Ross County

We asked you for your views after Ross County's defeat at Tynecastle to Hearts.

Here's what you said:

Jim: About right. We lacked a desire to go for it, as often Don Cowie starts with a negative structure. His mantra continues to be 'stay in the game'. Fine if you can keep the opposition at arms length or get in front. We lack gamechangers off the bench but will continue with our method and see where it takes us.

David: Very poor performance from County. Craig Gordon had a nice easy afternoon. As for the top six, on this display, there is no chance. County have to concentrate on survival in the Premiership and show desire to win which was not there on Saturday. Team selection and substitutes are also questionable.

Watch all the highlights from Hearts' 2-0 win over Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

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• Hearts have beaten Ross County for the first time in the Premiership since 30 September 2023, a run of four games without a win.

• Hearts have scored in their last seven games in the Premiership, scoring 18 goals in that run, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of seven games from 21 September 2024 to 2 November 2024.

• Elton Kabangu has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Hearts player.

• Jorge Grant has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (two goals, one assist).

• Ross County have failed to score in 12 of their 30 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Ross County have conceded nine goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (13) and St. Johnstone (10) have conceded more.

• Ross County have conceded 17 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

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Hearts eased to a 2-0 Premiership victory over Ross County to continue their push for top six.

You can watch the highlights of the game over on BBC iPlayer or via this link.

Hearts moved into the Scottish Premiership's top six after beating Ross County to dent the visitors' own hopes of finishing in the upper half of the division.

What did you make of that, County fans? Was the scoreline harsh on your side?

How do you feel about your top six chances?

Lets us know your thoughts., external

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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "We leave slightly frustrated, we've been in good form. The work ethic was there, we just didn't manage to create enough opportunities.

"We lacked a little bit of quality at times. I get everything from this group, we're an honest group, but we didn't hit the heights to trouble Hearts.

"There is an expectancy here, when you play Ross County at home to score, to win, to be free-flowing. We've got to implement a game plan to frustrate and I thought we were doing that really well.

"We regrouped [after they scored], stayed in the game and then we made enough changes to try and get the goal to get us back in it. We didn't create enough momentum to get that goal.

"I take the positive that the group are giving everything for this football club and working extremely hard."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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It's a long way from Dingwall to Edinburgh and the 350 fans who made the journey to the capital will head back north disappointed with the result, but probably content with the performance of their team.

County battled for every ball and, if they can maintain their style and application, they can still have an impact in whether they finish in the top or bottom half of the table.

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Hearts boss Neil Critchley will make a late call on whether to include Jamie McCart and Cammy Devlin following their recent injury issues.

Aidan Denholm, Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley (all hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad) are still out.

Ross County are set to be without Michee Efete (knee), Ryan Leak (Achilles), Alex Samuel (thigh) and Will Nightingale (knee).

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Don Cowie has urged Ross County not to ease off after his side matched last season's points tally with nine games to spare.

The Staggies finished second bottom last term with 35 points and had to secure top-flight survival through a play-off win over Raith Rovers.

Cowie's side are currently eighth - just a point behind Saturday's hosts Hearts - after an upturn in form since Boxing Day.

"I think it shows the improvement in what we've done," said manager Cowie.

"We've matched our total from the whole of last season, so it shows the improvement.

"But the hard work continues. We've got nine games left to really add to that and that's the challenge we face. We're happy where we are.

"In the last 12 games or so since Boxing Day when we won away at Dundee, the run of results in the league's been really consistent and strong and we've picked up a lot of points.

"And the challenge is to keep that going for another four games until we get to the league split."

Former Hearts player Cowie is braced for a tough test against the resurgent Jambos.

"We've had two really close games against them this season," he said. "We've both been on the receiving end of a deep stoppage-time equaliser.

"They've changed a lot of personnel since we last played them, in January they invested heavily and you can see there's been a real upturn in their form.

"They're a real threat in the forward areas with the signings they've made. We're going to have to defend really well, but we're in a good place, we're feeling confident."

