Scottish Gossip: Ross County's cup win over Hibernian, Stuart Hogg joy

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Ross County manager Jim McIntyre has put his team's celebrations for winning the League Cup on hold because the Staggies have an important league game against St Johnstone on Wednesday evening. The players will train as normal on Monday afternoon, a day after beating Hibs 2-1 at Hampden to lift their first major trophy. (Various)

Ross County's match-winner Alex Schalk says he cannot remember scoring the last-minute goal - only seeing the fans rush down to the front of the stand to celebrate with him. The Dutchman said seeing some of the club's older fans in tears waving the team bus off from Dingwall had given him goosebumps. (Various)

Staggies captain Andrew Davies stated that lifting the trophy was better than playing for Bradford at Wembley in front of 90,000 fans or helping the Bantams beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. (Various)

County scorers Alex Schalk and Michael Gardyne celebrate the Staggies' first major cup win

For Jason Cummings, the Hibs striker, defeat was painful. "It's probably the worst I have felt after a game in my life," he said. While for team-mate John McGinn, called into the Scotland squad in midweek, the fall from such a high left him "gobsmacked, gutted". (Daily Star)

Michael Gardyne, scorer of County's first goal, was delighted to get on the scoresheet and help County lift the trophy since the winner's medal would make a great second birthday gift for his daughter. (Daily Record)

Liam Fontaine apologised to his team-mates for his error that allowed Schalk in to score the winner, but Hibs goalkeeper Mark Oxley said there was no need since the players knew Fontaine's goal at the end of the first half had kept them in the match. (Daily Record)

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon says the only player he can compare his team-mate Leigh Griffiths to is his former Sunderland team-mate Darren Bent. Griffiths has scored 35 goals this season; Bent scored 25 in 40 games in his first season at the Stadium of Light. (Daily Record)

Dougie Freedman has been sacked as manager of Nottingham Forest after a 3-0 defeat by 10-man Sheffield Wednesday, their fifth in six games. (Sun)

Jamie Murphy thinks his move to Brighton in the Championship from League One Sheffield United has helped him earn a call-up to the Scotland squad. (Sun)

Striker Jason Cummings cut a disconsolate figure after the match at Hampden

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland's try-scoring full-back Stuart Hogg says the 29-18 defeat of France at Murrayfield was "right up there" with his best experiences in rugby. (Various)

If Scotland beat Ireland in Dublin on Saturday it will be the first time since 2010 that they have won three out of five Six Nations matches. (Herald)

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw feels Ireland will be "hurting a little bit" at the way their Six Nations campaign has panned out, though they will be boosted by their 58-15 win over Italy on Saturday. (Times)

Former Scotland star Scott Hastings praises the contribution of the forwards in the win over the French, saying lock Richie Gray had an "immense game". (Times)

Michael Jamieson, who won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke at the London Olympics, described as "rubbish" his time of two minutes 16.13 seconds at the Edinburgh International on Sunday night. He has only four weeks to rediscover his form before the Rio Olympic trials. (National, Herald)

European speed skating champion Elise Christie, the 25-year-old from Livingston who is based in Nottingham, left the World Championships in Seoul with silver and bronze medals and third place overall - she says it brings a tough year to a close. (National)