Ross County

Ross County fan Ramsay Banks says "the nerves are starting to set in" ahead of Saturday's relegation battle against Livingston.

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Ross County interim manager Don Cowie says his side "need to be ready to outrun and outfight Livingston" in Saturday's bottom-of-the-table showdown in Dingwall.

Livingston have narrowed the gap to three points, although their hosts have a game in hand, as Cowie makes his home debut in charge after two away defeats by Rangers and Dundee.

"It's going to be great to be at home," he told his club website. "It's been a tough period. We've played a lot of games away from home and it's one that we're really looking forward to.

"Naturally, people are going to put a lot of spotlight on the game with where we both are in the league table, but it's about making sure that we're prepared - as we do for every game - and ready for the challenges that come."

The two previous games between the sides this season have been drawn.

"I can remember the two games were very tight," former County and Scotland midfielder Cowie added. "It's going to be a real physical battle.

"It's important that we prepare properly and if we attack the game like I know we can then we can get a positive result and then we'll see what impact that is on the league table."

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• Ross County are unbeaten in three league games against Livingston (W1 D2), picking up as many points in this time (5) as they had across their previous seven against them in the Scottish Premiership (W1 D2 L4).

• Livingston have only lost one of their last six league trips to Ross County (W2 D3), a 2-0 defeat in May 2023.

• Ross County have lost each of their last four league matches, last losing five in a row within a single season in the Scottish Premiership in December 2020 (6).

• Livingston come into this match having lost all of their last nine away matches in the Scottish Premiership; they last lost more in a row within a single top-flight season when losing each of their final 11 away games of the 2005-06 campaign.

• Ross County have gained just one point from a losing position this season in the Scottish Premiership (2-2 draw v Hibernian), fewer than any other team in the competition. In fact, the Staggies have gone on to lose each of the last 10 league matches in which they have conceded the first goal.

Ross County's winless run in the Scottish Premiership extended to 10 games as they went down 2-0 at Dens Park last time out.

They face a titanic clash with bottom side Livingston in Dingwall on Saturday and can open up a six-point cap to the automatic drop with a game in hand.

Who would you like to see in the starting line-up? Pick your team here.

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Josh Reid admits "nobody wants to be part of" the Scottish Premiership play-off final as Ross County seek to move out of the relegation places.

County are three points ahead of bottom side Livingston, who have played a game more, and the two sides meet in Dingwall on Saturday.

Under Malky Mackay, Ross County came back from three goals down against Partick Thistle in last season's Premiership play-off final, and prevailed on penalties.

"There were a few nearly heart attacks last year with that game," said Reid, who sat out the fateful game with Thistle. "Nobody wants to be in that game. It's a double header that nobody wants to be part of.

"We know that we're more than capable of putting results together and getting our way up the table."

With Mackay and successor Derek Adams having moved on, interim boss Don Cowie has overseen defeats in his first two games in charge.

"The foundation needs to be hard work and I've seen that in both games," said Cowie. "So, as long as I'm getting that, then I can start to work on other aspects."

"I'm sure [Livingston will] be feeling confident [after beating St Mirren]."

Ross Morren, The County Corner , external

Ross County host Livingston this weekend in a huge match at the bottom of the Premiership.

A win for either side would give them a massive boost in confidence as they try to avoid relegation, whereas the losing side’s fear of the drop would continue to grow.

Prior to last weekend, County had a six-point gap over Livingston in 11th. However, following The Staggies’ 2-0 defeat against Dundee at Dens Park, Livi cut the gap to just three points after they picked up their first victory in 17 league matches in a 1-0 win over St Mirren.

The two previous meetings between the sides this season have both ended in stalemates, with a 1-1 draw in Dingwall back in September and a 2-2 draw at Almondvale just last month. David Martindale has faced a different manager in the Ross County dugout in the two previous meeting so far with Malky Mackay in charge for the first, and then Derek Adams in charge for the second.

The Livingston boss will go up against a third different opponent as Don Cowie takes charge of his first home match as interim manager.

Despite the results in Cowie’s first two matches in charge, his side have showed some positive signs in their performances. His players showed plenty of grit and fight in the 3-1 defeat at Ibrox against a Rangers side who were at the top of their game, while many neutrals felt the 2-0 scoreline against Dundee was harsh.

