Ronan Hale is confident his scoring form for Ross County can catapult him into Northern Ireland's plans in 2025 despite the 26-year-old striker missing out on the latest squad because of delays to paperwork for his switch from Republic of Ireland, for whom he played up to under-21 level. (Press & Journal), external
Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Ross Morren
Fan writer
Ross County have been criticised in recent seasons for their defensive record and number of goals conceded. However, successive clean sheets in the goalless draws against Hibernian and St Mirren has highlighted the current confidence and strength in The Staggies' backline.
It's the first time County have earned back-to-back clean sheets in the Premiership in nearly a year. Don Cowie managed 15 Premiership matches last season and didn't see his side pick up a clean sheet, whereas the clean sheet earned in Paisley was the fourth clean sheet in 12 Premiership matches this season - only Celtic and Rangers have more.
The recruitment of Akil Wright and Kacper Lopata is a big reason for the new-found defensive stability. Wright has really impressed with his strength, pace and power on the right side of the County backline, while Lopata - who only arrived in Dingwall towards the end of the summer transfer window - has become the glue which holds the backline together with his aerial ability and no-nonsense defending.
The back three of Wright, Lopata and Ryan Leak have shown they can cope against all kinds of opponents, from physical strikers to quick wingers who want to stretch the game and run in behind. Even when there needs to be an adjustment to the backline such as in Paisley when Leak missed the game due to illness and was replaced by Eli Campbell, the back three defended their box brilliantly for the 90 minutes.
On the rare occasion the defence has been breached, Ross Laidlaw has stepped up to make some big saves this season. His penalty save from Greg Kiltie's in the first half was impressive, but his save to stop Jonah Ayunga's header in the second half was outstanding.
Based on his performances over the past couple of seasons, what else does he have to do earn a Scotland call-up?
Ross Morren can be found on the County Corner podcast., external
Image source, Getty ImagesRonan Hale (right) in action for Ross County against Rangers' Connor Barron
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says the process of securing international clearance for Ronan Hale to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland remains "a work in progress".
The Ross County striker remains unavailable for selection for the forthcoming Nations League matches against Belarus and Luxembourg on 15 and 18 November.
The 26-year-old former Cliftonville frontman played for the Republic at age-group level, before deciding to begin the process of becoming available to Northern Ireland.
"It’s a work in progress. It is an administration process which is in the hands of Fifa. There were one or two things around passports being produced and that has all been done," explained Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill.
"I kind of knew when I had the conversation with Ronan, I warned him this is not something that will be done overnight. I’ve seen this take as long as six, eight, 10 months on occasions so the important thing is that we follow all the right steps, which we have."
O'Neill had hoped to have the forward at his disposal for some of his side's Nations League Group C3 fixtures but must now hope that the former Irish League striker will be available for the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign in March.
“What determines how a player does at international level, and whether he is selected, is their club form. So Ronan just has to continue what he has been doing and that’s focus on his club game.
“He was on the bench on Saturday for Ross County, He did well in the second half, so we are watching him as a player we intend to look at and come under consideration to be picked for the squad."
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
A penalty save and a clean sheet against St Mirren, job done for Ross Laidlaw.
It's a straightforward pick between the sticks.
Watch highlights as St Mirren draw 0-0 against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.
We asked for your thoughts on Ross County's 0-0 draw against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Here's what you said:
Paul: Another solid defensive performance. Lack of punch up front is slightly concerning but chances are being created a little more and we could be a challenge for any team in the league.
County fans, were you at the game in Paisley or following along from home? What did you make of your team's performance? What do you make of the point?
Let us know your thoughts here, external.
Image source, SNSRoss County manager Don Cowie: "You always want more.
"The objective before the game was to try and get three points but it's a really difficult place to come, I thought we defended extremely well and I'm really proud of the team coming away with a clean sheet.
"You've got to work for everything you get and it's a real challenge. We're really keen to win away from home but there's no divine right that we should.
"I thought we grew in belief as the game went on and had the ball maybe dropped for us it could've been us walking away with three points. Overall I'm really pleased with the point."
Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSAnother point on the road will be pleasing for Cowie, whose side haven't won away in the league in over a year.
County weren't dominated in the 90 minutes either and had their own opportunities to snatch a victory.
They often looked threatening on the break, Jack Grieves did really well in attack. but surely the most pleasing thing for Cowie will be the performance of his goalkeeper.
A penalty save and a couple of other important stops from Laidlaw made it two clean sheets in two games against some tough opposition.
Image source, SNSA penalty save and a clean sheet, not much more you can ask for from a goalkeeper. Ross Laidlaw was crucial in securing a point for Ross County against St Mirren.
Stephen Robinson has made just one change from Wednesday night's victory over St Johnstone.
Charles Dunne drops out with an injury and Richard Taylor starts in his place.
Ross County have made three changes from their 0-0 draw with Hibs in midweek.
Ryan Leak misses out completely through illness while Ronan Hale and Aidan Denholm drop to the bench.
Jack Grieves, Josh Nisbet and Josh Reid are in from the start.
Ross County defender James Brown, 26, hopes to force his way into the Republic of Ireland squad. (Press and Journal - subscription), external
Image source, SNSSt Mirren pair Jaden Brown and Kevin van Veen are unavailable following court appearances.
Roland Idowu (ankle), Charles Dunne (hamstring) and Conor McMenamin (knee) will be assessed while Alex Iacovitti (tendon) is out long term.
