Ross County

Were you at the Global Energy Stadium or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "I enjoyed it because that time in the game there wasn't long to go. That never say die attitude was massive for us and it could prove to be a vital point.

"We showed that against Livingston as well. I'd rather we did it earlier but glad we got a point out of it.

"I've got a really strong squad now and it's about making the right decisions. It was great for Yan [Dhanda] to come off the bench and make an impact and get the equaliser."

Don Cowie hailed the "never say die attitude" of his Ross County side after their last-gasp draw with Hibernian.

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

Such a dramatic late goal with wild celebrations at the end could be the turning point for Ross County. The individual quality they have in Yan Dhanda, Simon Murray, Victor Loturi and others is clear. But they too struggle to defend their box and play as a team at times, and in truth Hibs had the better of the play.

However, resilience can go a long way in a relegation scrap. A seven-point gap to Livingston feels psychologically significant, although with Hearts and Rangers still to play before the split Cowie will not be getting carried away.

Nonetheless this was a morale-boosting night for County.

Don Cowie says he has the strongest squad available to him since he took over from Derek Adams, with Connor Randall, Simon Murray, and Yan Dhanda all fit again.

Randall and Murray start as Cowie makes four changes from the 2-0 defeat at Easter Road. Josh Sims and Brandon Khela are the others to come into the XI.

James Brown, Jordan White, and Max Sheaf drop to the bench. Eli King misses out altogether.

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Ross County midfielder Max Sheaf believes his side aren't far from clicking and getting themselves away from the bottom of the Premiership.

There's been a slight upturn in form under interim manager Don Cowie with Sheaf playing a more consistent role, and he's confident the squad are close to gelling.

"We've had quite a few new players come in in the January window, that's always gonna take a little bit of time to gel as a group," Sheaf said.

"Once we get that, we're singing off the same hymn sheet and as soon as things click, then we can definitely be a force to go and punish a few teams and hopefully get ourselves out of the position we're in.

The 24-year-old midfielder has spent most of his career in the English non-league system and it took him until December to get his first start.

"I've had to stay patient," Sheaf admitted. "I knew it was going to take some getting used to the league and the pace of the game again.

"When you've got that group of players, staff and that fan base around you, you can - when you're not involved - still feel a part of it. It makes it so much easier to deal with.

"Training with the boys every day is obviously going to help but also even watching a lot of Scottish football from afar and putting that into practice when you get on the pitch.

"It's taken me a while, but it's something that I was confident I would do. I understood that it would take a bit of time. Having thoughts prior to coming here and the season starting, I think really helped me."

Scott Allardice, Jack Baldwin, Ross Callachan, Will Nightingale remain out for Ross County.

Australia winger Martin Boyle misses out for Hibs after being left concussed by a collision in the Scottish Cup loss to Rangers.

Midfielder Nathan Moriah-Welsh is suspended following his dismissal for violent conduct against Rangers but left-back Jordan Obita, who received two bookings in that game, is available as his suspension applies to the next cup match.

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• Ross County have won just one of their last six Scottish Premiership matches against Hibernian (D2 L3) and are without a win in their last three (D2 L1). In fact, Ross County’s last league match was a 0-2 loss to Hibs, making this match the first time the Staggies have ever played the same opponent in consecutive matches in the Scottish top-flight within the same season.

• Hibernian have only lost one of their last five Scottish Premiership away games against Ross County (W2 D2), going down 1-0 in November 2021 under Jack Ross.

• After losing three home league matches on the bounce between December and February, Ross County are unbeaten in their last two (W1 D1) and are looking to make it three unbeaten at home for the second time this season – also doing so between November and December 2023.

• Hibernian have drawn each of their last three away matches in the Scottish Premiership, they haven’t drawn four in a row on the road since May 2018.

• Ross County defender Ryan Leak is the only player in the Scottish Premiership who has made 100+ clearances (124), won 100+ duels (184), won 100+ aerial duels (119) and made 40+ interceptions (44) this season.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Interim manager Don Cowie believes he's instilled a "togetherness" in his Ross County squad as they continue to scrap for Premiership survival.

His side have picked up four points from their two home games, and will look to add to that when they host Hibernian on Wednesday night.

"We've worked really hard in the previous five games, showed a real togetherness," Cowie said. "Now it's about trying to add a little bit of quality to that and make the opponents defend as well.

"The club had gone through a tough period, it was well documented. I set about from the outset to bring that calmness, bringing that unity and togetherness at this club.

"It's the foundation of why we've been so successful over a number of years. It’s about bringing that together and I'm seeing a real togetherness. Now it's about building up on that and adding the finer details, just to make us an even better team because I really believe in the group."

Despite having seven loan players in the squad, Cowie was certain that his players are fighting as one to prevent relegation.

"What's very unique about our football club is that we all live in a smaller area. Geographically, everyone's within fifteen minutes of Dingwall," he added.

"They spend a lot of time with each other, it's not just a case of they train and then they don’t see each other again.

"Whether it’s like last week [when] I know there was quite a few of them golfing, or whether it's going for coffee together - that's important because that makes them feel part of this community and makes them feel together with what we're trying to achieve at this club."

