Ross County

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross County manager Don Cowie was delighted with his birthday present, as his County side moved themselves to within two points of the Premiership top six.

The Staggies made it four away wins from five as they trounced Motherwell 3-0 at Fir Park, on the day of Cowie's 42nd birthday.

"I asked the boys prior to the [Motherwell] game 'could you get me three points for my birthday'", joked the gaffer, "and happy that they duly obliged".

The improved away run has also seen the Dingwall club take full points from trips to Dundee, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.

That's in stark contrast to their 15-month spell without an away win, which finally ended on Boxing Day - Cowie's Christmas gift from his team, perhaps.

The former midfielder believes "that real togetherness" and "right character" has got the Ross-shire men through those "challenging times".

In their last eight Premiership outings, County have now only lost to Celtic and Rangers, albeit heavily, and drawn with Hearts and Hibernian.

"Four wins out of five on the road, that's great credit to the players and the staff in terms of going to really difficult venues and coming away with maximum points," Cowie said.

"We needed to do that. It's had a really big impact on where we are in the league now. It's about building on that and keeping that momentum going."

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Ross County manager Don Cowie has been speaking to BBC Scotland before their home Scottish Premiership match against Dundee on Saturday.

Here are the key points he made:

• Last Saturday's 3-0 result over Motherwell was an "important win" for the Dingwall side who find themselves a little further from relegation danger and within grasp of the top six, albeit alongside several other Premiership sides.

• Finally getting on the scoresheet was a special moment for captain Connor Randall, who Cowie says "maybe goes a bit unnoticed in terms of what he brings on the pitch," but whose contribution is "certainly appreciated".

• Despite a difficult personal spell for Ronan Hale, Cowie is delighted at the progress the Northern Irishman has made going from part-time football to making an impact for the Highland side with four goals in his last three games. If he keeps it up Cowie says "I'm sure international recognition will come".

• The team spirit shown his side is the "bedrock and the foundation" of Ross County and Cowie believes his players have shown the "right character through challenging times", especially away from home.

• Saturday's home game against Dundee is "very important" and an opportunity to build on recent form and "keep the momentum going".

• Cowie adds Dundee are a "very good team" who earned their top-six finish last year, and is under no illusions about the threat they pose despite their "challenging period recently".

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Ross County midfielder Charlie Telfer has joined Hamilton Accies on loan for the remainder of the season.

Telfer, 29, made 12 appearances for County after joining from Airdrieonians in the summer but only three of them were starts.

On one of his seven league appearances for County, in a 3-0 loss to St Johnstone, he was sent off after just three minutes when he came on as a 75th minute substitute.

He is now set for fifth spell in the Championship, having also plied his trade at Dundee United, Livingston, Greenock Morton.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Don Cowie's 42nd birthday was one to remember as his Ross County side cruised to a 3-0 victory against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday.

A brace from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall's first goal of the season handed the manager the perfect birthday present as The Staggies were excellent from start to finish.

Their shape out of possession nullified any attacking threat that Motherwell posed throughout the 90, and when County won the ball back, they broke quickly through the front three of Noah Chilvers, Kieran Phillips and Hale.

The striker's second goal of the day was the perfect example of County's game-plan.

Jonathan Tomkinson was alert to intercept a loose pass and carried the ball into midfield, poked the ball to through to Chilvers, who spotted Hale's run through the heart of Motherwell's defence, and found him with a perfectly weighted pass for the striker to slot the ball into the bottom corner with an excellent finish.

After a run of only one goal in fifteen matches, Hale now has four goals in his last three. Following a good run of form at the start of the season, County fans will hope their number nine will continue this hot streak for the remainder of the season.

Saturday's victory was County's fourth victory from their last five away matches. Considering this was a side that only ended their fifteen-month drought without an away win at the end of 2024, it's been quite an incredible turnaround from The Staggies.

Focus now shifts onto a return to home comforts as County welcome Dundee to the Global Energy Stadium on Saturday. After their victory at Fir Park, The Staggies leapfrogged Dundee who now occupy the dreaded play-off position.

