Ross County

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Will Nightingale said Ross County have experienced "brilliant highs" under interim manager Don Cowie as they look to secure their Premiership status in the play-off final.

Cowie, who started his playing career at County in 2000, was appointed caretaker on 9 February following Derek Adams' dismissal and has won four of his 15 matches in charge, including a first-ever victory over Rangers.

As the Dingwall side prepare for Thursday's first leg at Raith Rovers, defender Nightingale said: "We have had that disappointment there, but at the same time we've also had some brilliant highs within the past couple of months - especially since Don has come in.

"He's brought so many good moments to the fans and the club and he's just reinstated that, hit that reset button. The squad's in a good place and we're feeling positive and we just need to make sure we bring our best and we believe in ourselves."

Nightingale hit the woodwork twice in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Aberdeen where a win would have made County safe.

"We were very disappointed, we won't deny that, we're honest lads," he added.

"The first one was probably a bit unlucky and then the second one, I must have played it over in my head about a thousand times - why I didn't up it at that corner, this way, that way?

"I back myself to score those situations. I'm disappointed but I have an opportunity to put that right Thursday and I'll be doing everything I can to make sure that happens."

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Interim manager Don Cowie insists his side must be "mentally prepared" for the first leg of the play-off final against Raith Rovers.

For a second year running the Highland side must defend their top-flight status against Championship opposition, with the first leg at Stark's Park on Thursday night.

And Cowie has urged his men to bounce back from the disappointment of dropping into the play-off spot on the final day of the Premiership season.

"It's a big game so you have to be prepared and ready for it," Cowie said. "That's why it was important yesterday to have the day off [on Monday], just to reset the mindset, to come in here fresh. Now it's just focusing on Raith on Thursday.

"They're a team that's going to be confident. They pushed Dundee United all the way for the majority of the season. They've got really good options, especially in midfield and forward areas.

"They're going to have a big home crowd, so they're going to be feeling really positive about the game. We need to be ready for that and prepared for what's coming and then put our own stamp on the game."

If County were to suffer relegation, they would be the second Highland team this season to go down, following Inverness Caledonian Thistle's loss to Hamilton Accies in the Championship play-off final.

"I'm disappointed for Caley," Cowie added. "It's a team that I played for as well. As much as they are our rivals, it's a club that means a lot to me in terms of what they did for my career, so it's never nice to see what's happened there.

"I'm sure they'll bounce back. Now it's up to us to make sure that it doesn't happen to us as well. We need to be at our best against a very good Raith for that to happen."

Ross Morren
Fan Writer

The play-offs - here we go again.

We had our fate in our own hands going into the final day of the league season. A win against Aberdeen would have guaranteed Premiership survival, but it wasn't to be.

Don Cowie’s players gave absolutely everything but came up just short. As the full-time whistle went, they slumped to the ground in devastation.

But they will need to pick themselves up and prepare to face Raith Rovers on Thursday. The Kirkcaldy side have had an excellent season where they pushed Dundee United all the way at the top of the Championship.

They showed great character to overcome Partick Thistle on penalties in the semi-final on Friday night and will provide a stern test for the Staggies.

County will hope their experience from the play-offs last season gives them an advantage going into the two legs.

The squad Cowie has at his disposal and the options available are far stronger compared to the injury-ravaged pool Malky Mackay had at this stage last season.

If players such as Simon Murray and Yan Dhanda can replicate the form they’ve shown in recent weeks, they should cause Rovers problems.

On Thursday night we'll be keen to avoid a repeat of the first-leg performance from last season where County found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline against Partick Thistle and down to 10 men in the first 45 minutes.

If we can get out of Kirkcaldy with a positive result, the players should be confident they can get the job done in the second leg in Dingwall.

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Don Cowie insists Ross County are up to the challenge of the Scottish Premiership play-off final against Raith Rovers.

The Dingwall side could only muster a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen on the final day, leaving them 11th after St Johnstone won at Motherwell.

With Championship runners-up Rovers prevailing in a tense semi-final with Partick Thistle, Cowie expects a tough test from Ian Murray's men.

“It’s a team that is going to be really confident,” the interim manager told club media.

“They finished second in the league and pushed Dundee United all the way.

“I watched the game on Friday night. It’s going to be a big crowd, a big atmosphere, which I’m sure they will looking to take advantage of. We need to be ready for that.

“I have still got so much belief in this group of players. We know we are going to have to perform really well to get through the two legs.

“It’s going to be a challenge but it’s one I certainly feel we are up to. The feelings that we have from last year, from the group that was here, we can draw on that and take it into the games.”

