Ross County

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Such is the tight nature of the league that one bad result can have fans looking over their shoulders at the teams below them.

The midweek lost to St Johnstone did just that for County, given how poor and lifeless the performance was.

Thankfully for Don Cowie, his side responded with a solid defensive effort that frustrated Kilmarnock for the full 90 minutes.

Kacper Lopata, Jonathan Tomkinson and Eli Campbell produced heroics time and again and when they could not header or blooter the ball away, Amissah behind them repelled the visitors.

They were, perhaps, a little lucky to score with really their only chance but then dreadfully unlucky to have Kenneh's goal ruled out. In the end, it didn't matter.

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Kacper Lopata. No one made more clearances or won more aerial duels than the Polish defender, who was at the heart of County's stoic defensive effort.

At only 23-years-old, he has anchored the County defence incredibly well at times this season and his solid performance was backed up by the two other defenders in the back-three - Jonathan Tomkinson and Eli Campbell.

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

Kilmarnock are still without captain Kyle Vassell and defender Stuart Findlay (both ankle).

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Don Cowie wants his Ross County side to "put things right" with a win against Kilmarnock on Saturday after their 1-0 midweek defeat at St Johnstone.

The Staggies are ninth in the Premiership table, a point above Killie.

"We've got to move on from Wednesday, I'm not going to dwell on it," said Cowie.

"The focus is on getting ready for another big game against Kilmarnock and trying to get back to winning ways.

"We've been in good form, had a good run of results. On Wednesday we didn't perform and we got what we deserved, just like what we got what deserved in our previous two games by winning them because we had played well.

"We didn't play well on Wednesday, we accept that's why we lost the game. In football, you always have the opportunity to put things right and that comes against Kilmarnock."

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• There have been three instances of a side losing a Scottish Premiership game in 2024-25 in which they led by 2+ goals – all three have involved Kilmarnock, beating Dundee 3-2 in October, losing 3-2 to Dundee in November, and losing 4-2 to Rangers last time out.

• Ross County have won their first two Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock this term; only in 2014-15 and 2015-16 have the Staggies ever beaten Killie three times in a single season in the competition.

• Kilmarnock are winless in their past eight Scottish Premiership games away to Ross County (D3 L5) since a 2-1 victory in March 2017.

• After their 3-1 win over Dundee, Ross County are looking to win back-to-back home games for the first time in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Kilmarnock have lost their past three away league games, last losing more in a row in April 2023 (six).

We asked for your opinion on Ross County's 1-0 loss to St Johnstone on Wednesday night.

Here's what some of you said:

Davie: We were poor. Long balls to Ronan Hale and Kieran Phillips on a bumpy pitch failed, so bringing on Jordan White and George Robeston made sense as that was obviously the way we were going to continue to play.

Our keeper kept us in the game first half. Bottom line, Akil Wright's blunder cost us. He has been so good for us, but this was a must-not-lose game and we were awful.

Anon: Do we have a defence? If we have a so one, have they played in these positions before at this level? Every time, we shoot ourselves in the foot. Hang your heads lads, hang your heads.

Rick: A long drive home after that rubbish, just looked like we couldn't be bothered! Second to every ball and possession given away consistently. Thank heavens for Jordan Amissah or it could have been worse. Saints were timewasting and I'd love to see that handball at the end again. Not a time for complacency, County!

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• St. Johnstone have scored in their last eight games in the Premiership, their longest stretch of games with a goal in the competition since a run of eight from 21 October 2022 to 28 December 2022.

• Ross County have failed to score in 11 of their 28 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

• Makenzie Kirk has scored six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.

• Ross County have a record of W0, D0, L6 when conceding the opening goal away from home in the Premiership this season.

Watch the best of the action as Scottish Premiership bottom side St Johnstone beat Ross County.

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Makenzie Kirk's close-range finish, smashing in after a Stephen Duke-McKenna effort was parried by Jordan Amissah, moves Simo Valakari's side to within three points of second bottom Dundee with 10 games of the season to play.

County travelled to Perth with a record of four wins from their previous five away league games, but it was the hosts who had the better of a competitive first half.

St Johnstone created several good goalscoring opportunities but were foiled on each occasion by an inspired Jordan Amissah in the County goal.

County fans, were you at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night or following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the game.

Have your say, external

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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "I'm really disappointed off the back of two really good performances and victories, it was an opportunity to continue that but we got what we deserved out of the match.

"St Johnstone were the better team and thoroughly deserved it.

"I've gone with the same group of players from the start and we never managed to get going in the game or create any momentum, that's the frustrating part. Our away form has been good but I didn't see enough of that tonight.

"We've lost games before this season and we don't get ahead of ourselves and think we're the finished article. It's always about trying to strive for consistency and that's always the challenge. Tonight shows we're not there yet and we have to keep working on it.

"St Johnstone winning tonight gives them momentum, it closes the gap but we're not going to get caught up on one result, one performance.

"We're really disappointed and frustrated right now but we've only got a couple of days before another really important game so we need to get back to what we've done in previous games."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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This result is a reminder to County that they still have work to do in order to keep themselves clear of trouble.

Their form of late – particularly away from home – has been excellent, and has rightly had fans dreaming of the top six.

For all of that, though, they remain worryingly close to the relegation play-off spot.

You do get a sense they will be fine, and they have shown enough in recent times to suggest that they have enough quality to banish any concerns.

But until they have the points in the bag to ensure that is the case, County will have to tread carefully over the next few weeks.

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• St Johnstone are unbeaten in five league meetings with Ross County, winning three of those (D2), which is as many as their previous 18 games against the Staggies in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W3 D10 L5).

• Ross County lost 3-0 away to St Johnstone in October this season, but have never suffered successive away defeats to the Saints in the top fight before.

