Ross County

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Don Cowie has been speaking to the media before Ross County's game against St Mirren on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• The knee injury sustained by Eli Campbell at the weekend is not as bad as first feared, with the defender due back in the next couple of weeks.

• However, striker Alex Samuel could be out for up to three months after sustaining "significant damage in the thigh muscle" during the defeat at Hibs.

• With 10th-place County just two points off the bottom, the manager is keen to focus on the positives, adding that a win this weekend will move them within three points of St Mirren in sixth.

• Cowie insists his side have the character and fight needed, saying as a club they always "have to roll our sleeves up" against clubs of a bigger stature.

• The manager is expecting a tough game against a St Mirren side who "ask a lot of questions of you".

• On potential January transfer window business, he added: "We need to do stuff. I think we are slightly imbalanced in terms of the squad."

Ross Morren
Fan writer

For the first 49 minutes at Easter Road on Saturday, Ross County looked like they were well on their way to picking up their first Premiership away victory in 15 months.

Eli Campbell's first goal for the club set the tone for the first-half performance. For the following 25-30 minutes, they were excellent and really should have put the game beyond a lacklustre Hibs side.

County got into a lot of good positions in the final third but didn't show enough of a ruthless streak to put the game beyond Hibs.

With 10 seconds of the five minutes of additional time in the first half remaining, County had possession in their final third over towards the corner flag. If you're unable to create an opportunity in that moment, keep the ball and manage the game so you can get to half time at 1-0 ahead.

Instead, the ball was given away cheaply and Hibs broke up the park to equalise.

If the manner of the equaliser was hugely frustrating to concede, the two goals in the second half are on a whole other level.

The Staggies had a huge slice of luck when Jack Hamilton saved Nicky Cadden's penalty. They needed to recompose themselves and use that as a spark to kick on.

Instead, less than a minute later Ryan Leak needlessly hauled down Josh Campbell to hand Hibs another spot-kick. This time, Elie Youan scored and County found themselves 2-1 down.

Don Cowie's side started to pile on the pressure towards the end of the match and it looked like an equaliser might be on the cards. Those hopes quickly evaporated as James Brown's weak clearance was fired straight back him and he was outmuscled by Youan, who set up Josh Campbell to make it 3-1.

A combination of poor game management, lack of composure and woeful decision-making from the players cost County dearly on Saturday.

As a manager, you cannot account for your players making such costly mistakes. It must have been so frustrating for Cowie to witness his side unravel from such a promising position and performance.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Watch Sportscene analysis of Hibs' first goal during their 3-1 win against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Hibs' two penalties in their 3-1 win against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your thoughts on Ross County's 3-1 defeat against Hibs.

Here's what you had to say:

Alistair: Our season will not be defined by results against the Old Firm, I keep hearing and reading. What about getting thrashed by the team that has been bottom of the league all season and couldn't beat their own grannies? Does that help define our season? Dross in, dross out, sorry young Master Don Cowie, this job has come about all too soon for you.

Rick: I don't get angry often at County, I am aware of our limitations, but that was infuriating! Amateur school football levels of defending and we are missing Ross Laidlaw, another season and another relegation battle in store.

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• Ross County have lost their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 3rd February 2024 to 17th February 2024, a run of four games.

• Hibernian have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 24th May 2023 against Celtic (25 games without a win).

• Ross County have lost 10 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Hibernian (16) have lost more.

• Elie Youan has now assisted three goals in eight appearances in the Premiership against Ross County.

Ross County manager Don Cowie questions the amount of first-half stoppage time time in his side's 3-1 Saturday defeat by Hibernian, during which Hibs scored. (Record), external

Hibernian's "character was definitely tested" against County, says head coach David Gray. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Hibernian climbed off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership after coming from behind to beat Ross County in an action-packed Scottish Premiership encounter.

Elie Youan's second-half penalty put the hosts in front, just minutes after teammate Nicky Cadden had missed from the spot.

The sides had gone into half-time level after Dwight Gayle's flicked header cancelled out Eli Campbell's close-range opener.

As the visitors pushed for an equaliser of their own late on, Youan nudged Ross County defender James Brown off the ball before selflessly playing in Josh Campbell. The Hibs midfielder slotted home a first-time finish to make sure of victory.

In a match characterised by mistakes rather than moments of quality, it was Ross County's indiscipline that ultimately cost them and extended their long winless run in the league away from home.

