High stakes for both teams as Ross County travel to St Johnstone for Scottish Premiership relegation showdown in Perth
This weekend could be a pivotal one in the Premiership relegation battle.
The division’s bottom two teams, St Johnstone and Ross County, face off in Perth knowing that a victory for the visitors would mean St Johnstone are automatically relegated.
However, a win for St Johnstone would see the gap at the foot of the table cut to three points with two games left to play, keeping every potential outcome on the cards for County.
It is a long time since the stakes have been so high for Ross County across a single 90 minutes, so the Dingwall outfit are in no doubt about how important a performance would be.
“As much as is at stake for them, it's equally as big for us as well and we need to show that on the pitch,” Cowie said.
“We need to roll the sleeves up, however it takes to get the result that we need, to give us the best possible opportunity for the rest of the week.
“We've got experience of the situation that we're in. That's the reality of it.
“We come together, as we always need to do as a football club, and stick together and get through it.
“Now it's time to go and show it. It's St Johnstone, a team that we know well, but we also know the challenges that they pose. But as I always say, it's about us as a team.
“We have to go and produce a performance, however that looks, to get the result that we need.”
If County are to show that togetherness that Cowie is looking for, they will need to show a united front on and off the pitch.
In theory, being the Staggies’ closest away day in such a vital match should mean it is one of the club’s largest away followings of the season, and many will have fond memories of the atmosphere created in last season’s trip to McDiarmid Park at the same stage of the campaign.
“The fans will be huge, because it has been a challenging time,” Cowie added.
“The trademark of this football club is the togetherness. We all need to pull in the same direction.
“I'm sure we'll take a big support, just because of the logistics of the game geographically. History tells us that's where we take our biggest support, and I see that being no different because of how big the game is this week.
“For us as a team and a staff, coming out to see that with their support gives you that belief and it gives you that boost.”
