Ross County

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Ross County are "striving for consistency" says Don Cowie as he looks to build on their first league win of the season.

Akil Wright's opener and Jordan White's penalty saw off a previously free-scoring Dundee side last Saturday at the Global Energy Stadium, where Cowie stresses County have been "strong" during his tenure.

The manager wants another win - this time against St Johnstone - to gather momentum and take advantage of being one of just two Scottish Premiership games this weekend.

"It was a really good team performance, I thought we were really solid defensively [against Dundee]," said Cowie.

"We always believe we have the capabilities to score goals, so if we have that platform and that foundation of being solid at the back, it gives us a great opportunity to win games.

"It's about consistency, we're striving for that. It takes time for people to gel, the window is now closed so we know who we're working with, everyone is getting familiar with each other and now it's a case of building on what we've done in the first five league games.

"The group takes a lot of belief on the back of the last two league performances."

Managerless St Johnstone will be without forwards Adama Sidibeh and Benji Kimpioka through suspension and Cowie views it as a chance to climb the table.

"History shows we've been really strong at home, and we just want to continue that. We relish playing here, having good home form is a great foundation to have," he added.

"This gives us a real opportunity to get up the league table and get points on the board."

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Don Cowie has been speaking to the media before Ross County's Scottish Premiership game against St Johnstone this weekend.

Here are the key points by the County boss, who was speaking before Craig Levein was sacked by Saints:

• County are "striving for consistency" as they look to build on weekend's "really good performance" against Dundee.

• Cowie says the last two league performances have provided "a lot of belief".

• The Staggies have "put the Rangers result to bed".

• Cowie believes Saturday's opponents St Johnstone "have a really good squad" even though they'll be missing key players through suspension.

• The manager adds his side "relish" playing at home and "history shows we're strong here".

• Cowie views the weekend as "an opportunity to get up the league table and get points on the board" since there are only two league games.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

It was the Akil Wright show on Saturday as the defender upstaged former favourite Simon Murray and inspired Ross County's first Premiership victory of the season.

All eyes were on Murray returning to the Highlands for the first time since his move to Dundee. County fans are well aware the energy and quality Murray brings after his 23 goals in all competitions last season for the Staggies.

Wright was tasked with keeping him quiet. The centre-half arrived from Stockport County in the summer and has brought a lot of pace and power to County's backline while he also looks very comfortable and confident on the ball.

Wright put in a man-of-the-match performance as he played a key role at both ends of the park.

In the opening five minutes, Noah Chilvers’ cross was met by Wright to score his first goal in County colours. At the other end, he was a colossus alongside Kacper Lopata and Ryan Leak to limit a free-scoring Dundee side to very few chances.

After waiting until the final day of the Premiership for a penalty last season, the Staggies have been awarded a spot-kick in each of their three home matches so far.

Some fans might have been a bit nervous when Grant Irvine pointed to the spot after our two previous penalties were saved, but Jordan White confidently sent Jon McCracken the wrong way to make it 2-0.

In 2021-22, County ended their winless run at the start of the season with a 5-0 win against Dundee. That victory sent out a real statement to the rest of the league and saw the Staggies go from strength to strength to have a really successful campaign.

Although Saturday's scoreline wasn't as emphatic, the result could be one that kickstarts County's season.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

We asked for your views on Ross County's 2-0 win against Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Bruce: Good to see Simon Murray head back to Dundee. Mission accomplished. Once a Staggie, always a Staggie.

Michael: Defence additions look solid, midfield additions starting to gel well, the two forwards looked sharp, the goalie got a clean sheet, they're looking compact and more at ease with each other, and shooting now from every position, what's not to like? Top four, why not? The chairman has dug deep, I feel good for him.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

I know Connor Randall plays in midfield but he can also do a turn at right-back, so he’s being shoehorned in there for my Team of the Week.

He is a real leader who snapped into tackles when required as Ross County got their first league win of the season against Dundee.

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• Ross County have managed to keep a clean sheet in two of their first five Premiership games - only Celtic have a better record this season.

• Dundee attempted just eight shots in this game, which is their lowest total in a single match this season.

Ross County comfortably dispatched Dundee to pick up their first Scottish Premiership victory of the season.

Akil Wright opened the scoring early on when he towered above visiting full-back Ethan Ingram to turn in Noah Chilvers’ corner.

Ingram was at fault once more when he recklessly hauled down Jordan White in the penalty area, allowing the County forward to convert from the spot right on half-time.

A quiet period followed the restart until an arrowed strike from White hurtled towards the top corner of Dundee’s goal. A fantastic, outstretched stop from McCracken kept Dundee within reach.

An even final half-hour played out at the Global Energy Stadium, with Dundee’s desperation exemplified by two long-range Billy Koumetio efforts that failed to effectively test County ‘keeper Ross Laidlaw.