David Gray's side are now eighth in the table, while County drop to ninth, with their last league win on the road back on 2 September 2023, a 1-0 victory at Kilmarnock.

County fans, were you at Easter Road or following along from home? Either way, we want your thoughts.

Have your say on the game., external

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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County shot themselves in the foot at Easter Road with a string of individual errors.

Goalkeeper Jack Hamilton went walkabout for Hibs' first goal, leaving Dwight Gayle an open net to spoil what had been a decent first-half display.

They could have scored before they did when Noah Chilvers' shot was saved well by Jordan Smith, but they were unable to sustain their bright start to the game.

The fouls from George Harmon and Ryan Leak to concede the two penalties were both entirely unnecessary and reckless, and they gifted Hibs the lead.

The third concession was perhaps the most calamitous of the lot. James Brown booted an aimless long ball straight to Josh Campbell, and with him being so deep in his own half, played Elie Youan onside.

The County defender compounded his first error with another, diving in to try to rob Youan of the ball, but missed entirely and gave the Hibs player a clear route to goal. Campbell had kept up with the play and was on hand to sweep home.

Don Cowie cannot account for such costly mistakes and he needs his side to tighten up big time if they are to avoid being sucked into yet another relegation battle.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie tells BBC Scotland: "First half I thought we were excellent. We had a real opportunity to get a second, but we didn't get it. We concede right on half-time, which changes the game.

"I've spoken to the officials - we were over the five minutes [of added time]. The referee puts the whistle to his mouth, and his words are he's thought about blowing the whistle, but didn't. He felt Hibs had an opportunity to attack. What happens after that is us and we take responsibility. We should never have conceded in that moment.

"We give Hibs two opportunities to score from a penalty, and it's not acceptable. It just didn't quite fall for us, we're pushing to find an equaliser and then we make a poor clearance.

"We were in a great place to get three points today. We can't keep letting the opposition get in front with our decision making. We then have to chase the game and that plays into the opposition's hands.

"We'll dust ourselves down and make sure we're ready for the game in Dingwall next Saturday."

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Hibs striker Mykola Kuharevich will miss out with a groin strain while Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring) remain longer-term absentees.

Ross County loanees Kacper Lopata and Aidan Denholm have returned to training and will be assessed.

Ricki Lamie is also back in training as is Max Sheaf but Will Nightingale (knee) is behind them in his quest for fitness and may not return to full training until the end of the month.

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Ross County striker Alex Samuel says he is currently having his "most enjoyable time at the club" as they get ready for a crucial run of games, starting at Hibs on Saturday.

The Staggies are eighth in the Scottish Premiership, despite winning just one of their last six, but Samuel is still appreciating being involved.

"It's been great. Probably my most enjoyable time at the club," the striker said. "To be involved and being a part of the team has been great.

"It's been something I've really relished and have been excited about."

Don Cowie's side next face Hibs at Easter Road, having not won away from home in the league all season, but Samuel hopes a win in the capital can kickstart a solid run of results over the festive period.

"It's huge," Samuel said. "We know the magnitude of the game, how important it is and obviously it's the start of a big run of games over the Christmas period.

"So it's really important for us to do well and to start us off on a good run.

"It would mean everything and I think it's a perfect opportunity to get it done Saturday.

"We've got to fully believe we can do it. That's what we're doing, believing that we can take the three points away from home."

Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland

Sitting eighth, Ross County are above some of their more illustrious Premiership rivals, including Edinburgh's big two.

However, Don Cowie's side have been beaten in their past two games, conceding eight goals in the process to Glasgow's big two.

Another loss to Hibernian at Easter Road and the Staggies could be dragged into those less comfortable positions.

They drew 0-0 with Hibs in Dingwall back in October and are unbeaten in their past three meetings with the Leith side.

The challenge for Cowie is to mastermind County's first Easter Road win in 23 months and in the process stave off any advance of Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and/or Hearts.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

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"We need to put an end to it."

Another week, another chance for Ross County to finally chalk up a win on their travels.

This Saturday it's a trip to bottom club Hibs as the Staggies seek a first Premiership away victory in 25 attempts, a miserable record stretching back to September last year.

"Yeah, I say every time it comes around, I get asked the question, rightly so, it's a record that we need to break, we need to put an end to it," County boss Don Cowie said.