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Ross County's draw against Aberdeen wasn't enough to avoid the Premiership play-off final against Raith Rovers, but Simon Murray scored his 21st goal of the season in superb style.

We asked for your thoughts after Ross County were condemned to the relegation play-off for the second year running.

Here's what you said:

Iain: At any other time in the season, a draw at home v Aberdeen is a decent result. Just gutted we couldn't grab the winner today. After watching Raith in the play-off, I'm far more confident of winning than I was last year!

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• Ross County have scored in their last four games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Aberdeen have won 13 points from losing positions in the top flight this season, only Motherwell (19) and Rangers (18) have recovered more.

• Simon Murray has scored 14 goals league this season (one in this game), more than any other Ross County.

• Junior Hoilett has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Scottish Premiership (two goals, five assists).

• Ross County attempted the last six shots in this game as Aberdeen last shot was taken by Jack MacKenzie in the 59th minute.

• Jamie McGrath of Aberdeen attempted six tackles in this game, more than any other player on either team (ahead of Ross County's James Brown - four tackles).

Watch highlights as Ross County draw with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

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Ross County interim manager Don Cowie: "Congratulations to Craig [Levein] and St Johnstone. They did the job that they needed to do.

"Unfortunately, we came up short in terms of us getting the victory. But, again, I'm extremely proud of the group. They kept fighting right until the end.

"We've got to be ready for two very important [Premiership play-off final] games. Raith [Rovers] are a very good team, they're going to be feeling good about themselves.

"We're going to have to be at our best. We know what it takes but it's going to be a real challenge."

Were you at Ross County's 2-2 draw with Aberdeen or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

The season has been nothing but eventful for County.

They started with Malky Mackay in charge after he oversaw survival via the play-offs last season. By mid-November, he had gone and in came Derek Adams for a third spell in charge.

However, it was an unhappy reunion. Adams criticised the quality of the Premiership and before too long followed Mackay out the exit door via resignation in February.

Don Cowie, whose playing career was bookended by spells at County, was seemingly the last man standing and the interim manager certainly improved results, just not well enough to seal safety via league position. Two tense meetings with Raith Rovers in the Scottish Premiership play-off final await.

For Aberdeen, incoming manager Jimmy Thelin will arrive from Elfsborg next month and the Swede, like all Premiership managers, faces a big summer of recruitment to improve the club's fortunes.

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Ross County winger Josh Sims says he wants to focus on securing Premiership survival with the Dingwall side before finishing talks on a new contract to stay in the Highlands. (Press and Journal, external)

Read the rest of today's Scottish gossip here.

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Ross County boss Don Cowie has no fresh injuries. Max Sheaf (muscle), Dylan Smith (ankle) and Scott Allardice (knee) remain out while Ross Callachan is yet to make his comeback following a long-term knee injury.

Aberdeen’s squad is in good shape.

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• Ross County have lost each of their last four league meetings with Aberdeen, and have scored just one goal in their last five against them in the Scottish Premiership (D1 L4).

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their last nine league trips to Ross County (W6 D2), going down 4-1 in January 2021.

• Ross County have lost their final league match in both of their last two seasons since beating Motherwell 2-1 to close out 2020-21.

• Aberdeen have failed to score a goal on the final matchday in any of their last three league seasons (D1 L2), also conceding nine goals in this time.

• Aberdeen, along with Celtic, are one of two sides to win all four of their Scottish Premiership matches since the division split into the top six and bottom six. The last side to win all five of their matches after the split in a season in the competition were Celtic in 2016-17, while the last side other than Celtic to do so were Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2005-06.

Ross County host Aberdeen on Sunday, knowing a win would guarantee their Premiership status next season.

Who would you pick to start if you were in Don Cowie's position?

Choose your County XI here.

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Ross County winger Josh Sims wants to avoid more play-off "drama" as they prepare to finish the regular season against Aberdeen on Sunday.

Sims scored the decisive spot-kick in last season's Premiership play-off final as County beat Partick Thistle on penalties.

County looked on course to guarantee a 10th-placed finish on Wednesday, but Adama Sidibeh's late equaliser for St Johnstone ensured it would go to the final day.

However, County know a win against the Dons will secure their top-flight status for another season.

"It would have been nice to get it done [on Wednesday], but it's still in our hands so we can't dwell on it," Sims said.

"You always want it in your hands. We won't worry about the other result and just take care of ourselves. Aberdeen have been doing well, but we're good at home. Play like we did for large spells against St Johnstone, and hopefully we can get the win.

"We don't want the drama. We did it the hard way last year and we can't afford to be doing that again. Hopefully we do the job on Sunday."

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein and Ross County interim boss Don Cowie look ahead to the final-day battle to avoid the relegation play-off spot.