County rise to ninth in the table, while Dundee drop to seventh-place following their first loss of the season in all competitions.

Ross County fans, let us know your thoughts here, external.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie tells BBC Scotland: "I thought it was a real team performance. We worked extremely hard again out of possession and we limited Dundee to very few opportunities. Those are the fundamentals and the base we want to work from. We managed to get the two goals so I’m delighted.

"It’s important when goals come, it can make a huge difference. We got the first goal early today, it allowed us to build on it.

"As a unit, I thought they were excellent. We were really disappointed in the way we defended away to Rangers. We have really worked on it over the last three, four weeks. It was better today. I’m really happy with how they are doing.

"It will be another difficult game [versus St Johnstone], as is every game in this league, but we will take real confidence and belief from this game going into that."

Cam Wanstall
BBC Sport Scotland

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County sauntered to their first league victory of the season with a robust and competent defensive showing.

That is not to say the Staggies' forward line did not impress, as White put in an exemplary performance. But it was a defender who knocked in the opener and it was a fortunate spot-kick that kept the much-needed three points in Dingwall.

Don Cowie’s men were quite content to allow Dundee the majority of possession and barely managed to accurately complete over half their passes - finishing with a 52.3% passing accuracy percentage, compared to Dundee’s 73.7%.

The County boss was likely willing to take the risk of sitting back, safe in the knowledge that his backline, including Eli Campbell, who made his first start for the club, would maintain their concentration.

Skipper Connor Randall and summer signing Chilvers impressed throughout - with their persistent tackling and precise passing standing out in a congested midfield area that could have been likened to a battlefield at times.

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Goal scorers Akil Wright and Jordan White may feel hard done by, but an impressive showing in midfield gets Noah Chilvers the nod here.

The attacking midfielder grabbed his first assist from his dangerous delivery for Wright's opener and he continued to impress for the remainder of the game.

Chilvers' excellent passing and resilience in tough midfield battles stood out amongst a number of other strong County performances.

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Everton loanee Eli Campbell makes his first start for Ross County following a brief substitute appearance in the Highland club's defeat to Aberdeen a fortnight ago, replacing Ryan Leak in defence.

Noah Chilvers and Jordan White also come in from the start in favour of midfielder Aidan Denholm and striker Eamonn Brophy.

Ricki Lamie was already ruled out, but hopefuls Will Nightingale (doubt) and Max Sheaf (returning to full fitness, thigh) fail in their fitness bid to make the match day squad.

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Ross County: Laidlaw, Brown, Wright, Lopata, Campbell, Harmon, Randall, Nisbet, Chilvers, Hale, White.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Leak, Allardice, Loturi, Grieves, Denholm, Efete, Samuel, Brophy.

Dundee: McCracken, Ingram, Portales, Koumetio, Larkecke, Sylla, Mulligan, Cameron, Tiffoney, Palmer-Houlden, Murray.

Substitutes: Carson, Astley, McGhee, Main, Adewumi, F Robertson, Braybrooke, Graham, Vetro.

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Ross County defender Will Nightingale is doubtful while Ricki Lamie (Achilles) is still out. Max Sheaf is back in full training and closing in on a return after a lengthy lay-off with a thigh problem.

Dundee pair Charlie Reilly and Clark Robertson are back in full training after being sidelined since July, although neither are likely to feature this weekend. Joe Shaughnessy is "ahead of schedule" in his recovery from a ruptured ACL.

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Eli Campbell is embracing the challenge of playing in Scotland as his Ross County side prepare to face Dundee on Saturday.

The 20-year-old defender joined the Staggies on loan from Everton in the final days of the transfer window and made his debut off the bench in the last-gasp defeat by Aberdeen before the international break.

Former England youth international Campbell is ready to make his mark in a "competitive" Scottish Premiership.

"The league has a high standard, high quality and high intensity, it's something that I'm really looking forward to," he said.

On what he will bring to the team, Campbell added: "First and foremost, I'm a defender so I love defending, I love winning my duels, winning my tackles, my headers, getting blocks and ultimately keeping clean sheets.

"I also like to play out from the back and just express myself as a footballer."

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• Ross County have a greater win rate in the Scottish Premiership against Dundee than any other opponent (47.8% - 11/23), though are winless in their last three league meetings with the Dark Blues (D1 L2).

• Dundee have won their last two league games against Ross County without conceding, never winning three top-flight matches in a row versus the Staggies before.

• Ross County have failed to win each of their opening four matches of a top-flight season (D2 L2) for just a third time, after 2014-15 (first 7) and 2021-22 (10).

• Dundee have only won one of their last 10 Scottish Premiership away games (S4 L5), beating St Johnstone 2-1 in March last season.

• Ross County have recorded just 40 shots in total so far this season in the Scottish Premiership, with only St Mirren having fewer (36).

