Ross County 2-1 Kilmarnock: What the manager saidpublished at 18:21 26 October 2024
18:21 26 October 2024
Media caption,
Don Cowie discusses 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock
Ross County manager Don Cowie told BBC Scotland: "We're absolutely delighted to get the three points, we showed really good character after going behind.
"We did the basics really well in the first half, in terms of competing and making it difficult for Kilmarnock. We came off it for about 10 minutes and that's when they capitalised and went 1-0 up.
"Second half it was about coming out and trying to do the same, with a bit more intent in the final third. The sending off has a big impact in the game but you have to take advantage of that and we did that.
"It helped that we scored straight after the sending off. That gave us a bit more belief to go on and get the winner. You still have to go and do it. We maybe sat in slightly to see it out but that's a natural instinct.
"We're a really honest group and we were really disappointed in the performance and result last week. As always in football, you have the option to respond and we did that.
"The league is all about who can be the most consistent, especially away from the top couple of teams. Dundee United have shown that, Motherwell also. It's about consistency and following up today with another positive result on Wednesday."
Ross County 2-1 Kilmarnock: Analysispublished at 17:18 26 October 2024
17:18 26 October 2024
Andrew Petrie BBC Sport Scotland
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Last season, County's home record was the seventh best in the league and the foundation for their survival in the top flight.
Cowie spoke of the importance of maintaining that record before the game and once again they proved how stubborn they are in Dingwall.
The only games they've lost at home this season were to unbeaten Celtic and Aberdeen and they pushed both of them close.
Although not technically the strongest squad in the league, there is still a feeling that the players will run through walls for their manager and today they really had to grind it out.
The mild concern was that Kilmarnock made it far easier than it should have been, and County still only won by a goal. When Ronan Hale isn't firing, they need to find other routes to goal.
Noah Chilvers was the only real creative spark, but of his six shots only two were on target.
Ross County 2-1 Kilmarnock: Who impressed?published at 17:16 26 October 2024
17:16 26 October 2024
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Jordan White. Given the prominence of Chris Wood and Erling Haaland in the EPL down south, maybe it should be no surprise that White was on the scoresheet today.
The traditional target man is back, and while Kyle Vassell struggled in the rain in Dingwall, White looked comfortable on his return to the starting line-up.
He gave a tough Kilmarnock defence a torrid afternoon and was a good focal point for County's attacks.
LINE-UPS from the Global Energy Arenapublished at 14:27 26 October 2024
Ross County v Kilmarnock: Team newspublished at 23:43 25 October 2024
23:43 25 October 2024
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Image caption,
Ricki Lamie (right) was injured against Stirling Albion in July
On-loan Everton defender Eli Campbell and midfielder Charlie Telfer are suspended for Ross County, but centre-half Ricki Lamie returns to contention after an Achilles injury.
Will Nightingale, George Harmon and Max Sheaf remain out.
Kilmarnock defender Joe Wright is back from suspension, but midfielder Liam Polworth remains out along with long-term absentee Kyle Magennis.
County will make amends for Saints defeat - Whitepublished at 19:21 25 October 2024
19:21 25 October 2024
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Jordan White has vowed Ross County will bounce back from the heavy defeat to St Johnstone when they host Kilmarnock on Saturday.
County are currently 10th in the Premiership, with just one win in nine games so far.
"Every game in this league is tough, we first and foremost want a reaction from last week," said strker White.
"We've got to work hard, that's what Ross County is all about and we can't defend like we have the two weeks previously and go into the St Johnstone game and think we can ease off.
"We need to be like that every week. It's just drumming that in again, we've got a good group of boys and we will bounce back."
Don Cowie's side put in a brilliant performance in Dingwall at the start of the month to scare Celtic before two late goals saw them fall to a 2-1 defeat, while they beat Rangers for the first time in April at home.
"We're comfortable at home and that shows in our performances, sometimes away from home we've been unlucky not to grab something out of the game," added White.
