Ross County

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Don Cowie has been talking to BBC Scotland before Sunday's game with Premiership leaders Celtic.

Here are the key points:

• Cowie insists he's seen a "real spirit" over the past number of weeks and a "real unity" in the team that brings optimism ahead of the Celtic match.

• The former Scotland international believes the 7-1 thumping Celtic suffered at Borussia Dortmund midweek "can happen when you come up against real quality," and says Brendan Rodgers' side have been "outstanding in the league so far".

• He believes concentration will be key given the questions Celtic will pose but County will need to retain a threat and be clincial when chances come to get a result, adding that "every team has certain weaknesses that you've got to try and exploit."

• Cowie also explained that despite the disappointment of losing a late injury-time equaliser to Hearts last time out, his side were "excellent in terms of defending throughout the whole game" and over the last four league matches, they've been "really solid."

• Ricki Lamie is back in training but more likely to return after the international break. Josh Reid may make the squad for this one and Will Nightingale is likely to miss out.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie says "there's no such thing as a free hit" as his side prepare to welcome Celtic.

The Dingwall club have picked up seven points from their opening seven games and sit seventh in the Scottish Premiership table.

"I say every time there's no such thing as a free hit," Cowie said as his side prepare for the visit of the champions.

"You take each game as it comes on merit. We understand it's a challenge, they've been in excellent form domestically. It's one we have to embrace and look forward to.

"Celtic are a relentless team no matter who they're playing against.

"They'll be disappointed with the result last night but for us, facing a team like Celtic, it's very similar to what they were up against last night - a team with massive quality and a big budget and that's what we're up against.

"This is why we work so hard every year to be in the top division to welcome the best teams like Celtic.

"So when it comes along it's about embracing it, making the most of it and giving a good account of ourselves."

Ross Morren
Fan writer

When Ross Laidlaw made a stunning save from Lawrence Shankland deep into stoppage time, it looked like Ross County were going to leave Tynecastle with all three points.

The cheer from the away end following that late Laidlaw save was nearly as loud as the one which followed Ronan Hale's stunning strike in the first half to open the scoring.

However, the away end would be silenced in the 96th minute.

Just as it looked like the Staggies were about to pick up their first away win in the Premiership in over a year, Yan Dhanda's corner was met by Shankland who stooped low to head the ball into the back of the net and break County hearts.

The equaliser felt like the only time a County defender didn't make first contact with the ball from a cross or a set-piece. The backline of Akil Wright, Kacper Lopata and Ryan Leak were absolutely phenomenal throughout the 90 minutes when defending their own box. Leak's block from Alan Forrest's shot which looked destined to find the back of the net typified the defensive resilience and desire in the County back three.

In front of them, Connor Randall returned to Tynecastle to face his former club and put in an outstanding captain's performance. He was relentless in his efforts to nullify Hearts' attacking threat throughout the match and provided the defensive platform to allow Noah Chilvers and Josh Nisbet to get forward and support the attacks.

Don Cowie will want his side to maintain the performance levels that they produced at Tynecastle when he goes up against Brendan Rodgers for the first time in his managerial career as Celtic travel to Dingwall on Sunday.

Cowie played for Rodgers during their time together at Watford and he'll be well aware of the style and quality of play the Celtic manager demands from his sides.

With Celtic travelling from Dortmund to Dingwall in just a matter of days, County fans will be hoping their side can try and take advantage of any potential European hangover the Glasgow side might be suffering from and pull off a shock result.

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

Rangers' trip to Dingwall in December has been selected for television coverage.

Don Cowie's side were due to host the Ibrox side in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday, 7 December, but it has been moved back a day.

Kick-off in the Highlands on Sunday, 8 December will be 12 noon.

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Spending the season on-loan at Arbroath is "a great opportunity" for Dylan Smith and his development, says manager Don Cowie.

The defender has joined the Scottish League 1 side for the remainder of the campaign in search of regular game time.

The Scotland youth international has endured a "frustrating time" with injury, but the move to the Red Lichties is hoped to help his case for more action with Ross County on his return.

The 18-year-old has made 23 appearances for the Dingwall side, but Arbroath offers a "competitive" challenge added Cowie.

"Dylan has progressed really well after a frustrating time with injury last season and we feel this is a great opportunity for him to continue his development at a really competitive level," he told the club website.

"We look forward to Dylan returning to push for regular football in our first team."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

So close, yet so far for Don Cowie's side who almost recorded a fine victory at Tynecastle before Hearts' 96th-minute equaliser.

