Dundee United host relegation-threatened Ross County in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, looking to claim successive league wins at Tannadice Park for only the second time this season.

Meanwhile, the Staggies are winless in their last 13 top-flight matches against newly promoted clubs, drawing five and losing eight in the process.

Match preview

Dundee United progressed to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup for the first time in five years after beating Aberdeen 3-0 at Pittodrie last weekend.

A brace from Marc McNulty either side of half time and a header from Ryan Edwards secured a convincing victory for the Tangerines, who have set up a last-four tie against Hibernian next week.

Manager Micky Mellon hailed his side's "fantastic" performance against the Dons and is now looking forward to leading his team out at Hampden Park for the first time in his managerial career.

Dundee United have already ensured their top-flight status for next season, one year after winning the Championship title, taking away any pressure they may have had for their final three league matches of the season.

The Tangerines have won each of their last five top-flight matches against Ross County, a run that began in October 2015. The last time they won six consecutive Scottish Premiership games against a single opponent was against Aberdeen between October 1998 and November 1999.

Victory for Mellon's men on Saturday could see Dundee United leapfrog St Mirren into seventh place and move four points clear of Motherwell, who they face in under two weeks' time.

Ross County's winless run in the top-flight was extended to four matches when they lost 3-1 at home to St Mirren last Wednesday.

Jordan White gave the Staggies an early lead which they managed to take into half time. However, the Buddies responded well after the break and goals from Lee Erwin, Ilkay Durmus and a stoppage-time penalty from Jamie McGrath turned the game on its head, sealing all three points for the visitors.

That result leaves John Hughes's side in the relegation play-off position, three points above basement club Hamilton Academical and two points behind Kilmarnock in 10th place.

Ross County have now lost 18 points from leading positions in the Scottish Premiership this season; only Kilmarnock have dropped as many. In addition, the Staggies have taken the lead in 15 league matches but have won only eight times, the lowest ratio in this season's top-flight.

The Dingwall-based outfit have lost all three meetings with Dundee United this season, but securing three crucial points on Saturday could move them out of the bottom two if Kilmarnock were to lose to Motherwell.

Team News

Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist has been ruled out for the rest of the season after scans confirmed a broken wrist. Deniz Mehmet is set continue in goal as a result.

Mellon could decide to name the same 10 outfield players who played at Aberdeen last weekend, which would see central midfield trio Jeando Fuchs, Calum Butcher and Ian Harkes start once again.

McNulty and Lawrence Shankland are set to partner each other once again in attack, with Nicky Clark to start in behind. These three forwards have scored 18 of Dundee United's 30 top-flight goals between them this campaign.

Ross County duo Tom Grivosti and Connor Randall have both been ruled out for the rest of the season with respective hamstring and knee injuries.

Callum Morris, who has missed the last seven matches, is also unavailable as he is still recovering from an ankle problem.

Billy Mckay is set to keep his place in the side, playing in the number 10 role just behind striker White.

Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Mehmet; Smith, Edwards, Reynolds, Robson; Fuchs, Butcher, Harkes; Clark; Shankland, McNulty

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Naismith, Iacovitti, Watson, Hjelde; Charles-Cook, Lakin, Vigurs, Gardyne; Mckay; White

We say: Dundee United 3-0 Ross County

Ross County will be desperate to claim all three points this weekend but they must improve defensively if they are to have any chance of winning, after conceding in 14 of their last 15 matches in all competitions.

Excluding last Wednesday's 3-0 loss to Kilmarnock, Dundee United have performed well in recent weeks and we feel that they should have enough quality in the final third to win comfortably at Tannadice.