"We believe we can beat anybody in the league but we've got to be on it, working hard and fighting for each other to take things from the game."
The Staggies have a chance to prove that on Saturday when they host Kilmarnock, who have won both their games in October - beating Dundee with a late comeback before shocking Rangers.
"Over the last six months we've proved how good we can be at home," White said. "Yes, [Kilmarnock] have had a good result but it's never easy to come up to Ross County after such a big result.
"They'll be coming high in confidence, they've probably not had the start that they wanted and they'll be looking to kick on and we want to make amends for last week."
Ross County v Kilmarnock: Pick of the statspublished at 12:56 24 October 2024
12:56 24 October 2024
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Ross County are unbeaten in seven Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock (W4 D3) since a 2-1 reverse in March 2017 under Jim McIntyre.
After their 1-0 win in April last season, Kilmarnock could pick up back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over Ross County for the first time since March 2017.
Ross County have won just one of their last 12 league games (D6 L5), losing both of their last two. Only once since the start of last season have the Staggies lost more league matches in a row, suffering four successive defeats in February.
Kilmarnock have won back-to-back league games, and could win three in a row within a single Scottish Premiership season for the first time since October 2020 under Alex Dyer.
Marley Watkins has scored in three of his last four league appearances (three goals), with those goals worth four points to Kilmarnock. Only Pape Gueye’s goals for Aberdeen have been worth more to a side in the Scottish Premiership this season (five).
'In football you always get chance to respond' - Cowiepublished at 19:02 22 October 2024
19:02 22 October 2024
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Don Cowie says his side must look to "put smiles on the faces" of Ross County fans after slumping to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at St Johnstone.
This Saturday, the Highland side welcome Kilmarnock to Dingwall, where Cowie feels his team's form has been "really strong".
The County boss says his squad recognise what went wrong in Perth at the weekend and his players are eager to put it right.
"The last five performances prior to Saturday were really good," he added.
"Our form at home has been really strong and we need to get back to that. That's always the motivation, that's why we work as hard as we do.
"We want to put smiles on the fans' faces, we want them to be proud of their team. On Saturday we didn't do that, but we are all aware of it, we all recognise it, and in football you always get an opportunity to turn that around."
In Kilmarnock, Cowie says he must prepare to face are a "very good team" after they picked up a 1-0 win against Rangers on Sunday.
The County boss feels that since Killie exited European football, they are making an impact domestically.
"They're a very good team," Cowie said. "We all understand they had a difficult moment at the start of the season trying to play in Europe.
"You can see now they don't have the European football they've had two very good victories in the last couple of league games."
Cowie on team standards, home form and fan motivationpublished at 16:58 22 October 2024
16:58 22 October 2024
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Don Cowie has been talking to the media before Ross County's game against Kilmarnock this weekend.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
Cowie was "disappointed with the result and the performance" in the 3-0 defeat at St Johnstone last Saturday.
He wants the Staggies to get back to the "good team performances" they delivered over the previous five games and hopes to maintain their strong home form.
County owe the supporters a response at the weekend and Cowie says "in football you always get an opportunity to turn it around".
He adds: "The fans are always the motivation, that's why we work as hard as we do, we want to put smiles on their faces, we want them to be proud of their team."
On Kilmarnock, he says "they’re a very good team" but "history shows we can be really competitive in this league."
'As bad days go, this was right up there'published at 14:12 22 October 2024
14:12 22 October 2024
Ross Morren Fan writer
Ross County fans were hopeful their side might finally end their away-day hoodoo as the Staggies travelled down the A9 to McDiarmid Park to face St Johnstone.
Unfortunately, the 90 minutes in Perth was a perfect example of Murphy's law – anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Things started to unravel very quickly. Benjamin Kimpioka caught the County defence napping at the back post as he reacted quickest to tap home the opener.