If Don Cowie's side can continue their 100% record against Dundee this season and pick up another three points on Saturday, it could move them into the top six.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

The Sportscene team discuss Noah Chilvers' performance in Ross County's 3-0 win over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

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Skipper Connor Randall insists Ross County have not thought about their remarkable upturn in away form.

After going over a year without an away win, Don Cowie's side have now won four of their past five on the road.

Speaking after the 3-0 victory at Motherwell, Randall told BBC Scotland: "It can become a thing, people talking about not winning away from home, but we've just got on with it.

"We haven't thought too much about it, it's not something we want to be associated with. Of course, we believe have the quality to win games away from home and the last few games we've shown that.

"Nothing has changed, we've just been working away, always have been, and a few things have clicked and thankfully that's led to us getting important points on the board."

The 3-0 win in Lanarkshire also featured a real collector's item - a Randall goal. The captain has only scored three in his professional career and hadn't netted since August 2023.

"It's something I'd like to add to my game," Randall added. "It's not something I do often, so it's always a nice feeling.

"Ronan [Hale] got two, important for him and I'm happy for him, the main thing is the three points and a good win away from home."

Ross County inflict managerless Motherwell's fifth successive defeat to move out of the Premiership relegation play-off spot. (UK users only)

County fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 3-0 Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell.

Here's what some of you said:

Jim: Time will tell how big a win this one was. Momentum going into the final phase of games before the split is crucial. An all-round really good team performance. The new faces have blended well, we're counter-attacking with more pace, playing some good football, confidence is rising and other teams are clearly faltering.

Ali: Excellent result against Motherwell, well done lads. I have long been an advocate of "if we keep the ball on the deck Ronan Hale will score goals for County" and so it was proved against 'Well. Our next three games against Dundee, St Johnstone and Killie could define our season, so we the fans need to get behind the team big style.

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• Motherwell have failed to win any of their past nine matches when conceding first in the Premiership, since a victory over St Mirren on 28 September 2024.

• Motherwell have a record of W0, D0, L9 when trailing at half-time in the Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have lost their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 16 September 2023 to 7 October 2023.

• Ronan Hale has now scored three goals in three appearances in the Premiership against Motherwell, and his eight Premiership goals this season are more than any other Ross County player.

• Noah Chilvers has assisted his fifth goal at the Premiership this season, more than any other Ross County player.

• Connor Randall scored his first goal in the Premiership this season, netting for the first time since 12 August 2023 against St Johnstone.

• Ross County have scored 10 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (19) and Dundee United (15) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

Ross County moved out of the relegation zone as they eased past managerless Motherwell at Fir Park to record a first Scottish Premiership win in four attempts.

Ronan Hale netted either side of the interval with composed finishes before Connor Randall's low shot crept past the outstretched Ellery Balcombe late on to put the game beyond the struggling hosts.

Stephen Frail remained in interim charge of Motherwell and confirmed pre-match that a new boss is expected to be appointed at "the start of next week".

Have your say on Ross County's away win here., external

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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "I thought it was a really good team performance, we've built on our really good away form i's four wins out of five away from home.

"It was a real collective effort, so delighted for the boys, an important three points and we move on to Dundee next week.

"It wasn't through a lack of effort but we've tweaked a few things, the boys have performed really well in the games.

"I think we've earned, you know, the four victories in the last five games and with the manner of performance that we've put on and when you get the first one it gives real belief and it gives confidence and that's a massive part of football and it's just about trying to maintain that.

"It's what we all know, we know how tight the league is, it's very compact and it's just important that we look after ourselves and try and accumulate as many points as possible up until you know the split comes around.

"We've started in terms of today with three really important points and now it's about building on that next week."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Four wins in five away from home, out of the play-off spot and a clean sheet on the road, a tremendous day's work for the Staggies.

Hale now has eight goals in the top flight this season, an impressive haul at this point for a striker in a side who were struggling for much of the campaign.

