Ross County must put Hearts’ off-field drama to one side ahead of two clubs clashing in Dingwall, insists Staggies manager Don Cowie
Ross County’s focus will be entirely on their own performance level this weekend despite a chaotic week at opponents Hearts, according to Don Cowie.
His opposite number at Tynecastle, Neil Critchley, was relieved of his duties after the Jambos’ defeat to Dundee last Saturday.
With Hearts’ end-of-season awards taking place 24 hours later, the dismissal continued to dominate Scottish football headlines into the early part of the week, with Liam Fox having been placed in interim charge.
This Saturday, then, will be the second time this season Cowie has pitted his wits against Fox, but with so much drama off the pitch consuming their opponents the Staggies have been zoning in on delivering on it.
"Whether it is Hearts, or any other club, there will be people with differing opinions,” Cowie said.
“Some will be relieved, or happy because they maybe will feel they've not had the game-time they feel they deserve. That gives those players a natural lift.
“The boys who have been the bedrock of the team and have played every match will be disappointed because they've lost a manager who believed in them. There will be mixed emotions.
"People who have maybe been out of the picture can come back into the fold if Liam wants to give them an opportunity, so from our points of view there is that uncertainty on shape and personnel.
"For me, the positive is we just focus on ourselves. We need to control the way we perform. We need to perform at a high level rather than worry about who Liam picks and what shape they use. The ownership then comes down purely to us performing well.”
A run of just one win in their last six matches saw Hearts drop out of the top six before the split, and eventually Critchley paid the price for it.
That disappointing form will potentially be reflected in the stands in Dingwall this Saturday too, with the usually well-backed Hearts looking unlikely to come close to selling out their ticket allocation.
Cowie wants to see County take advantage of that, with the chance to quiet an already-frustrated supporters’ base who have travelled to the Highlands.
"The reason Neil has left his role is because the results have not been good enough at a massive football club in this country,” Cowie added.
"Some people will maybe say it was a bit premature, but it has happened. There is doubt there.
"They are in a run of form which is challenging, like we are. We have to use that to our advantage.
"We're at home and it is up to us to take advantage, perform well and put Hearts under pressure and make them seem uncertain.”