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Don Cowie is heartened his players' "confident and healthy" position is being reflected by a large travelling support to Tynecastle on Satuday.

The Staggies are eighth in the league table, just one point behind the Jambos and two off Motherwell, who occupy the last top-six spot.

County haven't won a Premiership match at Tynecastle since March 2017, but that isn't deterring what Cowie calls "a big travelling support" making the trip down to the capital this weekend.

"I'm delighted to hear that we've got a large travelling support to shout us on our way," Cowie said.

"It's a reflection of where we are in the season and what the group of players are doing.

"For our large travelling fans it's a great venue to be at. We know it's one of the best stadiums in the country and the atmosphere they can create.

"But no matter how small or big our away support is, it means everything to us as a group, we know the challenges logistically to get to our away games.

"When I was told how much strength in support we were going to have this week it was really nice to hear."

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Don Cowie has been speaking to the before Ross County's trip to Tynecastle to take on Hearts on Saturday:

Here are the key points he made:

• Cowie said "the group are in a really good place" after their "important" win against Kilmarnock and they're "confident and looking healthy" in eighth.

• Alluding to recent games against Hearts, the head coach said his message is "to make sure you stay in the match because at any time it can change".

• County are aware they have four "really tough games" before the split, and wants his players to be "consistent."

• He knows the Staggies "have to work extremely hard" to get the desired result against "a team who are in good form".

• A former Hearts player, he knows how big the Tynecastle support is, but is "delighted" that County will have a large travelling support who he hopes will "shout us on our way".

• On injuries, Ryan Leak is the long-term absentee and says Michee Efete is "still not quite ready" to be part of the group but everyone else is available.

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• Heart of Midlothian have only lost one of their 16 top-fight home games against Ross County (W6 D9), and are unbeaten in their last eight (W3 D5) since a 0-1 defeat in March 2017.

• Hearts have won five of their last seven home league games (L2), after having only won one of their first seven on home soil in 2024-25 beforehand (D3 L3).

• Ross County are unbeaten in their last four against Hearts in the league (W1 D3).

• After only winning four of their first 20 league games in 2024-25 before the turn of the year (D7 L9), County have won five of nine Premiership games in 2025 so far (D1 L3).

• Ross County pair Akil Wright (56) and Connor Randall (40) are the top two players for most interceptions made in the Premiership this season.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County face their biggest match of their season so far as they travel down to Tynecastle to face Hearts.

There's been nothing to separate the sides in their two meetings this season, a 1-1 draw in Edinburgh in September and a 2-2 in Dingwall in December.

Both matches were packed with late drama. A stoppage-time equaliser from Lawrence Shankland denied County all three points in the first encounter.

The Staggies then went one better as they trailed 2-0 going into the 96th minute at home but goals from Josh Nisbet and Jordan White completed a dramatic comeback.

County haven't won a Premiership match at Tynecastle since March 2017 courtesy of an Alex Schalk strike in a 1-0 victory. Although it's been over eight years since that win, we have drawn five of the past eight trips there which highlights the ability to be competitive at one of the toughest away grounds.

Many County fans believe that if the top-six dream is to become a reality, this is a must-win match at Tynecastle.

It would be our most important win this season and could move Don Cowie's side into the top six going into the international break.

However, defeat would leave us four points behind Hearts, severely damaging hopes of sneaking into the top six with only three matches left to play.

With four wins in the past six away matches, the Staggies will be returning to Gorgie a far more confident side compared to their previous visit.

They were so close to taking three points back up the A9 in September can they finally end their Tynecastle curse this weekend?

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

We asked you to tell us the one thing nobody is talking about at Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Anon: Doing well this season, Don Cowie knows what he wants. He is correct regarding stability, this will give him a platform to improve. My only complaint is a lack of local talent coming through the academy.

Jim: The only things definitely not being talked about are win the cup and win the league! Every other option is there. Look up and think maybe top six, over the shoulder and poor results will drag us to the trap door again. We all know we're better placed now than the last two seasons but very few, whisper it, are saying European football.

Anon: I think we will be safe from relegation and the play-off but I also think top six is one step too far.