Their creative players shone today, with Chilvers in particular looking comfortable on the transition and often picking out a smart pass or offering an outlet for his teammates.

He created three chances this afternoon, the most in the game after Lennon Miller, and now had five league assists, the most in the County side.

Despite Motherwell having most of the ball, County were often the side that looked the most likely to use the ball effectively in the final third.

Perhaps one of the most promising stats for Don Cowie to digest post-match is that his side have now scored 10 goals in the final 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (19) and Dundee United (15) have scored more in the Premiership this season, a sign of a side who refuse to give in and remain determined to preserve their top-flight status.

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Noah Chilvers impressed.

Five assists now this season for the County number 10, and another impressive showing across the pitch.

A key player Don Cowie's side.

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Lennon Miller and Jair Tavares are back in training for Motherwell, and Callum Slattery will return from illness. However, Jack Vale faces a lengthy spell out after Achilles surgery.

The Steelmen remain without goalkeepers Archie Mair and Aston Oxborough following fractures in their hands.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (calf), Steve Seddon (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

County have been without Jack Grieves (head), Michee Efete, Ryan Leak (Achilles), Alex Samuel (thigh) and Will Nightingale (knee) in recent weeks.

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Goalkeeper Jordan Amissah says Ross County can earn "breathing room" in the relegation scrap with a fruitful points haul from the next four games.

With eight matches left before the split, County - who currently occupy 11th place - visit managerless Motherwell on Saturday before games against bottom-six sides Dundee, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock.

"With the next few games that are coming up we definitely fancy ourselves to pick up a few points," said the 23-year-old German.

"For me the goal is to be comfortable and get out of that dogfight and give [ourselves] a bit of breathing room, be comfortable going into the split."

Having been left licking their wounds after a 4-0 defeat at Ibrox in their previous outing, County are aiming for a first win in five games this weekend.

Amissah insists morale remains high and the squad are up for the fight.

"If you look at our last results, ever since around the Christmas period, we've picked up quite a few points. The only points that have been taken off us in defeat were by the Old Firm," he said.

"The boys ain't worried. We ain't scared. We've proven we can play good football and pick up results. So morale is up, especially knowing the importance of the next few games."

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• Motherwell are unbeaten in five home league meetings with Ross County (W2 D3) since a 1-0 defeat in March 2022 under Graham Alexander.

• After their 2-1 win in November, Ross County could win successive league meetings with Motherwell for the first time since March 2022 under Malky Mackay.

• Motherwell have lost their past three league games, last losing four in succession in October 2023.

• Only Kilmarnock have won fewer away games (two) and conceded more away goals (29) in the Premiership this season than Ross County (three wins, 26 goals conceded), while the Staggies are the lowest away scorers in the division (eight goals).

• Against Celtic, Luke Armstrong was the first player to score on his first league start for Motherwell since Sam Nicholson v Livingston in February 2024. The last player to score in both of their first two league starts for the club was Stuart McKinstry in October 2022.

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Left-back Josh Reid has joined Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle on loan util the end of the season.

An academy graduate, Reid made his County debut against Motherwell in 2020 before joining Coventry City a year later.

The 22-year-old returned to the Highlands at the beginning of last season and has made 33 appearances since rejoining the Staggies, including nine this season.

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross County manager Don Cowie says his side have had "time to reflect" as their fight to avoid relegation from the Premiership ramps up.

Having been idle last weekend, the second-bottom Dingwall outfit return to action on Saturday and are seeking a first win in five games when they visit Motherwell.

"We know where we are and we know what's coming," Cowie told BBC Scotland.

"We've got eight really important games before the league goes to the split. Disappointed not to have a game last week with not being in the [Scottish] Cup, but it's given us a bit of time to reflect on where we are and what we've got to do in these remaining games."

After facing Motherwell, County take on fellow bottom-four sides Dundee (home), St Johnstone (away) and Kilmarnock (home).

"All really challenging games, but it's teams in and around us and we've performed well in those games so far this season and want to keep that momentum going," Cowie added.

