Ross County

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

No ground has seen more goals after the 76th minute this season than the Global Energy Stadium.

County have scored seven of them and conceded 10, and manager Don Cowie will be relieved this time it was not late heartbreak as it was last time out against Celtic.

Hale took no chances when driving his penalty straight down the middle with real ferocity, with White having fluffed his effort in the first half.

Cowie will also be pleased at the impact of 19-year-old Robesten as he delivered a dangerous low cross which lead to the penalty, having played the first half of this season in the Highland League on loan at Brora Rangers.

Both he and fellow 19-year-old Andrew MacLeod were crucial in the move which lead to the equaliser.

Having been solid at home under Cowie's management they are now without a win in five in Dingwall while their away form has picked up.

The soft, muddy, and bumpy pitch which has been damaged by brutal weather conditions cannot be helping their cause, but they kept going and got their reward.

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Ross County are unable to field on-loan Hibs midfielder Nohan Kenneh against his parent club. Jack Grieves misses out with a head knock, while Michee Efete, Ryan Leak (Achilles), Alex Samuel (thigh), Ross Laidlaw, Eli Campbell and Will Nightingale (all knee) are all set to remain sidelined.

Youngsters Dylan Smith, George Robinson and Andrew McLeod are in contention after being recalled from loans.

Hibs wing-back Nicky Cadden is set to play with a protective mask after breaking his nose against Motherwell.

Jordan Obita and Nathan Moriah-Welsh return from suspension but captain Joe Newell (groin), Elie Youan (foot) and Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) are still out.

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New Ross County signing Zac Ashworth wanted to step out of his comfort zone with a move to Dingwall.

Defender Ashworth joined Don Cowie's side from Blackpool on loan until the end of the season and made his first appearance off the bench in last weekend's 3-2 Scottish Cup defeat to Livingston.

"I could have been comfortable and stayed in England but I wanted to do something different, experience something different and play some good games," the 22-year-old said.

"Personally I want to play as many games as I can, stay fit, stay healthy and start enjoying my football again.

"Collectively we want to win as many games as we can and not only stay in the league but push up the league as well."

Manager Don Cowie wants his side to bounce back from their cup exit but is braced for "a really tough game" at home to Hibs on Saturday.

"When a team's in form and their confidence is high, they've got a lot of threats," he said.

"Martin Boyle has really ignited his season in the last six to eight weeks, scoring goals and performing like we all know he's capable of doing.

"But despite the frustration and disappointment from Saturday against Livingston in the cup, we were in really good form in the league and it's one that we must be ready for and try and maintain that form."

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Ross County defender Ricki Lamie has joined Championship side Hamilton on loan until the end of the season.

Lamie, 31, joined the Staggies in the summer on a two-year deal but hasn't featured since making three League Cup appearances in July.

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• Hibs are unbeaten in seven league games, winning five (D2), as many as their previous 26 beforehand (W5 D9 L12). Hibs last went longer without losing in the Scottish Premiership in September 2021 (nine games under Jack Ross).

• Ross County have only won one of their past seven league games against Hibs (D4 L2), a 2-1 victory at home in May 2024.

• After their 3-1 win in December, Hibs could pick up back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over Ross County for the first time since October 2022, and first time within a single season since 2017-18.

• Ross County have lost three of their past four home league matches (D1), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W7 D6 L3).

• Hibs forward Martin Boyle has scored a brace in both of his past two league games, while he last scored in three successive Scottish Premiership appearances in August 2021 (run of four).

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Manager Don Cowie says Ross County will "not tolerate" the "disrespectful" behaviour of some of their fans during a minute's silence on Saturday.

Jeering and several flares were set off in the Jail End stand in Dingwall before the side's Scottish Cup defeat at home to Livingston.

The silence was held in tribute to Scotland great Denis Law and also Gordon Seaton, who played for County in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Highland club said they are appalled by the behaviour of the small section of the support, with the police now investigating the incident.

"It's not something you want to see in football anywhere, never mind your own ground," County boss Cowie said.

"We don't tolerate that. It's disrespectful. I'm sure the club will deal with it in the appropriate manner."

Cowie expressed his disappointment at his team's cup exit and called on his players to respond when they welcome Hibernian at the weekend.

The County boss has strengthened his squad this month with the additions of Kieran Phillips, Nohan Kenneh, Zac Ashworth and Jonathan Tomkinson.

Cowie revealed it is "a bit quiet just now" in relation to further incomings, but "there are two players" who are in talks to leave the club.

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Manager Don Cowie has been speaking to the media prior to Ross County's Premiership match at home to Hibs on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• On the behaviour of a small section of County fans during a minute's silence for Scotland great Denis Law and ex-County player Gordon Seaton last Saturday, Cowie says "it's disrespectful" and "we don't tolerate that".

• He says County "were really disappointed" with the weekend Scottish Cup exit at home to Livingston, a game the manager feels his side "should be taking care of".

• Cowie says "focus now has to turn" to the visit of Hibs this weekend.

• He feels Saturday's match "will be difficult" but says it's "one we must believe" they can win.

• On transfer incomings, Cowie - who has recalled Dylan Smith from his Arbroath loan spell - says "it's a bit quiet just now" but reveals "there are two players" in talks to leave the club.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County are in the midst of a Scottish Cup curse.

The 3-2 defeat after extra time against Livingston on Saturday was the sixth successive time the Staggies have fallen at their first hurdle in the competition.

Fans have to cast their minds back to January 2019 for the last Scottish Cup win. A double from Brian Graham earned County, who were a Championship side at the time, a 2-1 victory at Motherwell in the fourth round.

To make matters worse, the Staggies have been knocked out by Championship sides in five of the past six seasons in the competition.

It's a run of form that has left fans scratching their heads. Several managers and players have come and gone during that time, but the curse continues to linger.

Don Cowie spoke about his desire to get the club to the latter stages of the competition for the first time in years. That was emphasised when the County boss named as close to a full-strength team as he could, but it wasn't to be.

The Staggies will have to try to use Saturday's disappointment as motivation for the remainder of the Premiership campaign and now allow their performance levels to drop to that standard again.

With no distractions between now and the end of the season, Cowie's side will be fully focused on climbing the table and securing their Premiership status.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

We asked for your thoughts after Ross County went out of the Scottish Cup with a 3-2 defeat by Livingston.

Here's what some of you said:

Jamie: Livi deserved their win, too many players just miles off it. How Don Cowie can't see this squad needs a bit of pace and width to mix things up is beyond me.

Rick: Didn't deserve to win, only started playing when we went behind for each goal. As for the final goal the entire defence and goalkeeper were just ball watching, and finally what on earth was Akil Wright doing for that handball? I couldn't believe my eyes!

John: That's the worst performance I've seen by County. They allowed Livingston to bully them and failed to attempt to control the game. Connor Randall not starting was a mistake for me. Apart from his tap in, Jordan White had very little, if any, influence.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie admitted his side did not deserve to through to the Scottish Cup fifth round after their 3-2 home defeat by second-tier Livingston.

"Really disappointed," he told BBC Scotland. "I said all week, to get into the next round against Livingston, we are going to have to earn it, and we didn't do that."

Cowie explained that he had changed from a back three to four at the back at half time as sole striker Stevie May was enjoying too much space and the change of system appeared to be working.

"It is sore in terms of conceding so late in the game, but I think Livingston shaded it over the 120 minutes," he added. "Terrible goal for us to concede in terms of the space Livingston got in our box at that time in the game.

"Until then, we were not really troubled in extra time and it is really frustrating not to get the chance in penalties, but we have to accept it is not good enough."

Second-tier Livingston sealed their place in the Scottish Cup last 16 after Andrew Shinnie's 117th-minute strike edged them past top-flight Ross County.

What did you make of that, County fans? Was a late loss harsh on your side, or did you not deserve much from that?

What do you think went through Akil Wright's head? And did anyone impress you?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Not to be for County, in a real ding-dong battle in Dingwall. They scrapped and scrapped, but were undone by Livingston's grit - and perhaps a bit of luck.

The moment of madness from Akil Wright was incredible. Just days after one of the best strikes of his career against Aberdeen, he produced a wild error by sticking his arm in the air and punching the ball away from a Livingston head from an innocuous set-piece.

Managers cannot account for those type of things, and it would have changed the mood in the dressing room at half-time drastically.

They battled back twice, at first to make it 1-1 and then again to make it 2-2, but a goal down with three minutes of extra time to play was a mountain too steep to climb.

Ah well, they can focus on the league now. Not necessarily relegation, but perhaps even the top six.

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New Ross County defender Jonathan Tomkinson is hoping to emulate the success of fellow Americans Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The United States Under-23 international joined County this week on a loan deal from Norwich.

The centre-back has not featured for the Canaries this season having spent the last campaign on loan at Bradford City, but is desperate for a County debut in Saturday's Scottish Cup fourth-round tie with Livingston.

"Coming to play at the same level as them [Celtic's Trusty and Carter-Vickers] is massive for me," Tomkinson told club media.

"Those are boys who play in the first team and they have played lots of games as well.

"In a sense I am trying to follow in their footsteps and maybe exceed them one day as well.

"I'm really excited, Its been a long time since I have had any real meaningful games in my life and this was a really attractive opportunity. I'm buzzing to be here.

"My previous loan spells were massive for my development. First-team football is so different to academy football and youth football. Having that intensity and physicality and just a mature game has been really good for me.

"Since then I have been looking for a new challenge and this is the right one."

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Ross County have completed their second signing of the day, adding Norwich City defender Jonathan Tomkinson on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 22-year-old USA Under-23 international has not featured for second-tier Norwich this season after spending last term on loan at Bradford City.

Tomkinson follows fellow defender Zac Ashworth, who has signed on loan from Blackpool, to Dingwall and County boss Don Cowie said: "Jonathan helps us to add competition to our defensive area.

"He comes with good pedigree having played regularly for Bradford City last season. He is a real presence at the back as well as being mobile too."

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Ross County have signed Blackpool defender Zac Ashworth on loan until the end of the season.

Ashworth, 22, joined Blackpool from West Brom last summer and has made 13 appearances this season for the English League One side.

Staggies manager Don Cowie is pleased with the addition of the "versatile" Wales U21 international, who has had previous loan spells at Bolton and Burton Albion.

"He comes with a good amount of games played in English football as well as with the Welsh national team at youth level," said Cowie.

"He is a versatile player who has experience playing as a full-back as well as at centre-back."

Ross County are in talks with Norwich City defender Jonathan Tomkinson about taking the 22-year-old on loan until the end of the season. (Pink Un), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.