Ross County

Defender Slobodan Rubezic is Aberdeen's only absentee.

Scott Allardice, Dylan Smith and Will Nightingale have been long-term absentees for Ross County.

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Don Cowie has encouraged his Ross County players to continue their same approach as they prepare to travel to Aberdeen.

After Derek Adams' turbulent tenure, the interim manager has brought stability to the Dingwall club.

County have two wins and two draws from their last five Scottish Premiership games and could draw level on points with a win against the Dons.

“I said on day one how important it is that both the team and the fans are together, and are united,” interim manager Cowie said.

“When you’re a supporter of a football club you want to see your team giving their all.

“Obviously they also want results – but when they see the players giving their best they’ll buy into it – and I think that’s what they have seen in the last few weeks.”

Staggies supporter Peter Mackay talks the impact interim manager Don Cowie has had on Ross County.

Listen in full on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

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• Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski has been directly involved in five goals in two league appearances against Ross County this season (three goals and two assists) with no player contributing to more against a single opponent in the Scottish Premiership this term (Simon Murray against Livingston and James Tavernier against St. Johnstone – both also five).

• Ross County have won eight points from their last five matches in the top-flight (W2 D2 L1), the same tally as they managed across their previous 12 league games (W2 D2 L8).

• Aberdeen are winless in each of their last six home league games (D4 L2), last going longer at Pittodrie without victory in the league between October 2002 and February 2003 (nine games).

• Ross County lost their previous away game against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership earlier this season 4-0 and could lose two away matches against the Dons in the same league campaign for the first time since 2016-17, when the first such defeat was also by a 4-0 scoreline.

• Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last five top-flight meetings with Ross County (W3 D2), keeping four clean sheets in a row and winning each of their last three league games against the Staggies.

Ross County return to action following the international break by visiting Aberdeen in a huge match on Saturday.

Who should Don Cowie include in his XI? Pick your team here.

Don Cowie is enjoying the responsibility of making the big calls as interim Ross County boss. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County travel to Pittodrie on Saturday in a classic six-pointer at the bottom of the Sottish Premiership.

In April 2014, Dark Blue Saturday was a fan-led campaign to pack the away end at Tynecastle, as County faced Hearts at a crucial point in the season. The club helped support the idea by running free transport to the match which saw over 800 County fans create a navy blue wall of noise in the capital.

To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of such a successful campaign, County fans have come together once again for another Dark Blue Saturday. With less than 100 tickets left for the away end and several supporters buses travelling to Pittodrie, it has once again has been a huge success before such a crucial match.

The Staggies know if they can collect a valuable three points at Pittodrie, it’ll move them level on points with the Dons. If results elsewhere also go their way, County could move above St Johnstone and crucially, out of the play-off position.

On the other hand, Aberdeen have a 100% win record against County in their three matches this season with an aggregate score of 9-1. Victory for the home side would move them six points clear of the play-off position with only seven league matches remaining.

When Neil Warnock parted ways with Aberdeen on 9 March, I think many Scottish football fans, including myself, expected Aberdeen to have their new permanent manager in place by the time County travelled to the Granite City. That appointment still hasn't come.

Anger and frustration are growing amongst the Aberdeen support. If County can start the game well and grab an early goal, the angst amongst the home support will continue to grow and it could allow County to take a real grip of the match.

We’ve already seen in recent weeks that Don Cowie’s rejuvenated side are up for the fight. The 2-1 win over Hearts prior to the international break made it eight points from a possible twelve in Dingwall since Cowie’s appointment.

Confidence will be sky-high following that victory and if Cowie can pick up his first three points on the road, it’ll go a long way in County’s battle for survival and also his chances of landing the job on a permanent basis.

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

We asked you whether Ross County can climb out of the relegation play-off spot as we head into the final stretch of the season.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Anon: Ross County will not get automatic relegation but are on the verge of a play-off. As fan, I don’t want to be in that situation again. I reckon if we beat Aberdeen next weekend we will be safe.

David: I truly believe that there is enough quality in the squad to keep County up. Don Cowie has steadied the ship and the players have got their mojo back. It's a corner that should never needed turning but they look a better team now than under Mackay and certainly better than under Adams.

Anon: We should try and keep attacking in dangerous area and try to make opposition players tired. We could also settle into games more quickly.

We're firmly into the business end of the season.

For Ross County, it's all about climbing out of the dreaded relegation play-off. We want to know how you're feeling as we head into the final stretch.

How confident are you that the Staggies survive? Who will be the key players if yoyr side is to beat the drop? And what's your biggest concern about Don Cowie's team?

Give us your thoughts.

Interim manager Don Cowie hopes to create an environment for loan players to thrive at Ross County. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Before back-to-back home matches against Hibs and Hearts, Ross County fans hoped their side would maintain their impressive home form under interim boss Don Cowie.

Four points out of a possible six against the Edinburgh sides continued the Staggies’ revival under Cowie and cut the gap to 10th-placed St Johnstone to a single point.

