Scottish Cup
2025-07-12 - Stranraer vs Ross County
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Saturday 12th July 2025 - Kick Off 3pm
Preview
Relegation to League Two has proven to be very tough on Stranraer and they are perhaps a little fortunate to still hold onto their League status. Two years ago they needed Extra Time to hold off East Kilbride in a Relegation Play Off, but Stranraer at least improved a couple of places last season.
Even then, they only finished 4 points clear of the bottom team and so there is work for Stranraer to do if they are going maintain their spot in the fourth tier of Scottish Football.
With that in mind, asking Stranraer to win multiple matches in the League Group Stage is too much, but the main target will be to try and win a single match. The fixture against Edinburgh City may be the best bet for that to happen, but Stranraer open up with a tough game against Ross County.
This was the situation for them twelve months ago and Ross County were able to win 1-3 here.
Back then Ross County were also a Scottish Premiership team, but the season ended in Play Off disappointment and they have slipped back down into the Championship. Twelve of the last thirteen seasons had been spent in the Premiership and they made an immediate return when relegated in 2018, which is the challenge that will be set for the Ross County players this season.
Only once have Ross County failed to progress from the Group Stage of the League Cup and they are favourites in this section with their main rivals, Partick Thistle, set to visit Victoria Park in the final round of fixtures. That match won't matter if Ross County do not make a strong start to the Group though and so a focused team is expected to back up the start made to the League Cup last season.
Ross County are actually playing here for the third League Cup Group Stage in a row and they have won 1-5 and 1-3 in the previous two visits.
Prediction
Relegation will have really hurt the Ross County players, but they will want to rebuild some confidence by making sure they reach the Second Round of the League Cup.
A lot of people will be expecting Ross County to make an immediate return to the Premiership and they will want to make a statement in the four matches to be played in July.
Stranraer have really been struggling to be competitive in League Two over the last couple of years and they have not had much of an impact in the League Cup Group Stage.
They will be a little wary of the power that Ross County will bring into this match having failed to stay with them in back to back home ties against this opponent.
The same can be expected in July 2025 and Ross County can win by a couple of goals on the day.
The Pick :
Stranraer 0-3 Ross County
