No time to spare for Ross County to avoid a third Premiership relegation play-off in-a-row, admits manager Don Cowie ahead of Hearts’ visit to Dingwall
Ross County manager Don Cowie insists his players understand the urgency of their Premiership predicament with just four games left to play this season.
The Staggies slipped into the relegation play-off zone thanks to last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Kilmarnock, and only have a few weeks to claw their way out of it and avoid a third play-off in-a-row.
With Hearts the next side to visit Dingwall this Saturday, three points would be crucial to County as far as reeling in the sides above them goes.
Cowie believes his squad know the peril County are in, and understand that it is coming close to a case of “now or never” for them to step up and deliver points.
“There’s no time – that’s the message to the players,” he stressed.
“You can’t wait to make the difference, now is the time to do it.
“You understand the importance of results, stopping the run of form we’re in and the impact that can have in terms of reaction and confidence.
“It is about focusing on this game and ensuring we perform at a good level. Yes, we’re against a good team with good individuals, but how do our players impact the game, individually and collectively?
“We’re not facing something we’ve never faced before at this football club. When we’re in this position is we come together and show that County spirit to get to where we need to get to, and that’s going to be the exact same over these next four games.”
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of County’s last match was their lack of attacking threat. Having scored twice at St Mirren just before the split, the Staggies struggled to be a consistent danger to the Kilmarnock backline.
There is no doubting that County’s attack has been somewhat blunted by the long-term injury to playmaker Noah Chilvers, but Cowie is still waiting for someone to take on that mantle of being the club’s creator in chief in Chilvers’ place.
“We controlled the first half really well against Kilmarnock in a difficult game on the surface, but how do you carry that threat after you have shown that control?” Cowie continued.
“We didn’t do it enough and that’s what we need to improve on. Against St Mirren it was probably the opposite – we didn’t have as much control, but we had the threat and looked like we could score goals.
“It is about us marrying it together and putting out the complete performance – being defensively solid and then carrying that threat.
“I believe I’m a manager who gives people that freedom. They are at this football club for a reason – they are good players and can create, and score, goals.
“We’ve got plenty of forwards who can score and it is just having that belief in themselves again to go and make the difference.
“Yes, we’ve had the setback of losing Noah Chilvers, a huge part of the team. Prior to this run, people were maybe looking to Noah to be the one who made the difference because he had so much quality.
“Well, now he’s not there so it is up to other people to go ‘you know what, I’m going to be the one that plays with a bit of freedom and takes risks’, and looks to score and create goals. That is the message going into this week.”
One moment of magic in front of goal from earlier in the season has also been recognised, as Akil Wright’s wonderstrike against Aberdeen back at the start of 2025 has been shortlisted for the Premiership’s goal of the season.
Cowie thinks it has a real chance of being crowned the winner, admitting his only surprise at the shortlist was that Wright was not on there twice.
“I’m not just being biased, I’ve seen the shortlist and I think Akil’s has definitely got to be up there as a real contender,” Cowie added.
“If it is not first, it will be in the top three, that’s for sure.
“What maybe goes against him is the weather at the time – the snow was coming down and you could barely see the ball with so much snow lying on the pitch, but for a centre back to come up with a moment of quality like that was really special.
“I was probably just a bit surprised his other goal, the bicycle-kick, wasn’t a contender as well.”