Things went from bad to worse after 30 minutes as Eli Campbell was sent off for two bookable offences. I thought his first caution was pretty harsh, however there's no disputing his second yellow as it was a rash tackle to make, especially already being on a booking.
The game was effectively over on the stroke of half-time as Kimpioka doubled his tally and St Johnstone's lead in identical circumstances to his opener.
In the second half, County huffed and puffed to try and get back into the match but failed to create any clear-cut chances or test Ross Sinclair in the St Johnstone goal.
In the closing stages, Charlie Telfer - only on the pitch three minutes - was shown a straight red card by John Beaton for a tackle on Sven Sprangler, meaning County were down to nine men for the first time since Boxing Day 2020.
To rub salt into the wounds, Makenzie Kirk tapped in St Johnstone's third goal with virtually the last kick.
As bad days at the office go, this has to be right up there. With back-to-back home matches against Kilmarnock and Hibernian on the horizon, Don Cowie and his players will be desperate to make amends for a bitterly disappointing day in Perth.
'There's no need to do it, he's walking a tightrope'published at 15:41 21 October 2024
15:41 21 October 2024
Media caption,
BBC Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Barry Robson reflect on Ross County's red cards in their 3-0 defeat against St Johnstone.
Your views on County's defeat at St Johnstonepublished at 18:14 20 October 2024
18:14 20 October 2024
Graeme: Very disappointing, but Don Cowie and the players know that. Football is played in the mind as much as on the pitch, and this game highlights the contrast between battling Celtic at home and facing St Johnstone. The 'they shall not pass' mentality was lost in going toe-to-toe with a stronger side. County will regroup and come back stronger.
Angus: I had optimism going into the game. I have watched County for a long time. I think the performance from the whole squad on the park is the worst I have seen. You could not say that was a team of professional players out there. So disappointed.
Watch best of action as St Johnstone beat Ross Countypublished at 18:01 20 October 2024
18:01 20 October 2024
Media caption,
St Johnstone 3-0 Ross County: Key statspublished at 15:01 20 October 2024
15:01 20 October 2024
Image source, SNS
Jack Sanders attempted 96 passes in this game, the highest total for a St Johnstone player in the Premiership this season.
Benjamin Kimpioka has scored four goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other St Johnstone player.
St Johnstone attempted 18 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.
St Johnstone attempted 631 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.
Ross County have failed to score in four of their nine games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.
St Johnstone 3-0 Ross County: Have your saypublished at 19:24 19 October 2024
19:24 19 October 2024
Don Cowie said his side, "let the fans down today" following the 3-0 defeat to St Johnstone.
Were you part of the travelling support or did you take in the game elsewhere?
St Johnstone 3-0 Ross County: What did the manager say?published at 19:16 19 October 2024
19:16 19 October 2024
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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "We concede pretty early in the game and then we go down to ten men. It's about trying to stay in the game up until half-time, getting in at 1-0, then regroup, so, really disappointed to concede right on the stroke of half-time. Then, the task is even greater in the second half when we go down to nine.
"You don't want to be 2-0 down with ten men, but what I did say to them was 'let's go and work hard and put our bodies on the line,' and again, I'm just really disappointed to get to the last minute of the game and concede a third goal because if we came away with a 2-0, I would have accepted it to a degree, in terms of playing for a long time with ten men and then nine.
"We have to respond from it. We are disappointed. We took a big travelling support. today and we let them down in terms of the result and we need to make sure next Saturday against Kilmarnock that were back to what we can do best."
On Eli Campbell's two yellow card: "I've not seen them back, but he has made two fouls and been booked for both of them. It seems slightly harsh. But, if they deem it as a yellow, then we have to go with that."
On Charlie Telfer's red card: "I think it's a split-second decision. The ball drops in the middle of the park, Charlie's just come on the field, is eager to have an impact and he sees the ball and mistimes it. I've not seen it again to see the extent of how dangerous it looked, but, he is not a dangerous player and he has not went out to hurt someone, so he is disappointed in terms of getting a red card."
