 1–1, 19%. Final score 3–0, 2%.

Motherwell goalsRoss County goals0123456+0123456+4%6%3%1%10%10%3%7%13%8%2%2%4%2%19%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

00.511.50153045607590HTNightingale (Ross County), second yellow card 90+2'Loturi on for Randall, 71'Turner on for Dhanda and Sims on for White, 77'Samuel on for Murray, 87'Butcher on for Wilkinson, Zdravkovski on for Blaney, and Gent on for Mugabi, 46'Obika on for Bair, 59'Shaw on for Butcher, 71'Murray 2'Dhanda 18'Purrington 56'Ross County 1.43Motherwell 1.1800.511.50153045607590HTNightingale (Ross County), second yellow card 90+2'Loturi on for Randall, 71'Turner on for Dhanda and Sims on for White, 77'Samuel on for Murray, 87'Butcher on for Wilkinson, Zdravkovski on for Blaney, and Gent on for Mugabi, 46'Obika on for Bair, 59'Shaw on for Butcher, 71'Murray 2'Dhanda 18'Purrington 56'1.431.18Ross CountyMotherwell

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Stoppage time is shaded as far as the last shot or event recorded in it. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

Ross CountyMotherwell

1.43 +0.59xG1.18 +0.06
2.07 +1.24xG on target0.66 −0.55
13 +3.1Shots14 +3.7
6 +2.7Shots on target4 +0.5
2 +0.4Big chances1 −0.8
16 0Touches in the opposition box11 −8
42% −1Possession58% +15
340 +16Passes472 +128
68% +5Pass accuracy74% +8
45% +1Field tilt55% +12
36 +7Final-third entries40 +9
9 +0.2Box entries5 −5.1
15.7 0Passes per defensive action14.4 −2
6 +0.9Corners3 −1.6
11 −2Tackles10 −7
12 +3.1Interceptions6 −2.5
29 +6Clearances15 −10
3 −0.9Saves3 +0.6
14 +2Fouls9 −4
1 −1.0Offsides0 −1.1

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one. Field tilt is each side's share of the open-play passes completed in the final third; entries are completed open-play passes and carries into the final third and the box; passes per defensive action (PPDA) counts the opponent's passes in its own 60% of the pitch for each tackle, interception, challenge, or foul there.

Chance locations

Ross County

Randall 39', 0.25 xGWhite 51', 0.07 xGWhite 56', 0.07 xGMurray 20', 0.05 xGLoturi 71', 0.04 xGMurray 74', 0.04 xGMurray 28', 0.03 xGAllardice 68', 0.03 xGBrown 18', 0.02 xGNightingale 62', 0.01 xGPurrington 56', 0.67 xG, goalMurray 2', 0.11 xG, goalDhanda 18', 0.04 xG, goal54%0.78 xGSix-yard box: 2 shots, 0.78 xG, 2 goals28%0.41 xGCentral box: 4 shots, 0.41 xG, 0 goals3%0.04 xGWide in the box: 1 shot, 0.04 xG, 0 goals12%0.17 xGEdge of the box: 4 shots, 0.17 xG, 1 goal3%0.04 xGFurther out: 2 shots, 0.04 xG, 0 goals

Motherwell

Biereth 66', 0.48 xGGent 64', 0.20 xGBiereth 73', 0.11 xGO'Donnell 8', 0.09 xGSlattery 90+3', 0.06 xGWilkinson 7', 0.04 xGSpittal 34', 0.04 xGGent 89', 0.04 xGSpittal 78', 0.03 xGO'Donnell 4', 0.02 xGBair 6', 0.02 xGSpittal 29', 0.02 xGCasey 50', 0.02 xGSlattery 8', 0.01 xG58%0.68 xGSix-yard box: 2 shots, 0.68 xG, 0 goals9%0.11 xGCentral box: 1 shot, 0.11 xG, 0 goals8%0.09 xGWide in the box: 1 shot, 0.09 xG, 0 goals23%0.27 xGEdge of the box: 8 shots, 0.27 xG, 0 goals3%0.03 xGFurther out: 2 shots, 0.03 xG, 0 goals

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

Ross CountyMotherwell

1.25 10 shots, 2 goalsOpen play1.09 12 shots, 0 goals
0.18 3 shots, 1 goalSet pieces0.08 2 shots, 0 goals

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

Level
2 min (2%) · Ross County 0.11, Motherwell 0.00 xG
Ross County ahead
91 min (98%) · Ross County 1.32, Motherwell 1.18 xG