They had been put ahead by a wonderful Ronan Hale strike, curling in from the edge of the area to beat Craig Gordon all ends up in the Hearts goal. Another to add to the Irishman's showreel.

At the back, Hearts struggled to break them down and that was in large part due to the impressive performance of Ryan Leak.

Watch highlights as Hearts draw 1-1 against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

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Ronan Hale scored his sixth goal of the season with Ross County's opener in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

We asked for your views on Ross County's 1-1 draw against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Ronny: As much as we defended well today and Ross Laidlaw had very little to do, you're asking for trouble when you start to fall deeper and deeper after 60 minutes. Had a couple of half chances - and one big one - to put the game to bed, so to concede another 97th minute goal feels very much like two points dropped right now.

Michael: Ross County are looking like no pushover. Don Cowie's moulded a good squad with tremendous character and when they click they will rise up the table. A small enclave north east of Inverness fighting for its existence week in, week out - best club in the world.

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• Hearts have failed to win in their last nine games in the Premiership. Their last longer winless streak was from 23rd November 2019 to 22nd January 2020, a run of 10 games.

• Ross County have scored in their last three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of four games from 4th May 2024 to 19th May 2024.

• Kye Rowles attempted 103 passes in this game, the highest total for a Hearts player in the Premiership this season.

• Ross County have lost four points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee United (six) and St. Mirren (seven) have lost more.

Did you attend Ross County's draw with Hearts or were you following from home?

Click here, external to have your say on the match.

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "I'm seeing a group of players that are working ever so hard for each other, putting their bodies on the line.

"We see out that last corner, we go away with three points. It's not to be but I'm extremely proud of the group.

"I don't think it's ever in the bag. You've got to just keep going until that final whistle."

Andy Campbell, BBC Scotland

Ross County appeared to be ready for a Hearts reaction following Steven Naismith's departure as head coach. They set up to repel their hosts and restricted them for extended periods.

Going forward, they had to make the most of counters and set pieces, Nathan Chilvers flashing an effort over from a corner prior to the opener.

And, after the Ronan Hale opener, the striker elected to shoot rather than play in Jordan White as Hearts were caught on the break again. The eventual shot was deflected into Craig Gordon's hands when White seemed better placed.

Losing such a late goal will be a disappointment but they go into next week's visit of champions Celtic with two draws and a win since the last international break.

Ross County were denied by a late, late goal against Hearts but the goal they scored themselves came from the impressive Ronan Hale.

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Liam Fox makes five changes to the Hearts line-up in his first match in interim charge following Steven Naismith's departure.

A new look defence comprises Adam Forrester, Frankie Kent and Kye Rowles alongside Stephen Kingsley, who is the only survivor from last week's back four.

In midfield, Cammy Devlin takes over from Malachi Boateng while Alan Forrest replaces Blair Spittal.

Fox's team looks like a 4-3-3 with Forrest and Kenneth Vargas either side of captain Lawrence Shankland as the hosts look to arrest an 11-match winless streak that stretches back to May and includes eight successive defeats.

Just one change for Ross County following last week's draw with St Johnstone. Michee Efete replaces James Brown in midfield.

Hearts: Gordon, Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley, Grant, Baningime, Devlin, Forrest, Shankland, Vargas.

Substitutes: Clark, Halkett, Oyegoke, McKay, Spittal, Dhanda, Tait, Boyce, Penrice.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Campbell, Wright, Lopata, Leak, Efete, Nisbet, Randall, Chilvers, Hale, White.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Brown, Loturi, Grieves, Telfer, Samuel, Brophy, Smith, Nightingale.

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Hearts right-back Gerald Taylor is facing a long-term lay-off with suspected ACL damage so teenager Adam Forrester is set to be promoted to the squad. Frankie Kent returns after an ankle injury but Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) is still out.

Ross County will be without defenders George Harmon (ankle), Ricki Lamie (Achilles) and Josh Reid, who is still recovering from a heavy knock.

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Connor Randall praised his Ross County team for showing a "never say die spirit" after salvaging a point against St Johnstone last weekend.

"When you get a late equaliser it does feel a bit like a victory, we've shown a never say die spirit within this team," said Randall, 28.

"The game is never over, we were two goals down with not long left and we clawed it back to get an important point.

"It's been a tough start to the season for Hearts and they find themselves in a position in the league which they wouldn't expect but I don't think we can look too much into that.

"We just have to look at the squad, the amount of good players that they've got and the game will be a challenge. They've got one of the best squads in the league and we're expecting a very tough test.

"We need to be prepared, try and stop their strengths and exploit their weaknesses, that's what we do for most teams."