"It's really just collect as many points as we can and see where it takes us - whether that's bottom six, top six - because the league is so tight.

"The message is really clear; it's about making sure we give the best version of ourselves against Motherwell."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross County manager Don Cowie has been speaking to the BBC Scotland before his side's trip to face Motherwell on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• He says the Dingwall side were disappointed not to have been involved in the weekend's Scottish Cup action, but it has given them "time to reflect on where we are and what we've got to do in these remaining games".

• Cowie believes they are an "honest group" who collectively are disappointed with some of their results this season, in particular heavy defeats to the Old Firm. While Cowie believes they have had their moments, he says "it's all about staying in the game as long as possible".

• The Staggies boss insists they will not underestimate Motherwell, despite the recent departure of manager Stuart Kettlewell as "the continuity is still there" under the "experienced" Stevie Frail.

• He adds the Fir Park side will see their visit as an opportunity to "get back on the winning trail", while County hope to continue their "really strong" away form.

• While Cowie concedes County do not have the biggest travelling support, he is adamant the backing is massive for all involved and believes their "knowledgeable" fans "understand the fight" to avoid relegation and they "embrace it together".

• He hopes to have Will Nightingale, Alex Samuel and Michee Efete available soon as the trio are making their way back from injury, but thinks Saturday could be too early.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

It's not an exaggeration to say that Ross County's next five matches are season defining.

The Staggies face sides currently in the bottom six in four of their next five matches. They have trips to Motherwell, St Johnstone and Hearts, and host Dundee and Kilmarnock before the next international break in March.

On paper, those fixtures - starting with Saturday's trip to Fir Park - look far kinder compared to County's recent run of Premiership fixtures. In their past three matches, Don Cowie's men have faced champions-elect Celtic, an in-form Hibs side who haven't lost since early December, and Rangers at Ibrox.

County are the only team who don't have to play Celtic or Rangers in their eight remaining pre-split fixtures.

Cowie's side have played seven Premiership matches since Boxing Day, losing two - against Celtic and Rangers. In the five matches against sides non-Old Firm teams during that time, County have picked up 11 points, scored nine goals and only conceded four.

Even though the Staggies are down in 11th, they're only five points off a top-six spot.

If County can continue that recent run of form against the teams around them, they'll start to climb the table and might have an outside chance of sneaking into the top six.

However, they're only five points clear of St Johnstone at the bottom so if they go on a bad run of form, they'll start to look worryingly over their shoulder.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Saturday marks exactly a year since Don Cowie took charge at Ross County, the club where he has deep family roots and his life in football began.

The 40-year-old former midfielder stepped up 12 months ago when Derek Adams' short and chaotic third stint as manager came to an abrupt halt.

After securing their top-flight status via the play-offs, the interim part of Cowie's job title was dropped and a one-year rolling contract issued.

Cowie's tenure began with defeat to Rangers but arguably his most memorable result came against the same opposition last April, leading the Staggies to a first victory over the Ibrox side in County's history, a 3-2 win in Dingwall.

This term brought cup exits to lower-league opposition - with the League Cup shock by fourth-tier Spartans a painful low - while an impressive run of three way wins halted County's long wait for a Premiership road victory in style.

County currently sit second bottom, five points clear of St Johnstone, as they look to extend their top-flight stay to seven seasons.

How does Cowie's record stack up to his predecessors? Across all competitions, he has been in charge for 48 games, winning 16 (33%).

In Stuart Kettlewell's time as solo manager he had a 29% win rate, while Malky Mackay's was 33%, and Adams managed to win just 17% in his short second stint.

Reflecting on his first year in charge of his boyhood club, Cowie told BBC Scotland: "I've loved it. I feel like I have had so much support both internally and externally.

"There's been ups and downs. I've been in football for a long time so I recognise that's what happens.

"It's important to stay calm in those moments and I think that's one of the strengths I have.

"Once the game has been played it's always about learning from it, trying to improve and making everyone better."