Ross County manager Don Cowie says the Scottish Premiership club have made the decision to try to land signings on longer contracts than previously to avoid the hefty squad transitions each season that have become the tradition in Dingwall. (Press & Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Ross County beat Kilmarnock 1-0 last weekend and are only two points behind Motherwell in six place having won three of their past four league matches.

With the split fast approaching, Don Cowie's side will be fully focused on maintaining their good form and hopefully achieving a top-six finish.

You know your club best, so what is the one thing regarding County - good or bad - nobody is talking about?

Let us know., external

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Previously, I've described Ross County's recent run of fixtures as season defining.

The Staggies looked like they were a side full of confidence following impressive victories against Motherwell and Dundee, where they scored three goals in successive Premiership matches for the first time since December 2015.

Those two victories meant County fans were full of optimism at avoiding a battle at the bottom for the third straight season, and even dreaming of potentially sneaking into the top six.

Last Wednesday, supporters were brought crashing back down to earth as the Staggies fell to a 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone in Perth.

It was an unrecognisable performance compared to recent matches as they lacked creativity and failed to take control of the match. To add salt to the wounds, the defeat meant County have only picked up a single point in three matches against the Perth side, which could be crucial as we approach the split.

That result and performance amplified the importance of County's next match ten-fold, as they faced Kilmarnock in Dingwall.

It wasn't a game that'll live long in the memory but Don Cowie's side bounced back from their midweek defeat to pick up a 1-0 victory thanks to Kieran Phillips' first-half goal.

In his four home Premiership matches so far, Phillips has scored two goals, assisted another and won two penalties, so he's made quite an impact in Dingwall.

At the other end, the defensive trio of Johnathan Tomkinson, Kacper Lopata and Eli Campbell were outstanding.

They threw their bodies on the line countless times against a Kilmarnock bombardment. On the rare occasion the trio were beaten, Jordan Amissah was imperious yet again in the County goal and made several key saves to hold on to the clean sheet.

The victory moved the Staggies up to eighth and within two points of the top six.

Cowie and his players deserve huge credit for their reaction against Killie to pick up what the manager described as the biggest three points of County's season so far.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Another huge win for Ross County as they look to avoid the familiar relegation play-off position.

Don Cowie's side kept a clean sheet as well as securing an important Premiership victory over Kilmarnock and they have one player in my team of the week.

Jordan Amissah made several good stops to seal a potentially pivotal victory. Has generally impressed since arriving in Dingwall.

BBC Scotland Sportscene pundit Cammy Bell hails Kieran Phillips' flick to set up Ross County's winning goal against Kilmarnock.

UK only

Watch highlights from Ross County's 1-0 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

We asked for your views on Ross County's 1-0 win against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

David: Definitely a rearguard action but the whole team contributed to success. Kacper Lopata, Jordan Amissah and Jordan White - who was everywhere and got the assist for the goal - as well as tremendous defensive clearances. I have watched the second goal but cannot see why it was disallowed. A great three points.

Shaun: A really important win for the team. We did not play our best, but Kieran Phillips showed great skill to flick the ball to Jordan, and took his chance when it came. The defence had to be strong throughout. They all did well but Lopata and Amissah were both outstanding. We are in a good position, some tough games ahead, so we need to keep grinding out points.

Davie: An immense defensive performance or poor finishing by Killie? Who cares! After travelling down to Perth midweek I was worried about this game as Killie are so physical. They threw everything at us, and probably deserved at least a draw, but goals count, and we got it, Lopata was my man of the match.

Paul: Resilient, strong performance, especially Amissah. When creative players like Noah Chilvers are not at their best, a good team performance was required. Great to see Alex Samuel back, he should have made an instant impact in the second goal chalked off for a dubious foul. Top six is a possibility if we can maintain and improve a little.

Jim: It wasn't pretty at times, far from the best we've played in an attacking sense. Very important win, especially after Wednesday night's poor performance. Lopata and Connor Randall excelled yet again. Nice to have things in our own hands but still with a regular glance over the shoulder. We're in the mix.