The full-back hopes County can improve their away form when they travel to Tynecastle to face bottom of the table Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

"Tynecastle can be a tough place to go, it will be bouncing on Saturday, you've got to manage those parts of the game as well," he added.

"We need to put in a performance that we can be proud of and hopefully get a positive result.

"We want to improve on our away form, it's something the gaffer and everyone as a collective has talked about.

"Last season, when the gaffer came in we had a good run of form at home and were making it a difficult place for people to come and we’ve continued that this season.

"If we can improve away from home and carry on picking up points at home, it will be massive for us."

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• Hearts have lost just one of their 15 top-flight home games against Ross County (W6 D8), going down 0-1 in March 2017.

• After their 2-1 win in March last season, Ross County could win back-to-back top-flight meetings with Hearts for the first time, with this the 30th such clash between the two clubs.

• Hearts have just one point from six Scottish Premiership matches this season (W0 D1 L5), the fewest by any side at this stage of a season in the competition since Dundee in 2018-19 (0).

• The last side to have one or fewer points from their opening seven games in the division were in fact Ross County in 2014-15 (0).

• Ross County are winless in their last 19 away league games (D7 L12) since a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock in September 2023.

• The last side to go 20 consecutive top-flight away games without winning were Dundee from August 2004 to August 2012, while the last to do so without being relegated during the run were St Mirren from November 2009 to October 2010.

• Ross County have conceded more second-half goals (eight) than any side in the Scottish Premiership this season, with this also accounting for a league-high 73% of their total goals shipped this term.

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George Harmon is set to be out for a "significant time" with an ankle injury, Ross County manager Don Cowie confirms.

The left-back, who has been a regular in the side this season, suffered the blow in the victory over Dundee a fortnight ago.

Cowie says the injury is a "bad" one and it could require surgery.

"We're now waiting for a second opinion on his ankle," he added.

"In terms of whether he may need surgery, he may not, it just depends on how we want his rehab to go, but he is going to be out for a significant time.

“We're waiting on Josh Reid to see how he is, but it's good to have Ricki Lamie and Will Nightingale back on the pitch."

Cowie's County travel to managerless Hearts on Saturday.

The Tynecastle club sacked Steven Naismith on Sunday following a nine-game winless start to the season, but Cowie says his former side are "still a very good football team".

Given the change in the dugout, Cowie says he has to prepare for every possibility.

"They’ve got a good squad of players and there's a real expectation and demand there," added Cowie.

"It’s a little bit unknown, there’s an interim manager in charge so you don’t know how many changes might come, whether it’s a shape change, personnel change, so we’ve got to be on our guard and prepare for whatever comes."

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Don Cowie has been speaking to the media before Ross County's Scottish Premiership trip to Hearts this weekend.

Here are the key points by the County boss:

• He says managerless Hearts are "still a very good football team with a good squad of players" despite their poor start to the season.

• Although they came back from two goals down late on, Cowie is "disappointed" County only got a point against St Johnstone at the weekend.

• He insists County are "very strong at home" but need to "add points away from home" as they prepare for the trip to Edinburgh.

• County faced St Johnstone without Craig Levein last weekend and face managerless Hearts this Saturday, and Cowie added: "You don’t know how many changes will come, so we’ve got to be on our guard and prepare for whatever comes."

• Cowie also confirms George Harmon will be out "for a significant time" with an ankle injury.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County have already had their fair share of late drama in Dingwall this season.

Akil Wright's stoppage-time equaliser against St Johnstone has continued a recent trend of late goals.

There have been goals in the 95th minute or later in three of the four Premiership matches this season.

Last campaign, County were leading 3-1 against Motherwell at Fir Park with less than five minutes to go. That two-goal lead disappeared in a matter of minutes as the home side fought back to earn a 3-3 draw.

For County fans, it certainly wasn't a happy drive home that evening as the draw felt like a defeat after throwing away a two-goal lead so late on.

Saturday's match felt very similar to that draw at Fir Park last season. Thankfully, it was roles reversed with County on the right side of the comeback.

It was a draw that felt like a victory to County fans, while St Johnstone fans will have travelled back to Perth stunned at how their side threw away their lead so late on.

The Staggies have now scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of matches than any other top-flight side this season, while only Dundee can better County's record of points gained from losing positions.

Those stats show the strong character and never-say-die attitude Don Cowie has instilled in his side, which could play a big part in their success this season.

Watch the best of the action from Dingwall as Ross County and St Johnstone share six goals in a Premiership thriller.

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