Managers would usually look to their experienced players to show the composure and leadership required in matches of this magnitude. Unfortunately for Cowie, he’s missing several key players who have those strengths in abundance.

Jack Baldwin, Connor Randall, Will Nightingale and Scott Allardice have important at various points this season, but all find themselves on the treatment table. I’m sure all four would have played a big part in the match were they available.

Tests early in a managerial career don’t get much bigger than the one that awaits Cowie on Saturday. He spoke after the Dundee match about his belief and confidence in the ability his players have, and the togetherness they’ve shown since he’s taken charge.

His squad must show all of those qualities in abundance on Saturday to pick up the three points and make Cowie’s first home match as Ross County manager a memorable one.

Interim manager Don Cowie is relishing time on the training ground with his Ross County players before the crucial encounter with Livingston. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

Ross County interim Don Cowie was encouraged by his team's performance in a 2-0 loss at Dundee.

"The timing of the first goal was frustrating, but I told them to come out and show a reaction and they did that," Cowie told BBC Scotland.

"It's about taking the positives and making sure we're ready for Livingston next week.

"It's about trusting the process, I saw really good signs against Rangers and I've seen even more today.

"I know what's in that dressing room, I've worked with the players for a long time as assistant manager, and I had no doubt in the ability we've got. I'm seeing a real togetherness and it's about pushing on and getting results."

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BBC Scotland's Jane Lewis at Dens Park

A two goal victory for Dundee, but it wasn’t as comfy as that may sound, with Ross County playing some good stuff and looking dangerous. But at 1-0 down, County failed to take their chances.

Livingston’s win will have rubbed salt into their wounds too. They meet next weekend.

Both Dundee goals were lovely on the eye. Terrific build-up play and the lively Scott Tiffoney finished both really well. That was the main difference between the sides - finishing. Dundee did it brilliantly, Ross County need to work on theirs.

Dundee will back themselves for a top-six finish, they’re playing well as a unit, look full of confidence up front and defensively solid.

The Ross County line-up shows a solitary switch after their midweek defeat at Ibrox, as Don Cowie takes charge of his second game following the departure of Derek Adams.

Max Sheaf comes in for Eli King in the visitors' midfield.

Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Shaughnessy, Donnelly, Beck, Sylla, Costelloe, McCowan, Cameron, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: McCracken, Dodgson, Astley, Main, Lamie, Mulligan, Robinson, Robertson, Boateng.

Ross County: Wickens, Ayina, Leak, Efete, Brown, Loturi, Sheaf, Dhanda, Reid, Murray, Brophy.

Substitutes: Laidlaw, Borthwick-Jackson, Sims, Harmon, Henderson, Khela, White.

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• After their 1-0 win in December, Dundee are looking to pick up back-to-back victories over Ross County in the top-flight for only the second time, previously doing so in August 2016.

• Ross County have only lost one of their 12 previous top-flight away games against Dundee (W6 D5), a 5-2 defeat in April 2016 under Jim McIntyre.

• Dundee put an end to a three-game losing run at home last time out by beating St. Johnstone 2-1; they are looking to win consecutive home league matches for only the second time this season (also doing so in November).

• Ross County are winless in nine league games (D2 L7), last going 10 without a victory in the Scottish Premiership from July-October 2021.

• Against Rangers last time out, Ross County’s George Wickens made 19 saves, at least five more than any goalkeeper on record (from 2013-14) in a single Scottish Premiership game. Indeed, Wickens had, by comparison, only made a combined 12 saves in his first four appearances in the competition beforehand.

Ross County interim manager Don Cowie is searching for his first win since taking over in Dingwall.

They travel to Dens Park on Saturday to face Tony Docherty's side who currently sit sixth in the Scottish Premiership.

Who should be in Cowie's starting line-up? Choose your County XI here.

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• Rangers have scored in their last 21 games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 26 games from 17 September 2022 to 15 April 2023.

• Rangers attempted 43 shots in this game, the highest total for any team in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Cyriel Dessers attempted 10 shots in this game, the highest total for a player in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Simon Murray has scored seven goals this season (one in this game), more than any other Ross County player in the Scottish Premiership.

Interim Ross County manager Don Cowie questions why there were 12 minutes of added-on time in last night's 3-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox. (Herald, external, subscription required)

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

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