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Referee Ross Hardie was unable to rule out Cyriel Dessers' goal in Rangers' 6-0 win over Ross County because of an earlier foul by host midfielder Tom Lawrence, Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum has explained.

Collum highlighted eight controversial incidents in The VAR Review, a new monthly show on the Scottish FA's YouTube channel, saying he was "content with the start we've made".

Rangers 6-0 Ross County - 24 August

County claimed Dessers' goal should have been disallowed because Tom Lawrence had fouled Connor Randall in the build-up.

"It is a clear foul for me the referee has missed on-field," Collum conceded. "It is a reckless tackle by the Rangers player. But VAR is not there to re-referee the match."

Collum points out that "there are far too many passes" between the foul and the goal, it therefore is not part of the same attacking phase of play and VAR was unable to intervene.

Ross County will do all they can to help Josh Nisbet win more Australia caps, says manager Don Cowie. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Don Cowie wants his Ross County side to be more "clinical" in front of goal as they head into matchday five in the Scottish Premiership having scored only once and still seeking a first win.

Although pleased with the number of opportunities County have created, Cowie insists they need to make their chances count against Dundee on Saturday.

"Goals change games, it's important," said the Dingwall manager. "It's about being clinical, it's about taking the opportunities when they come.

"Against Dundee United we were excellent for 45 minutes and created a number of opportunities and didn't take them.

"Against Aberdeen it was fine margins, an offside goal that there's not much in but it's given and then you get a penalty. That's what you work hard for, to get these opportunities.

"Then it's about taking them when they come along, but I've got every faith that if we keep doing what we're doing those goals will come."

Dundee sit sixth after an unbeaten start of one win and three draws.

"Since Tony Docherty's gone in, they've been excellent, really consistent," Cowie added.

"They started this season extremely well. It's going to be a tough game, it's one that we're looking forward to and we're ready for it."

Saturday also sees Dundee striker Simon Murray, who was pivotal to County's survival last season, return to Dingwall.

"We all know about Simon in terms of what he brings to the game, he's a real threat," said Cowie.

"He's someone who's confidence is sky high right now on the back of last season, so we're going to have to be on guard for that."

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Ross County boss Don Cowie has been speaking to the media prior to Saturday's league fixture against Dundee.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• The performance in the last-gasp defeat by Aberdeen before the international break was "was more like us, we were a team, we played together".

• Cowie was pleased to limit a Dons team in "red-hot form" to few opportunities and while disappointed to come away with nothing, wants to build on the display.

• Despite County's winless league start Cowie is impressed with how his side are progressing and says they are "in a good place" for the return to action.

• Having made 12 signings in the summer window, Cowie is pleased with his "really competitive squad and options for every position".

• Dundee have been "really consistent" under Tony Docherty and the Staggies boss is anticipating a tough game.

• On Simon Murray returning to Dingwall, Cowie says County "will have to be on guard, he's a real threat, with sky high confidence".

• Ricki Lamie is out and Will Nightingale is a doubt. Max Sheaf, who has been out since April with a thigh injury, is back in training.

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Ross County midfielder Josh Nisbet earned his third cap as Australia's World Cup qualifying travails continued with a goalless draw at Indonesia.

Despite an improved performance from the opening home defeat by Bahrain, the Socceroos couldn't find a breakthrough in Jakarta.

Nisbet came off the bench midway through the second half for the visitors.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County are preparing to welcome a familiar face to Dingwall this weekend as they return to Premiership action against Dundee.

Simon Murray was a fan favourite during his 18-month stay in the Highlands. His energy and determination have always been on display over the course of his career, but a tally of 23 goals in all competitions played a huge part in the Staggies' survival last season.

Murray's form hit a new height when Don Cowie was named interim manager at the beginning of February. A run of 12 goals and three assists in 19 matches even had some Scotland fans calling for his inclusion in the Euro 2024 squad following the injury to Lyndon Dykes.

Cowie will be hoping to nullify the goal threat both Murray and his Dundee team-mates possess. Tony Docherty's side are unbeaten this season and have 33 goals in all competitions, a hugely impressive tally.

However, it's not all been perfect for Dundee as defensive frailties mean they're yet to keep a clean sheet in their four league outings.

Apart from the 6-0 defeat by Rangers, County have been pretty solid in their Premiership matches. In contrast to Dundee, we have struggled to finish chances, with Ronan Hale's 95th-minute equaliser against Dundee United our only goal in four league games.

The international break will have allowed Cowie time with his players on the training pitch to try to gel his new-look side together. He'll hope they can build on some positive performances and turn chances into goals and points.

The Staggies failed to beat Dundee in the three meetings last season, drawing one and losing two. Cowie and his players will be keen to right those wrongs and pick up their first Premiership victory of the new campaign.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external