Ross County manager Don Cowie warns Rangers that the Staggies are primed to repeat last season’s shock result as Glasgow giants prepare to travel to Dingwall
Don Cowie is warning Rangers they will face a Ross County team pumped full of belief in their ability to create a major upset on home soil this Sunday.
Philippe Clement’s men suffered a savage blow in the title race last April as they tumbled to a 3-2 defeat at the Global Energy Stadium.
In truth, County probably deserved to win by a more handsome margin of victory that day.
After an early Jack Baldwin own goal, County’s assured performance had them cruising to victory with three second half goals from Simon Murray, George Harmon and Josh Sims.
A late James Tavernier penalty gave it the false air of a much closer-fought affair.
Cowie, who currently has his players producing their best football in home territory, spoke of just how “comfortable” the squad feels performing at the Dingwall ground
Eight days after County took a thumping at Celtic Park, Rangers – with three away defeats from six in the league – would be unwise to underestimate the challenge facing them in Sunday’s live televised clash in the Highlands.
“I’ve got a team that feels really comfortable playing here in Dingwall,” Cowie stressed. “We make it really difficult for whoever comes and that needs to be the foundation of this football club.
“We will look to try and continue that this week. Despite the disappointment of last Saturday against Celtic we now go into a game we’re really looking forward to.
“We know Rangers are a really good team. They have shown, especially in Europe and in midweek, how strong they can be, but we will look to present the best version of ourselves, which we didn’t do last week.
“It is no hidden secret, we’ve taken the majority of our points at home. We’ve been really strong for a long period of time here and we have real belief no matter who we play in Dingwall.
“These are always big games in terms of being live on TV, with the spotlight that brings. The players have risen to that occasion many times and Sunday is another opportunity to do that.”
Cowie is far too calm and measured to be ruffled by talk of poor away form. His outlook is that the strong home base is healthy and that progress in matches around the country can be achieved.
“People can spin that narrative any way they want. We recognise that we’re a really good home team and we’ve been really positive here,” Cowie said.
“We also recognise we need to improve away from home and that’s my staff’s responsibility.
“We look at what we can do differently and look at what we might change it.
“If we can maintain the strong home form, but also show improvement on the road then it could have a massive bearing on where we can finish in this league.
“That’s the challenge – and it is one we need to embrace and try to improve on.”
County will be without influential central defender Kacper Lopata, with the Pole still suffering the ill-effects of a knee in the back that forced him off against Motherwell.
Aidan Denholm and Ricki Lamie are also doubts for the Rangers visit, but could make the squad.
