Don Cowie hoping clarity can work in Ross County’s favour as Staggies make one final attempt to avoid a third play-off in-a-row when Motherwell visit Dingwall
Don Cowie is hoping that clarity – both in mindsets, and permutations – can work in Ross County’s favour as they make one last effort to avoid a relegation play-off this weekend.
The Staggies know that they have to win against Motherwell in Dingwall on Sunday afternoon to have any chance of avoiding finishing 11th for the third year in-a-row, while hoping that Dundee lose to St Johnstone.
If County win and Dundee draw, it will mean the Highlanders come agonisingly close but miss out on goal difference unless they can record their biggest ever top flight victory and win by seven goals.
In that sense, then, it is a simple task awaiting the Staggies this weekend, and Cowie’s focus has been on ensuring his squad is in the right mental state going into their third match in an eight-day span.
“I think we've got to feel good, we've got to feel positive, because we managed to produce a draw when it looked unlikely at that stage of the game on Wednesday night,” Cowie said.
“It gives us an opportunity. It’s a big game on Sunday – we know what we need to do and that has to be the full focus.
“We’re at a stage of the season where the fitness is there, so the focus isn’t primarily on training because we’re ready.
“We’ve gone to Fortrose beach and things like that this week because games are coming thick and fast in a hectic schedule.
“It is more just a case of getting them out and about, still as a group, still having those conversations and being around each other – really just trying to clear their minds rather than wasting energy in training and over-thinking things.
“We’ve got one goal and that is to win on Sunday. Even if we do, it might not fall in our favour and I’ve got every belief that the group will come together again and get ready for what might, potentially, come beyond Sunday.
“It’s a huge game, not just for the club but for the community, the area, for the Highlands, so we know what’s at stake. Having the fans behind us, that real togetherness like I preach about all the time as the fundamentals of this football club, can really help us.”
It remains to be seen how Dundee will react after such a late hammer blow delivered by County on Wednesday night when the Dens Park faithful will have thought they would be going into Sunday’s final round of matches completely safe from relegation.
The Staggies, on the other hand, may be boosted by knowing they still have a shot at finishing 10th, rather than looking over their shoulders at St Johnstone.
Meanwhile, Motherwell know they cannot drop any further down the table regardless of their result, and are relying on favours elsewhere to be able to reel in Hearts and finish seventh.
It is often said that matches at this stage of the campaign are won by teams who “want it more”, but Cowie is not putting too much store in that line of thinking – although he does admit his squad have been boosted by breaking their losing run at Dens Park.
“Motherwell come here on Sunday and, in the grand scheme of things, don’t have much to play for, but that can also mean they play with a real freedom on the back of results they have had,” Cowie reasoned.
“All we can do is focus on ourselves and it should be a given that the motivation, effort and commitment is there to do everything you can to win a game of football. That’s what we need to show on Sunday.
“It might take a bit of weight off our shoulders (knowing that automatic relegation has been avoided), but it doesn’t change anything because we still have to win the game on Sunday.
“The changing room was a totally different place on Wednesday in terms of getting that equaliser so late and giving them that belief and confidence.
“That’s what you want to have an effect come Sunday’s game.
“It’s been a frustrating run, disappointing. We’re humans, I’m sure the players have been feeling it, so to come off the pitch on Wednesday with a different sensation can only be a positive.”