Line-ups

1355424263102615LaidlawNightingaleBaldwinLeakBrownRandallAllardicePurringtonDhandaWhiteMurrayYellow cardSent off, second yellowGoalGoalYellow cardGoal71'77'77'87'Ross County 3-4-1-2Derek Adams11552082299721424KellyCaseyMugabiBlaneySlatterySpencerWilkinsonSpittalO'DonnellBairBierethYellow card46'46'46'59'Motherwell 3-1-4-2Stuart Kettlewell

Ross County substitutes

  • 71' Loturi for Randall
  • 77' Turner for Dhanda
  • 77' Sims for White
  • 87' Samuel for Murray

Motherwell substitutes

  • 46' Butcher for Wilkinson · off 71'
  • 46' Zdravkovski for Blaney
  • 46' Gent for Mugabi · yellow card 69'
  • 59' Obika for Bair
  • 71' Shaw for Butcher

Players

Ross County

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
LaidlawGK900.000.0000.0232
Nightingale CB900.010.0100.0656
BaldwinCB9010.000.0320.06210
LeakCB900.000.0000.06613
BrownRWB9010.020.5340.0443
RandallCM710.250.0200.0665
AllardiceCM900.030.0410.0246
PurringtonLWB9010.670.0100.0224
DhandaAM7710.040.1530.2051
White ST770.130.0200.0301
MurrayST8710.230.1010.1361
LoturiMF190.040.0100.0322
TurnerMF130.000.0000.0330
SimsFW130.000.0000.0101
SamuelFW30.000.0000.0110

Motherwell

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPxTProgDef
KellyGK900.000.0000.0550
CaseyCB900.020.0100.0656
MugabiCB460.000.0000.01211
BlaneyCB460.000.0100.0560
SlatteryDM900.070.0410.0573
SpencerRWB900.000.0100.0562
WilkinsonCM460.040.011−0.0310
Spittal CM900.090.2110.23125
O'DonnellLWB900.110.0300.12122
BairST590.020.011−0.0113
BierethST900.590.011−0.0121
ButcherDF250.000.0000.0110
ZdravkovskiMF440.000.0100.0341
Gent MF440.240.4310.1851
ObikaFW310.000.030−0.0200
ShawFW190.000.000−0.0120

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions). xT is the expected threat added by the player's completed open-play passes and carries, and Prog counts progressive passes and carries.

Pass networks

Ross County

Baldwin and Dhanda: 4 passesBaldwin and White: 4 passesNightingale and Dhanda: 4 passesLeak and Randall: 4 passesLeak and Allardice: 4 passesLeak and White: 4 passesWhite and Murray: 4 passesNightingale and Allardice: 5 passesLeak and Purrington: 5 passesNightingale and Brown: 6 passesLeak and Murray: 6 passesBrown and Allardice: 6 passesBrown and Dhanda: 6 passesRandall and Murray: 6 passesAllardice and Dhanda: 6 passesPurrington and Dhanda: 6 passesPurrington and White: 6 passesPurrington and Murray: 6 passesBaldwin and Randall: 7 passesBrown and Randall: 7 passesRandall and Dhanda: 7 passesAllardice and Purrington: 7 passesBaldwin and Allardice: 8 passesBrown and Murray: 8 passesDhanda and Murray: 8 passesDhanda and White: 10 passesLaidlaw: 7 completed passesBaldwin: 20 completed passesNightingale: 17 completed passesLeak: 21 completed passesBrown: 20 completed passesRandall: 21 completed passesAllardice: 26 completed passesPurrington: 19 completed passesDhanda: 22 completed passesWhite: 13 completed passesMurray: 16 completed passes1535424263102615LaidlawBaldwinNightingaleLeakBrownRandallAllardicePurringtonDhandaWhiteMurrayStarters until 71' · lines join pairs with 4+ passes

Motherwell

Kelly and Bair: 3 passesSpencer and Wilkinson: 3 passesWilkinson and Bair: 3 passesO'Donnell and Biereth: 3 passesO'Donnell and Bair: 3 passesKelly and Spencer: 4 passesSlattery and Spittal: 4 passesBlaney and Wilkinson: 5 passesCasey and Spittal: 5 passesWilkinson and O'Donnell: 5 passesSpittal and Bair: 5 passesBlaney and O'Donnell: 6 passesCasey and Spencer: 6 passesCasey and Mugabi: 7 passesCasey and Wilkinson: 7 passesSlattery and Spencer: 7 passesBlaney and Slattery: 8 passesWilkinson and Spittal: 8 passesBlaney and Spittal: 9 passesCasey and Slattery: 11 passesSpittal and O'Donnell: 11 passesKelly: 11 completed passesBlaney: 18 completed passesCasey: 23 completed passesMugabi: 11 completed passesSlattery: 21 completed passesSpencer: 9 completed passesWilkinson: 15 completed passesSpittal: 24 completed passesO'Donnell: 17 completed passesBiereth: 3 completed passesBair: 8 completed passes12015582299722414KellyBlaneyCaseyMugabiSlatterySpencerWilkinsonSpittalO'DonnellBierethBairStarters until 46' · lines join pairs with 3+ passes

Each starter at the average position of their passes and receptions until the side's first substitution or red card, sized by completed passes. Lines join pairs who passed to each other often, thicker for more passes.