Over the two matches, County showed the resilience that will be required in the battle to avoid the dreaded play-off position.

On Wednesday night, it looked like Hibs were about to hand Cowie his first home defeat until Yan Dhanda’s dramatic 98th-minute equaliser earned County a morale-boosting 2-2 draw.

I’ve written previously about how important Dhanda can be to this Ross County side, so to welcome back from injury at a crucial point in the season is a welcome gift. But for him to make an instant impact on his return is a huge bonus.

We’d seen County’s never-say-die attitude in recent weeks when Josh Sims’ late goal earned a 3-2 victory over Livingston, but Dhanda’s goal against Hibs felt different. Equalising with the last kick of the game and snatching a point from the jaws of defeat could prove to be vital come the end of the season.

Going into the Hearts game, all eyes were on Dhanda. He has signed a pre-contract deal with Hearts and it was the first meeting between his current side and his future one. The question was how would he perform against his future employers?

County ran out 2-1 winners to pick up their first victory against Hearts in Dingwall since 2013, and Dhanda was back to his influential and creative best. His ability to dictate the tempo of the play was excellent and he played a key part in the build-up to both of Simon Murray’s goals.

Murray now has seven goal contributions in the six matches he’s featured under Cowie, and his two goals against Hearts are the perfect example of the movement and energy he brings. It looks like he’s hitting top form just at the right time.

Cowie has now picked up an impressive eight points from a possible twelve in the four home matches since he’s been named interim manager. His next target will be to pick up the club’s first away victory since 2 September when his side travel to Pittodrie to face Aberdeen following the international break.

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

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Ross County showed some of their old fighting spirit as they look to climb out of the relegation play-off place, says Ayr United winger Aiden McGeady.

Don Cowie's side are now just one point behind 10th-placed St Johnstone after their impressive victory over Hearts at the weekend.

"It was a massive result for Ross County, but with Aberdeen winning it just takes the edge of it," McGeady told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"It puts the pack closer together. From sixth downwards, it's very tight. I think Livingston are well out of it at the minute.

"Ross County usually get results at this time of the season, though last year it didn't really happen. They start to put a run of results together to climb out that relegation zone and put pressure on the teams above them."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

What a win for Ross County as they downed high-flying Hearts and narrowed the gap to St Johnstone to just one point.

The headlines were grabbed by talisman Simon Murray, whose brace showed the striker at his level best.

But manager Don Cowie was also quick to heap praise on skipper Jack Baldwin, who turned in an imperious display at the back that left the league's top scorer Lawrence Shankland extremely quiet.

We asked for your thoughts after Ross County beat Hearts 2-1.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Alistair: Great result, Victor Loturi continues to improve and impress, Simon Murray gives 110% as usual, such a hard working player. The County players are becoming a team, a good team well led by both Don Cowie and Jack Baldwin.

Iain: Excellent performance, everyone stepped up today. Baldwin put in one of his best performances. Cowie has got them all working together and starting to show their ability after the shambolic Derek Adams era.

Alistair: I want to apologise to the Ross County team. Before the game I would have snatched your hand off if you offered me a draw. Having been at the game, I can only say Hearts were flattered by the result. The home support came to life today too, well done all of you.

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• Ross County have beaten Hearts for the first time in the Scottish Premiership since 1 March 2017, a run of 14 games without a win.

• Jorge Grant assisted his fourth goal in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Simon Murray scored his ninth goal this season, more than any other Ross County player in the Scottish Premiership.

• Ross County have scored seven goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (12) and Hearts (eight) have scored more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Alan Forrest has attempted eight shots, his highest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership.

• Ross County have a record of W4, D2, L0 when leading at half-time in the Scottish Premiership this season.

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Ross County interim manager Don Cowie told BBC Scotland: "It's a massive three points for us. Hearts are a very good team and I said we'd have to be very good. I thought we were very good.

"I was disappointed for the group they didn't manage to get the clean sheet.

"It was more evidence of how important our captain is, Jack Baldwin. I thought he was excellent. Today you saw how important he is for us."

On double goalscorer Simon Murray, he adds: "The enthusiasm he's got the game is a bundle of energy. Sometimes his teammates don't know what he's going to do. I think that's his biggest strength, he's unpredictable."

That must have felt good, County fans.

What did you make of the win over Hearts and how are you feeling about your side's survival chances?

Give us a shout.

Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross County seem to be finding their feet at just the right time, particularly in the home comforts of the Highlands. They’re unbeaten run in Dingwall now stands at four games.

All season long, they’ve had a competent collection of attacking options that really should have had them higher up the table than their lowly position.

Finally, Don Cowie seems to have found a way to get the best out of his frontline, particularly Simon Murray.

The striker was supported by a energetic and confident side who seem to have been buoyed by their own self-belief, as well as the prospect of dragging Aberdeen or St Johnstone into the dogfight.