Ross County manager Don Cowie keeps the faith after a difficult start to the William Hill Scottish Premiership campaign brings defeats to Rangers and Aberdeen
Don Cowie insists his belief in Ross County’s squad is steadfast despite a tough start to his first full season as manager.
The former Scotland international midfielder is urging the players to keep faith in what they are doing after two draws and two defeats in the opening four Premiership matches.
Next up for the Staggies is Dundee in Dingwall on Saturday, with St Johnstone visiting the following weekend.
Prior to the international break, County’s highly unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen was only their second home loss in 13 matches, but a recent struggle to hit the net has been costly.
Cowie said: “I believe in this group of players. We have a really competitive squad now, with two players for every position - and they are working extremely hard.
“The message from me to them is ‘stick to what you’re trying to do’ especially from the last game against Aberdeen.
“One goal can often kick-start something.
“It is about keeping going through the process and it will come. Work hard and you’ll get the rewards.”
Cowie acknowledges that a first win of the league campaign this weekend would be a massive shot in the arm despite his assertion that the majority of performances have been decent so far.
He said: “We have to earn the right to go and win the game. It is a really competitive league.
“We’ve been really close against Dundee United, where I thought we were really good.
“If you’re not ruthless and clinical teams will come back to haunt you.
“Against Aberdeen we were very much in the game and it was fine margins in terms of us almost taking the lead.
“Then we get sucker-punched in the last minute.
“It is about us keeping doing what we’re doing and keeping faith in the process in terms of what we’re trying to achieve.
“I saw lots of good signs against Aberdeen and it is about trying to build on that, and trying to get even better.
“We’ll be looking to do that this weekend, but at the same time we are coming up against a really confident, strong team in Dundee.
“Bar Rangers, where we were all disappointed with the result and performance, we have been very much in the other three league games.
“One goal separates those three matches and it could have gone either way in all three games.
“If I was watching a team out of their depth and struggling, it would be a different proposition, but right now we are right bang in games - and it is a case of keep doing what we’re doing and the rewards will come.”
Cowie admires Dundee’s progress under Tony Docherty, who achieved a top six finish last year in their first season back in the top-flight.
The Dens Park side has shown attacking flair and intent to score nine times and be second top scorers so far after Celtic, but also lost seven goals.
Cowie added: “That’s the way they’ve been under Tony Docherty - very attack-minded.
“They have conceded goals and it is about us making the most of that and us trying to find and exploit those openings.
“We have to defend well, first and foremost.
“That’s what I was really happy with against Aberdeen. Despite losing a little bit of concentration in the 97th minute, I can’t remember Ross Laidlaw having too much to do, against a really red hot form team.
“We have to build on that because I always believe in the front area, with the strikers and attacking midfielders we’ve got that we will score goals”