Passing combinations

Ross County

FromToPasses
BrownMurray7
AllardiceBaldwin6
NightingaleBrown5
MurrayDhanda5
LeakMurray5

Motherwell

FromToPasses
O'DonnellSpittal11
SpittalO'Donnell11
SlatteryCasey10
SpittalGent9
CaseySpencer7

The five pairs with the most completed passes from one to the other over the whole match.

Defensive actions

Ross County

3−1.810+3.012−0.28−2.37+1.88+0.26−0.45−0.79+1.08−2.66+1.59+4.28+5.211+6.96+0.13−2.17+2.70−2.54−0.33−1.91−2.10−1.71+0.22+0.33+0.53+1.71+0.43+2.00−0.41+0.4FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 14 matches

Motherwell

6+1.16−1.87−1.18+1.86−1.34−3.15−2.76−2.75−1.56+0.22−3.92−2.49+3.87+0.54−1.70−4.35+2.15+1.76+2.32−0.23+1.01−0.30−1.320.02+1.10−0.50−0.71+0.30−0.96−12.1FewerMore than the season average

Against its average of 15 matches

Where each side made its tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks, recoveries, challenges, and fouls, attacking up the page. Areas are shaded by the difference from the side's average per match this season before this one: amber for more, blue for fewer.

Threat

Ross County

0.010.010.010.030.010.030.010.050.030.040.060.020.020.030.020.060.020.060.05−0.030.100.12LessMore

Motherwell

0.030.010.020.010.030.020.030.060.010.030.030.020.070.070.010.030.01−0.06−0.030.03−0.010.190.17LessMore

Expected threat added by completed open-play passes and carries, by where the move started, attacking up the page. Expected threat is the chance that possession in an area leads to a goal; a move adds the difference between where it ends and where it starts.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.29AttackRoss County1.00 → 1.02Motherwell1.10 → 1.09Defence (lower is better)Ross County1.48 → 1.46Motherwell1.44 → 1.45

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

ChanceBeforeWith this resultChange
Ross County
Top six13%20%+7
11th18%14%−4
Bottom14%9%−5
Motherwell
Top six18%12%−6
11th13%17%+4
Bottom8%11%+3

From the forecast before the match (5 December 2023): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

Ross CountyMotherwell
Expected goals1.341.14
Win41%31%
Expected Points1.501.21
Clean sheet32%26%

Ross County 41%Draw 28%Motherwell 31%

Most likely score 1–1, 14%. Both sides score 51%.

Motherwell goalsRoss County goals0123456+0123456+9%9%5%2%7%3%8%9%5%2%3%4%2%1%1%11%14%

From the forecast as it stood on 5 December 2023: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowRoss County winDrawMotherwell win
Ross County
Top six13%20%11%7%
11th18%14%19%23%
Bottom14%9%16%19%
Motherwell
Top six18%12%17%27%
11th13%17%12%9%
Bottom8%11%8%4%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Ross County

  1. W1–028 NovSt. Mirren (H)xG 0.66–0.24
  2. D0–025 NovKilmarnock (H)xG 0.88–0.65
  3. L0–111 NovSt. Johnstone (A)xG 0.21–0.69
  4. L0–34 NovCeltic (H)xG 0.26–3.40
  5. D2–231 OctHibernian (A)xG 0.52–0.50
  6. D3–328 OctMotherwell (A)xG 1.92–2.34

Motherwell

  1. D3–32 DecDundee FC (H)xG 0.89–1.59
  2. D1–125 NovCeltic (A)xG 0.48–3.25
  3. L1–211 NovHearts (H)xG 1.10–2.08
  4. D2–27 NovSt. Johnstone (A)xG 2.58–0.93
  5. L0–14 NovKilmarnock (A)xG 0.61–1.95
  6. L2–41 NovAberdeen (H)xG 1.44–2.24

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

Ross CountyMotherwell
Position9th8th
Played1415
Won, drawn, lost3–⁠5–⁠63–⁠5–⁠7
Points14 (1.00 per game)14 (0.93 per game)
Expected Points per game0.991.04
Goals12–⁠2119–⁠25
xG per game0.84–⁠1.521.12–⁠1.65
Home: points, xG per game1.14, 0.88–⁠1.131.00, 1.31–⁠1.50
Away: points, xG per game0.86, 0.81–⁠1.910.86, 0.91–⁠1.83
ManagerDerek Adams (2)Stuart Kettlewell (29)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.02.5League average 1.29AttackRoss County1.00, 10thMotherwell1.10, 8thDefence (lower is better)Ross County1.48, 11thMotherwell1.44, 8th