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Ross County interim manager Don Cowie has been talking to the media before his side host Hibs in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• Cowie thinks it's good to play Hibs again so quickly as it allows County to "focus and zoom in" on what happened in previous match.

• Says it's "important" to build on home form - they've picked up four points from their last two games in Dingwall.

• Simon Murray, Yan Dhanda and Connor Randall are all back fit - Cowie believes this is the "strongest" squad he's had at his disposal since he took interim charge.

• County have shown "a real togetherness" in last few games and now just need to add quality.

• Individual mistakes are "part of football" - Cowie spoke about County being both the victims and beneficiaries lately, and how they need to learn from them.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Don Cowie will hope an eleven-day break since Ross County’s last match will refresh his side going into a tough run of fixtures before the split.

The Staggies welcome both Edinburgh sides to Dingwall in the space of a few days with Hibernian making the trip north on Wednesday evening before Hearts travel up the A9 on Saturday.

Following the international break, County play both Aberdeen and Kilmarnock away from home before rounding off their pre-split fixtures by welcoming league-leaders Rangers to Dingwall.

Based on the current league table, four of the remaining five matches are against sides in the top six. That’s not an ideal run of fixtures for a side sitting in the play-off spot.

Four of County’s five victories in the league this season have come at home, with Cowie picking up four points from a possible six in his first two home matches as interim boss. With two home matches coming up, can County take advantage and narrow the gap to Aberdeen in tenth?

If the Staggies are to pick up points during the run-in they’ll be keen to get some of their key players back on the park, especially Simon Murray.

Murray missed the 2-0 defeat to Hibs due to illness and his attacking threat was sorely missed. His energy and direct running can cause defences all sorts of problems and it looked like he formed a dangerous attacking trio with Jordan White and Eamonn Brophy in the two previous matches in Dingwall.

In the 2-0 defeat at Easter Road against Hibs, County were well in the match before George Wickens’ mistake for the opening goal turned the game on its head. If County can cut out the defensive errors that cost them in Leith and welcome back Murray to partner White and Brophy, the home fans will be hopeful they can pick up a vital three points in their quest for survival.

Ross Morren can be found on The County Corner, external.

In a reverse of Ross County's previous fixture, they host Hibs in the Scottish Premiership.

The previous match at the start of the month ended 2-0 to the Easter Road side, so should Don Cowie shake things up?

Tell us your preferred starting XI here.

Birmingham City are confident about Brandon Khela's development on loan at Ross County. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

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There's no doubt Simon Murray has been hugely important for Ross County in front of goal this season.

He's the club's top scorer this term, netting seven of County's 24 league goals so far, from an expected goals of 5.52. That overperformance is indicative of a good level of finishing.

The striker has had 55 shots, 21 of which have been on target, and he's converted a third of those.

He's also created 31 chances, with only Yan Dhanda offering up more for County. If Don Cowie is to guide the Dingwall side to safety this season, you suspect Murray will have a key part to play.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County have enjoyed their visits to Leith to face Hibernian over the past couple of years.

Goals from George Harmon and Alex Iacovitti earned a 2-0 win back in November 2022, while a stunning Jordan White volley earned Malky Mackay’s side a point in the capital after coming back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 last October.

Based on that recent record in Leith and County picking up four points in the last two matches, fans were optimistic before Saturday's trip to Easter Road.

However, an uncharacteristic error from George Wickens in the second half allowed Myazine Maolida to tap home, and Dylan Levitt added a second for Hibs late on as County chased the game.

Despite the defeat, there’s positives to take from Don Cowie's reign so far. Cowie has had to learn on the job during a tough run of fixtures where his side have played three top-six sides in his five matches in charge.

With one win, one draw and three defeats, he’s overseen an upturn in form since the sacking of Derek Adams, who only took one point from his final five league games. County have also scored more goals and conceded fewer across Cowie’s five matches in charge compared to his predecessor’s final five matches.

Based on the stats, there has been an improvement in both performances and results under the interim manager.

Cowie’s record could have looked even better were it not for defensive errors against St Mirren and Hibs. He’ll be keen to iron out those mistakes and see his side exact revenge when Hibs travel to Dingwall on 13 March.

You can find Ross Morren on The County Corner, external.

We asked for your response to County's 2-0 loss to Hibernian. Here's a flavour of what you had to say.

Anon: Defensively, we were dealing competently with Hibs’ threat until Wickens’ error turned the game. He was uncharacteristically shaky all afternoon.

The second goal resulted from us hooking our full-backs to chase the game. Hibs were the better team and County badly need to find some creativity. We are sorely missing Dhanda’s influence.

'If Don Cowie is going to get this side out of trouble, he needs to sort out his back three' - Neil McCann

Watch the best of the action as Hibs score twice in the second half to beat Ross County at Easter Road. (Available to UK users only)

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• Hibs attempted 547 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Ross County have failed to score in 15 of their 28 games, more often than any other team in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Hibs are undefeated in their last four games in the Scottish Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 28 October 2023 to 3 December 2023, a run of six games.

• Elie Youan has assisted four goals this season (one in this game), no Hibs player has more in the Scottish Premiership.