• St Johnstone have won just one of their last nine midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L4), a 2-0 win at Aberdeen in February 2024.

• Ross County have won four of their last five away league games (L1), as many as their previous 41 beforehand (W4 D11 L26).

• St Johnstone's Nicky Clark has scored nine goals against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, the joint-most any player has against the Staggies in the top-fight (Kris Boyd also nine).

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St Johnstone hope to have Benji Kimpioka (illness) and Victor Griffith (ankle) back soon. They remain without long-term absentees Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Ross County welcome back Zac Ashworth after injury, but Michee Efete (knee), Ryan Leak (Achilles), Alex Samuel (thigh) and Will Nightingale (knee) are set to remain sidelined.

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Ross County's stunning away form has given them "real belief" as they look to gatecrash the Premiership top six, says manager Don Cowie.

County are within two points of sixth-place St Mirren after back-to-back wins before Wednesday night's trip to face St Johnstone.

"First and foremost, I believe St Johnstone are a really good team, a dangerous team, we've seen that already this season when we've played against them," said Cowie.

"On our hand, we're in good form, our away form has been excellent, we've won four of our last five games away from Dingwall so we go into it with real belief.

"But we know that we're going to have to perform really well to come away with three points.

"It's really important, you can see there's a confidence about the group right now, it's about trying to maintain that and keep things going.

"The performance levels have been really consistent but as we know in football, you don't have much time to look back on that, we've got another game Wednesday night and that's our full focus now."

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Don Cowie has been speaking to the media before Ross County's trip to face St Johnstone on Wednesday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Cowie was "delighted" with how County came back from conceding an early goal to beat Dundee 3-1 and says "the response was excellent".

• On scoring three goals in their last two games: "There's a confidence about the group right now, it's about trying to maintain that and keep things going."

• The County boss is not expecting an easy game against bottom club St Johnstone and says they are "a good, dangerous team" but insists the Staggies are intent on extending their "excellent" away form to continue the "real belief and confidence within the group".

• Cowie says County are "an improving team" and after losing key players in the summer "sometimes you need to be patient, it takes time".

• He adds: "Now you can see a group of players that are very comfortable in this environment playing for our club and really enjoying their football. That's a real key, there's a lot of individuals playing with a lot of freedom."

Ross Morren
Fan writer

The 3-1 win against Dundee was the perfect example of the progress Ross County have made this season.

The Staggies have picked up nine points out of nine against Dundee and scored eight goals. Last term they only picked up a single point and failed to net in the sides' three meetings.

Earlier this season, if the Staggies suffered an early setback in a match it could have unsettled them. However, when Simon Murray fired Dundee ahead in the fourth minute against his former club, the reaction from County was outstanding.

The hosts took control and pinned Dundee back in their own half, with Kieran Phillips heading his first goal for the club. Following his move from Huddersfield in January, Phillips has quickly gelled into the attack alongside Ronan Hale and Noah Chilvers.

Akil Wright then scored his latest goal of the season contender with an outrageous scissor kick to fire the Staggies ahead. Wright, who netted a spectacular strike against Aberdeen last month, has been outstanding and will be a very strong candidate for County's player of the season.

The attacking trio of Phillips, Hale and Chilvers showed how dangerous they can be as all three combined for County's third goal, scored by Chilvers. It's the second week in a row the front three have played a key part in the build-up to a goal.

County are now within two points of the top six and five clear of Dundee in 11th. If we can end this week with a strong haul of points from matches against St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, the dream of a top-six finish might just start to look like reality.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Ross County continue their climb away from danger with a solid victory over Dundee and they've got two players in my Team of the Week.

Noah Chilvers had a superb all round performance and notched the third goal to put the icing on his 24th birthday cake.

George Harman excelled on the left flank, supplying two goals as County stormed to an important home win.

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Ross County's two goals in their first home win since November.

Watch highlights as Ross County win 3-1 against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Ross County's 3-1 win against Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Calum: Brilliant performance. County teams in the past may have let their heads drop after Dundee's goal but we battled back and got a deserved win. Akil Wright is playing like a prime Cafu!

Jim: Another very good team performance. Every player was better than their opponent. After giving Simon Murray too much time and space early, we never gave them a sniff until added time when they were already beaten. Some great football early in the second half took the game completely away from Dundee. Wright and Noah Chilvers continue to perform at a high level.

Murray: After losing an early goal to our favourite player last season we recovered well and fully deserved our victory in the end. Hopefully looking upwards now. Come on the Staggies.

Ali: Good team performance. Back three were really solid - Wright, George Harmon, Connor Randall and Chilvers were very good. Pleased to see Kieran Phillips break his duck with a goal and assist. Unfortunately the lads can't sit on their laurels with critical games against St Johnstone and Kilmarnock in the next few days. Well done lads, keep up the good work.

Alan: A fully deserved win, County dominated Dundee. Plenty of candidates for man of the match in the home team which is an indicator of how the game played out. Special mention to Wright who has been an absolute find and has an eye for the spectacular!

Raj: We look a much more dangerous team when we play the play on the deck, Dundee were comfortable all first half with long balls. Cracking five minutes after the half to put the game to bed.

Angus: They are doing really well, one win or three draws, get them out of the relegation places! From 11th to seventh in a short amount of time - wow!

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• Ross County have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 26 October 2024 against Kilmarnock.

• Ross County have won 10 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee United (11) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Ross County have scored eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (13) and Aberdeen (9) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee have lost 20 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Dundee have lost their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 28 April 2024 to 14 May 2024.

• The Dee have conceded 25 first-half goals in 27 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.

• Simon Murray has scored nine goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee player.

• Dundee have conceded 11 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.