Ross County

Image source, SNS

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.

(Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Ross County's 3-3 draw against St Johnstone.

Here's what you said:

Graham: We started well and finished well. Ronan Hale should have had a second before and we should have been out quicker to stop the goal before the break. That said, both their free-kicks were difficult to see. Great substitutions by Don Cowie and a gutsy performance to the end.

Ron: Frustrating game, albeit an exciting end and the squad showed great spirit. We should have been three up by the middle of the first half but didn't take our chances. St Johnstone did well to get back in the game but were helped by some strange refereeing decisions, not least the goalie's barge on Jordan White. Akil Wright fast becoming a local hero!

Image source, SNS

• St Johnstone have conceded four goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Ryan Leak attempted 60 passes in this game, the highest total for a Ross County player in the Premiership this season.

• Nicholas Clark has scored two goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.

• Ross County have won two points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (three) have recovered more.

Don Cowie believes Ross County fully deserved the point after they came from behind to draw 3-3 with St Johnstone.

Akil Wright's 97th-minute goal earned a dramatic draw for Ross County in a six-goal Scottish Premiership thriller with managerless St Johnstone.

Ronan Hale opened the scoring for the hosts when he latched on to Josh Nisbet's pass and sent a low effort beyond Ross Sinclair in the St Johnstone goal.

However, the visitors' response was emphatic. Drey Wright equalised just before half-time with a powerful strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

And Nicky Clark netted twice from free-kicks - including a stunning second - to put the Perth side in control in their first outing since Craig Levein's sacking.

But Alex Samuel made it a nervy finish in Dingwall when he headed in from close range and Wright completed the comeback with a spectacular header from Jack Greives' free-kick.

County rise to eighth in the table while St Johnstone stay 10th.

Give us your thoughts on County's performance here, external.

Image source, SNS

Ross County manager Don Cowie:

"It was a strange game, I thought we were really in control of the match when we went 1-0 up and probably should have been further ahead.

"When Nicky Clark's on the pitch there's always a chance he can punish you and he did that in the second half with two excellent free-kicks but we kept going, showed great character and went right to the end and got a point which I think we deserved.

"At home there is that never say die attitude, we want this to be a really hard place for teams to come to get points.

"We're a really fit team so we go right to the end and that was evident again today.

"My overriding thought is that I'm really proud of the group again, they've shown great character to get a point out of a really challenging situation."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

County have scored three goals in the last 15 minutes of matches, a feat that no other top-flight side can match. That's also half of the goals they've netted this season.

The point maintains the impressive home record under Cowie, who has suffered just two defeats in Dingwall since taking charge.

While the overall performance will unlikely fill Cowie with joy, the fight and determination to come back from 3-1 down to steal a point certainly should.

Don Cowie makes one change to his starting XI from last weekend's 2-0 victory over Dundee.

Ryan Leak is in to replace George Harmon who picked up an injury against Dundee and drops out of the whole squad.

Image source, SNS

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

Substitutes: Hamilton, Loturi, Grieves, Denholm, Telder, Efete, Samuel, Brophy, Smith.

St Johnstone: Sinclair, Raymond, Cameron, Sanders, Neilson, Holt, Clark, Wright, Smith, Sprangler, Kirk.

Substitutes: Rae, Keltjens, Carey, MacPherson, McPake, Bright, Dair, Essel, Kucheriavyi.

Image source, SNS

Ross County have doubts over George Harmon and Josh Reid but Max Sheaf and Will Nightingale have returned to training. Ricki Lamie (Achilles) remains out.

St Johnstone pair Benjamin Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh are suspended while Jack Sanders is back from a ban.

Graham Carey returns from a short-term injury, while Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) are still absent.

Image source, SNS

James Brown says Ross County must be ready to match managerless St Johnstone's "scrap and fight" on Saturday as his side look to build momentum after a mood-changing first win of the league season.

The Staggies are looking to make it back-to-back victories in Dingwall following last weekend's 2-0 triumph over Dundee.

"It was a big win, it was coming," said Irish defender Brown.

"We were more clinical and the better team on the day. It's all about keeping clean sheets and building on that.

"A win enhances everything, everyone comes in with better form, we can't wait for the weekend rather than being in a slump. It just builds confidence, if we get a good run and we see ourselves higher up in the table even this early on, it gives us motivation to keep going."

St Johnstone, who have lost four of their opening five games, travel north with Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland in interim charge following the sacking of Craig Levein this week.

"It's huge and we need to make our home games count," added Brown.

"St Johnstone always fight, it's always a tough game. We expect them to come here and give it their all, they always scrap and fight so we need to try and match them in that."

Dundee, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren will each take in £1.6m in solidarity payments due to Celtic's Champions League qualification, with Aberdeen and Dundee United receiving £1m and £650,000 going to Hearts and Livingston. (Mail), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

• Ross County have lost two of their last three Scottish Premiership games against St Johnstone (D1), as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W5 D8 L2).

• St Johnstone won their last away league game at Ross County 1-0 in February last season, last winning successive such trips in February 2017 (4 in a row).

• After beating Dundee 2-0 last time out, Ross County are looking to win back-to-back league games for only the second time since the start of last season, having last done so in November/December 2023.

• St Johnstone have lost their last two away league games (both 2-0) against Dundee United and Hibernian. They last lost three in a row on the road in January 2023, while they last did so without scoring in January 2022 (run of four).

• No side has had more shots following high turnovers in the Scottish Premiership this season than Ross County (8, level with Celtic).

Ross County are awaiting news of 23-year-old defender George Harmon's ankle injury before Saturday's home Premiership meeting with St Johnstone. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

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."

Image source, SNS

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.