Can Don Cowie’s Ross County out-Fox Hearts in Edinburgh after former Scotland teammate Steven Naismith’s Tynecastle sacking?
Don Cowie admits the sacking of former Scotland and Hearts team-mate Steven Naismith has injected uncertainty into his Tynecastle preparations.
For the second week in a row, Ross County will take on a managerless team having drawn 3-3 with St Johnstone at the weekend following Craig Levein’s Perth exit.
Hearts coach Liam Fox, the former Caley Thistle midfielder, will be in Hearts’ technical area this weekend as County chase their first Gorgie win since March 2017.
Cowie counts Naismith as a friend, but knows the level of expectations at Hearts and was disappointed, rather than surprised, when the axe fell.
Warning that last season’s third force in Scotland, the current bottom of the table side, still held huge threat and quality, Cowie said: “We’re not sure exactly what might change with Liam Fox in charge in the interim. It is about making sure we are ready ourselves.
“We need to focus on what we have done really well recently and build on that.
“It is the second game on the trot that we step into the unknown a little bit in terms of facing a team that has an interim manager.
“We don’t know what changes might come in terms of shape or personnel, so we have to prepare the best we can going into the game.
“There’s a real demand at Hearts to be successful, especially at home from their fans - we’ll have to be ready and prepared for that.
“Then we’ll focus on ourselves.
“Liam Fox is also someone I know really well. He was the coach at Hearts when I was there, so I know what he brings.
“While manager at Dundee United, he possibly played a different style to what Hearts play now.
“It’s about guessing whether that will be the shape he wants the team to play. They’ve got so many options personnel-wise.
“But we will give it our best shot in terms of being prepared for that, and it’s about us then collectively being ready.”
Questions have been raised over Naismith’s close season recruitment, including the arrival of ex-County talisman Yan Dhanda, but Cowie feels those doubts have been raised with retrospective wisdom.
He said: “I think everyone felt in the summer Hearts had recruited extremely well. They had a great season last year and Steven did a great job.
“He added to that group really well, including signing one of our best players, Yan Dhanda.
“For whatever reason, it has taken time for players to settle at the club, but we know going there this Saturday it is still a squad that’s full of talent.
“We’ll need to be at our best to get a result.”
Cowie spent the best part of three years playing for Hearts after spells with County, Caley Thistle, Watford, Cardiff City and Wigan.
He understands the demanding culture of the club and its supporter base.
Asked if Naismith’s exit was too nasty, he stressed: “Nothing surprises anyone these days in football.
“This is us going into our seventh league game and we’re facing two teams in as many weeks who have already changed their manager.
“That just shows how frequently and quickly it can happen.
“I thought Steven did an excellent job last year. He’s an ex-team-mate and a friend, so I’m naturally disappointed for him to lose his job.
“But at the same time, I’m sure he recognises the expectation at a club like Hearts in terms of winning games of football.
“He’s been open and admitted it hasn’t quite been good enough this season and sometimes that means a change comes along.”
County will be unable to use Hearts loanee Aidan Denholm against his parent club this weekend.
It is a blow for Cowie, but one he was ready for.
He added: “Hearts were really receptive in terms of giving us Aidan.
“My good relationship with Steven meant that happened extremely quickly, and they were so easy to deal with.
“We are delighted with what Aidan has done since coming here. He is a breath of fresh air in terms of his character about the place.
“We see the energy when he comes on the pitch and I was delighted for him to have that impact on Saturday, coming on and setting up a goal against St Johnstone.
“It’s unfortunate he won’t be available this week, but we knew that when we signed him.”
