Ross County manager Don Cowie left ruing Staggies’ failure to see game out after letting two-goal lead at Airdrieonians slip on opening weekend of the Scottish Championship
Don Cowie was left bemoaning a lack of a ruthless streak from his Ross County side away at Airdrieonians as they let a two-goal lead slip on the opening day of the Championship campaign.
The Staggies boss was very happy with how County performed in the first hour at the weekend, going two goals up thanks to an Akil Wright double.
However, he believes they allowed Airdrieonians back into the game in the latter stages when the Dingwall outfit should have got over the line.
With County having made no secret of their desire to win the Championship this season, every point will be crucial, and Cowie believes they will not be able to afford too many similar slip-ups over the course of the season.
He told The County Corner after Saturday’s match: “I’m really disappointed. When you go away from home and get yourselves into a commanding lead at 2-0 through doing everything right –- keeping the opposition at bay and looking a threat on the transition – you have to make sure you win the game.
“With the amount of senior players and experience we can’t not take the three points.
“When it went 2-0, we stopped doing what we had been doing well and that gave Airdrie the initiative and momentum. In any league in the world, if you give the other team a sniff, they will take it, and that’s exactly what they did.
“We have to be relentless. I don’t think Ross (Laidlaw) has a save to make in the first hour, but we let them back into the game.
“We are all aware it wasn’t good enough in the final half an hour, and we’ve got to recognise that and be honest.
“For where we want to get to at the end of the season, it’s important that we win these games.”
One silver lining for County was the return to action of Akil Wright, who had missed the club’s final two League Cup group stage matches.
“It’s huge to have him back, because I think we all know over the last 12 months how consistent and important he has been,” Cowie added.
“It just shows the character he has. He hadn’t trained until Friday, but he wanted to play and be a part of it, so it was a real positive having him on the pitch.”
Cowie also confirmed that Adam Emslie missed Saturday’s match due to a foot infection, but he was due to return to training on Monday.