St Johnstone 3-0 Ross County: Analysispublished at 18:55 19 October 2024
18:55 19 October 2024
Amy Canavan BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park
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For all the praise County rightly received for their performance against Celtic before the international break, they'll rightly receive criticism for this.
Even before going a goal or player down, Don Cowie's side were far from their structured and disciplined best.
The defence were shaky, Laidlaw was erratic and the midfield and forward players could not make an impact on the game.
Campbell's crazy decision cost his team, leaving his side with an insurmountable task.
With just 27% in the second half, County couldn't break from their rigid defensive shape and fleetingly ventured into their attacking half.
Plenty to ponder for Cowie who came here in high hopes following the showing against Celtic. Inconsistency strikes again.
St Johnstone v Ross County: Team newspublished at 14:21 19 October 2024
14:21 19 October 2024
Both sides at McDiarmid Park show two changes from defeats by the two sides of the Old Firm last time out.
While Simo Valakari is not yet officially in the St Johnstone dugout, you imagine the new team boss will have been the one who decided to promote midfielder Jason Holt and striker Adama Sidibeh into the starting line-up.
Defender Aaron Essel and forward Makenzie Kirk drop to the bench following the 2-0 loss to Rangers at Ibrox.
County's Don Cowie makes two changes from their 2-1 home defeat by Celtic.
In come striker Eamonn Brophy and Scott Allardice, whose fellow midfielders, Noah Chilvers and Aidan Denholm, drop to the bench.
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Image caption,
County's Charlie Telfer and Jordan White found something amusing in the St Johnstone match programme
St Johnstone v Ross County: Team newspublished at 20:44 18 October 2024
20:44 18 October 2024
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Croatian centre-half Bozo Mikulic is still waiting on a work permit after signing for St Johnstone, who remain without Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).
Ross County defender Will Nightingale faces more than two months out following knee surgery. George Harmon (ankle) and Ricki Lamie (Achilles) remain out while Max Sheaf has had a setback in his recovery from a thigh problem.
'We did our homework' - Cowie ready for Saints clashpublished at 18:38 18 October 2024
18:38 18 October 2024
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Don Cowie feels suitably prepared to take on St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership, but isn't taking the Perth side for granted.
It was less than a month ago that the sides played out a dramatic 3-3 draw in Dingwall and since then, the Saints have appointed Simo Valakari as their new head coach, replacing Craig Levein.
Even though the new man at the helm won't be in the dugout for Saturday's clash at McDiarmid Park, Cowie insists County will be prepared for whatever the Saints throw at them.
"It is not too long ago we played them and we are aware of the personnel they have got," Cowie said.
"But at the same time a few weeks ago they were without two of their main threats at the top of the pitch [Benjamin Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh], so we have that to think about that going into the game.
"But we did our homework on them a month ago so nothing really changes.
"I think they have managed to sign one player [Bozo Mikulic] outwith the window, so that adds to their group but we are fully aware.
"The way football is now, you pretty much know everything about the opposition going into the game."
'County need sharper edge up front'published at 15:49 17 October 2024
15:49 17 October 2024
We asked for your views on what you want to see from Ross County.
Here's what some of you said:
Dave: Although Ronan Hale has made an encouraging start and Jordan White poses problems to opposing defences, we need a sharper edge up front to build on the good work in midfield and defence. Someone in the classic inside forward role to hold the ball, and then deliver those telling passes. Defensively we have been excellent though.
Craig: Although we haven't won many games, some of the performances have been encouraging, especially against difficult sides. We look to have brought in some higher quality players like Josh Nisbet, Noah Chilvers, Aidan Denholm, Jack Grieves and Hale, all technically good players on the ball. Akil Wright and Kacper Lopata look good too, I'm quietly confident they will gel. Connor Randall is a great captain.
Stephen: We are doing well at the moment, yes the lack of wins is a slight concern, as is away form in general, but I think we are one win away from putting a run together.