"We're working hard to try and do that and Saturday is another opportunity.

"It will be a really difficult game against, I believe, a good team, despite where they sit in the league right now."

The unwanted statistics don't end there for the Dingwall side, as they currently rank bottom of the league for goals scored, with just 12 in 16 games.

Cowie added: "We need to score more goals, at the same time we need to create more chances, but it's about being calm.

"We are sitting eighth in the league for a reason, because there are aspects we have done well, but if we can improve, that gives us the opportunity to get up the table."

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• Only Celtic (307) and Rangers (268) have had more shots in the Premiership this season than Hibs (216), with David Gray's side also third behind the Old Firm for expected goals (22.7). Despite this, only two teams – Kilmarnock (17) and Ross County (12) – have scored fewer goals than the Edinburgh side (18).

• Hibs have only lost one of their last five home league games against Ross County (W3 D1), going down 2-0 in November 2022 under Lee Johnson.

• Ross County are unbeaten in three league meetings with Hibs (W1 D2); only in their first four top-flight games against the Easter Road side from October 2012 to August 2013 have the Staggies ever avoided defeat in four successive encounters against them in the top tier.

• Hibs are winless in five home league games (D3 L2), but haven't gone six without a home win in the Scottish Premiership since February-May 2014 under Terry Butcher, when they were relegated.

• Ross County have lost their last two league games by an aggregate score of 8-0 (5-0 v Celtic, 3-0 v Rangers). The Staggies last lost three successive Scottish Premiership matches in February last season (4 in a row), and last did so without scoring in December 2020 (5 in a row).

Ross County manager Don Cowie hopes to sign a winger in January. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Defender Akil Wright is keenly aware of how important an away win against Hibs could be for Ross County this weekend.

The Staggies fell to a 3-0 home defeat against Rangers on Sunday and have three wins in 16 league games. They currently sit eighth in the top flight, three clear of bottom-placed Hibs.

Don Cowie's side have failed to win away from home in seven top-flight attempts this campaign and face a tricky trip to Easter Road on Saturday.

"It's a massive game and we need to turn our away form around. What a time it would be to do it," said Wright.

"There's a lot of pressure on both teams, but we're looking forward to it.

"There are a lot of positives but if you lose 3-0 there are negatives that we want to improve on and work on.

"We're working hard in training this week to get ready for the game on Saturday.

"Scoring goals from every area of the pitch will help the team going forward, from defence to up front.

"We've not scored an away goal in a while [since a 1-1 draw at Hearts on September 28] so what a time it would be to do it and hopefully end our drought of not winning away from home.

"We want to increase the gap [on Hibs] to six points."

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County fans were hoping their side would draw inspiration from their last match against Rangers in Dingwall and pick up another famous victory.

A 3-2 win in April marked the first time the Staggies were victorious against Rangers at the 26th time of asking. So, could they make it back-to-back wins in Dingwall against the team from Govan?

Unfortunately, lightning didn't strike twice.

At least County's performance in the 3-0 defeat was a big improvement on the one at Celtic Park the previous weekend.

The front pairing of Ronan Hale and Alex Samuel caused the Rangers backline problems with their pace and movement, while Noah Chilvers and Akil Wright were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet thanks to saves from Jack Butland.

Similar to the match against Celtic, County had shown a positive reaction after conceding early on and settled into the match. However, once Danilo pounced on Jack Hamilton's mistake to make it 2-0, the Staggies had a mountain to climb.

Don Cowie's side didn't let the game run away from them in the same manner as the week prior and competed well in the second half. Hamilton made some good saves which will hopefully help to rebuild his confidence.

County fans know their season won't be defined by matches against Celtic or Rangers. The last couple of games have been tough but Cowie will be keen for his side to put those defeats behind them and focus on a huge match this weekend against Hibs at Easter Road.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Were you at the match to see Ross County's good home form slip against Rangers or did you follow the 3-0 defeat elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say, external.

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• Rangers have scored in each of their last seven games in the Premiership, scoring 15 goals in that run.

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games in the Premiership, a run of 365 minutes without conceding a goal.

• Ross County have failed to score in nine of their 16 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers' three straight Premiership clean sheets is their longest run of games without conceding a goal in the competition since a run of six games from 1 December 2021 to 26 December 2021.

Watch the best of the action as Rangers put three unanswered goals past Ross County in Dingwall. (UK only)