Ross County have Charlie Telfer available after suspension, but Will Nightingale (knee), George Harmon (ankle) and Max Sheaf (thigh) are likely to miss out.
Image source, SNSJames Brown says Ross County head to face St Mirren with confidence as they look to make it seven points in the space of a week.
After a run of four games without a win, the Staggies defeated Kilmarnock last weekend before drawing 0-0 with Hibernian on Wednesday.
Those results helped elevate the Dingwall side to eighth in the Premiership and they could climb into the top six with a victory in Paisley this weekend.
"Getting the point in midweek is big for us," said Irish defender Brown.
"There's a lot of big clubs below us that will probably come steaming towards the end of the season.
"It's just important to keep getting the points on the board and try to stay above them.
"Another big game on Saturday, a winnable game, we go there with confidence. We come off of two games with four points.
"We need to look at these games and try and win them, to try and stay in and around the teams in the top six."
County have gone over a year since last winning away in the league, but Brown is hopeful of ending that wretched run soon.
"It's a good opportunity to do it this week, we've got a bit of confidence in us," he added.
"We just need to get a bit more consistency, the teams below us are big clubs, so it's just about staying steady with it.
"We're going into the games with more confidence and looking for wins, rather than not getting beat."
Image source, SNSSt Mirren are unbeaten in seven home games against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership (W5 D2) since a 3-0 reverse in April 2015. The Buddies have kept a clean sheet in their last five such home games against the Staggies, winning the last three.
The away side has won none of the last eight league meetings between St Mirren and Ross County (six home wins, two draws), with the last away win in this fixture being the Buddies' 3-2 victory in October 2021.
St Mirren have lost each of their last three league games played on a Saturday, last losing more consecutively in the Scottish Premiership on that specific day in April 2022 (five in a row).
Ross County are winless in their last 21 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D8 L13), since a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock in September 2023; that is now the outright longest winless streak away from home in the competition this century.
Image source, SNSRoss County's last Premiership away win came in September 2023 when Simon Murray's goal downed Kilmarnock
Don Cowie has challenged his Ross County players to build on recent momentum by ending their 14-month wait for a Premiership away win.
The Staggies have picked up just two points from a possible 12 on the road this season and are 21 away matches without victory since a 1-0 triumph at Kilmarnock in September last year.
However, they head to face St Mirren on Saturday buoyed by a win over Killie and draw with Hibs, both in Dingwall.
"I don't think there's any perfect place because any venue you go to is a difficult game but every away game is an opportunity to finish that run that we're on," said manager Cowie.
"We're well aware the results haven't been good enough. Some of the performances have been good.
"This year we've gone away to Hearts and Motherwell and got two really good points. It's not just about winning, it's about putting in a good performance at a difficult venue."
The 41-year-old Staggies boss praised "fantastic" St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson and is aware it won't be an easy task to face his "powerful team".
"Stephen has done a great job at St Mirren," added Cowie.
"They had a fantastic season last year. They're a really strong, powerful team, they make you defend, they've got a lot of threats.
"We need to be ready for that, they'll be buoyed by their win [on Wednesday] but we're in a good place and we're looking forward to it."
Image source, SNSDon Cowie has been speaking to the media before Ross County's trip to face St Mirren on Saturday.
Here are the key lines from his press conference:
Cowie says County were "defensively really solid" against Hibs and he's "delighted" with the goalless draw on Wednesday.
Acknowledged that in the second half County "struggled to get momentum" but says "at that point it's important you don't lose the game".
The Staggies boss is pleased with four points from the last two games but has urged his side to build on it and says "we always want to be better and strive for more".
On County being eighth, he says: "It's really tight where we are in the league. We know how important three points are and the impact that can have on the table."
Cowie praised Stephen Robinson for doing a "great job" at St Mirren and says for the Staggies "it's about putting in a good performance at a difficult venue".
We asked for your views on Ross County's 0-0 home draw with Hibernian.
Here's what some of you said:
Ron: A poor game that neither side deserved to win. County players seemed to have great difficulty holding on to the ball and putting any passing sequence together, though there was some improvement when Josh Nisbet and Scott Allardice came on. The clean sheet was a positive and Ross Laidlaw was rarely troubled (just as rarely as his counterpart in the Hibs goal).
Jim: Proverbial game of two halves. County dominated possession and territory without major threat first half. Hibs were more aggressive and front foot in the second but several shots from range were off target. Bit of a stalemate with neither team able to produce one good bit of quality play.
Hibernian moved off of the bottom of the Scottish Premiership despite failing to find a way past a stubborn Ross County side in a goalless draw in Dingwall.
What did you make of the draw? How did you feel about the performance?
Image source, SNSDon Cowie said: "Well, we're happy with a really good clean sheet.
"I spoke about before the game, you know, Hibs have got really good forward players and I thought we managed to keep them, you know, pretty quiet throughout the game.
"So, delighted with the clean sheet. We could have been slightly better in terms of the way we played attacking-wise, but when you don't do that, it's important you don't lose the game and that's what we did.
"I felt we were probably slightly edged the first half, Hibs were better in the second.
"Maybe just the two games in sort of four days, we looked slightly tired in the second half, so that was why [we made] the triple sub. And I thought the three that came on made an impact, and like you say, we nearly got the goal that we're looking for."