This season

Attack0.51.01.52.0SepOctNovDecRoss County attack: 1.00Motherwell attack: 1.101.101.00MotherwellRoss CountyDefence (lower is better)0.51.01.52.0SepOctNovDecRoss County defence: 1.48Motherwell defence: 1.441.481.44

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

Ross CountyMotherwell
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play−28%+11%−18%+19%
Counter-attacks−66%+72%−57%+11%
Set pieces−30%−10%−18%+16%
Penalties−100%+19%+11%+48%
Headers−25%−27%−27%+34%
Left side−14%+3%−17%+51%
Centre−47%+13%−6%+4%
Right side−14%+12%−53%+11%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't.

Matchups

Ross County attacking

Ross County createdMotherwell concededLeft side−14%+11%Centre−47%+4%Right side−14%+51%Open play−28%+19%Counter-attacks−66%+11%Set pieces−30%+16%Headers−25%+34%

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdRoss County concededLeft side−17%+12%Centre−6%+13%Right side−53%+3%Open play−18%+11%Counter-attacks−57%+72%Set pieces−18%−10%Headers−27%−27%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

Ross CountyMotherwell

0.84xG1.12
1.52xG against1.65
43%Possession43%
9.9Shots10.3
14.9Shots against14.7
3.3Shots on target3.5
1.6Big chances1.8
16.4Touches in the opposition box19.2
324Passes344
63%Pass accuracy66%
5.1Corners4.6
44%Field tilt43%
28.7Final-third entries30.7
8.8Box entries10.1
15.6Passes per defensive action16.6

Per league match this season before kick-off.

Game state this season

Ross County

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level570.841.02
Ahead91.702.07
Behind240.522.51

Motherwell

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level490.771.58
Ahead90.412.41
Behind321.871.56

xG by period

Ross County

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.170.090–0
16–300.120.310–5
31–450.070.371–4
46–600.160.204–3
61–750.120.193–4
76–900.180.364–5

Motherwell

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.040.111–1
16–300.120.261–6
31–450.150.181–2
46–600.100.331–3
61–750.240.334–7
76–900.470.4511–6

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Ross County

GKCBCBCBRWBCMCMLWBAMSTSTLaidlaw 14Nightingale 8Loturi 2Dhanda 1Baldwin 14Leak 13Harmon 1Brown 13Randall 1Randall 12Turner 4Allardice 6Loturi 4Dhanda 2Purrington 6Harmon 4Reid 3Dhanda 8Sims 2Loturi 2White 11Brophy 2Murray 13Dhanda 1Sims 13-4-1-2 in 7 of 14 starts

Formations: 3-4-1-2 (7), 4-4-2 (3), 4-3-1-2 (2), 3-4-3 (1), 3-5-2 (1)

Motherwell

GKCBCBCBRWBCMCMLWBRWSTLWKelly 15McGinn 9Mugabi 12Butcher 3Casey 15Blaney 6O'Donnell 14McGinn 1Paton 10Slattery 5Butcher 1Spittal 7Miller 5Spencer 1Spencer 10Souaré 2Paton 1Slattery 7Miller 3Paton 1Bair 4Biereth 3Wilkinson 3Bair 7Spittal 5Biereth 23-4-3 in 6 of 15 starts

Formations: 3-4-3 (6), 3-5-2 (4), 5-3-2 (2), 3-1-4-2 (1), 3-4-2-1 (1), 5-4-1 (1)

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Head to head

DateHomeAwayxG
28 October 2023Motherwell3–3Ross CountyxG 2.34–1.92
20 May 2023Motherwell1–0Ross CountyxG 1.47–0.29
4 March 2023Ross County0–2MotherwellxG 1.19–1.42
14 January 2023Motherwell1–1Ross CountyxG 0.82–1.23
4 October 2022Ross County0–5MotherwellxG 0.52–2.58
7 May 2022Ross County0–1MotherwellxG 0.72–1.22

13 league meetings since 2020/21: Ross County won 4, Motherwell won 7, and 2 were drawn. Goals 13–23 and xG 1.14–1.52 per game.

Key players

Ross County

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Murray13990310.220.07
White11886300.230.04
Dhanda13961020.020.22
Loturi8654100.180.05

Motherwell

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Biereth5492520.400.20
Spittal151,350240.180.21
Wilkinson6593310.170.12
Bair11873200.230.04

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes.