Ross County

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

So close, yet so far for Don Cowie's side who almost recorded a fine victory at Tynecastle before Hearts' 96th-minute equaliser.

They had been put ahead by a wonderful Ronan Hale strike, curling in from the edge of the area to beat Craig Gordon all ends up in the Hearts goal. Another to add to the Irishman's showreel.

At the back, Hearts struggled to break them down and that was in large part due to the impressive performance of Ryan Leak.

Watch highlights as Hearts draw 1-1 against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK viewers only.

Ronan Hale scored his sixth goal of the season with Ross County's opener in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

We asked for your views on Ross County's 1-1 draw against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Ronny: As much as we defended well today and Ross Laidlaw had very little to do, you're asking for trouble when you start to fall deeper and deeper after 60 minutes. Had a couple of half chances - and one big one - to put the game to bed, so to concede another 97th minute goal feels very much like two points dropped right now.

Michael: Ross County are looking like no pushover. Don Cowie's moulded a good squad with tremendous character and when they click they will rise up the table. A small enclave north east of Inverness fighting for its existence week in, week out - best club in the world.

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• Hearts have failed to win in their last nine games in the Premiership. Their last longer winless streak was from 23rd November 2019 to 22nd January 2020, a run of 10 games.

• Ross County have scored in their last three games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of four games from 4th May 2024 to 19th May 2024.

• Kye Rowles attempted 103 passes in this game, the highest total for a Hearts player in the Premiership this season.

• Ross County have lost four points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee United (six) and St. Mirren (seven) have lost more.

Did you attend Ross County's draw with Hearts or were you following from home?

Click here, external to have your say on the match.

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "I'm seeing a group of players that are working ever so hard for each other, putting their bodies on the line.

"We see out that last corner, we go away with three points. It's not to be but I'm extremely proud of the group.

"I don't think it's ever in the bag. You've got to just keep going until that final whistle."

Andy Campbell, BBC Scotland

Ross County appeared to be ready for a Hearts reaction following Steven Naismith's departure as head coach. They set up to repel their hosts and restricted them for extended periods.

Going forward, they had to make the most of counters and set pieces, Nathan Chilvers flashing an effort over from a corner prior to the opener.

And, after the Ronan Hale opener, the striker elected to shoot rather than play in Jordan White as Hearts were caught on the break again. The eventual shot was deflected into Craig Gordon's hands when White seemed better placed.

Losing such a late goal will be a disappointment but they go into next week's visit of champions Celtic with two draws and a win since the last international break.

Ross County were denied by a late, late goal against Hearts but the goal they scored themselves came from the impressive Ronan Hale.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Liam Fox makes five changes to the Hearts line-up in his first match in interim charge following Steven Naismith's departure.

A new look defence comprises Adam Forrester, Frankie Kent and Kye Rowles alongside Stephen Kingsley, who is the only survivor from last week's back four.

In midfield, Cammy Devlin takes over from Malachi Boateng while Alan Forrest replaces Blair Spittal.

Fox's team looks like a 4-3-3 with Forrest and Kenneth Vargas either side of captain Lawrence Shankland as the hosts look to arrest an 11-match winless streak that stretches back to May and includes eight successive defeats.

Just one change for Ross County following last week's draw with St Johnstone. Michee Efete replaces James Brown in midfield.

Hearts: Gordon, Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley, Grant, Baningime, Devlin, Forrest, Shankland, Vargas.

Substitutes: Clark, Halkett, Oyegoke, McKay, Spittal, Dhanda, Tait, Boyce, Penrice.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Campbell, Wright, Lopata, Leak, Efete, Nisbet, Randall, Chilvers, Hale, White.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Brown, Loturi, Grieves, Telfer, Samuel, Brophy, Smith, Nightingale.

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Hearts right-back Gerald Taylor is facing a long-term lay-off with suspected ACL damage so teenager Adam Forrester is set to be promoted to the squad. Frankie Kent returns after an ankle injury but Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) is still out.

Ross County will be without defenders George Harmon (ankle), Ricki Lamie (Achilles) and Josh Reid, who is still recovering from a heavy knock.

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Connor Randall praised his Ross County team for showing a "never say die spirit" after salvaging a point against St Johnstone last weekend.

"When you get a late equaliser it does feel a bit like a victory, we've shown a never say die spirit within this team," said Randall, 28.

"The game is never over, we were two goals down with not long left and we clawed it back to get an important point.

"It's been a tough start to the season for Hearts and they find themselves in a position in the league which they wouldn't expect but I don't think we can look too much into that.

"We just have to look at the squad, the amount of good players that they've got and the game will be a challenge. They've got one of the best squads in the league and we're expecting a very tough test.

"We need to be prepared, try and stop their strengths and exploit their weaknesses, that's what we do for most teams."

The full-back hopes County can improve their away form when they travel to Tynecastle to face bottom of the table Hearts in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

"Tynecastle can be a tough place to go, it will be bouncing on Saturday, you've got to manage those parts of the game as well," he added.

"We need to put in a performance that we can be proud of and hopefully get a positive result.

"We want to improve on our away form, it's something the gaffer and everyone as a collective has talked about.

"Last season, when the gaffer came in we had a good run of form at home and were making it a difficult place for people to come and we’ve continued that this season.

"If we can improve away from home and carry on picking up points at home, it will be massive for us."

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• Hearts have lost just one of their 15 top-flight home games against Ross County (W6 D8), going down 0-1 in March 2017.

• After their 2-1 win in March last season, Ross County could win back-to-back top-flight meetings with Hearts for the first time, with this the 30th such clash between the two clubs.

• Hearts have just one point from six Scottish Premiership matches this season (W0 D1 L5), the fewest by any side at this stage of a season in the competition since Dundee in 2018-19 (0).

• The last side to have one or fewer points from their opening seven games in the division were in fact Ross County in 2014-15 (0).

• Ross County are winless in their last 19 away league games (D7 L12) since a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock in September 2023.

• The last side to go 20 consecutive top-flight away games without winning were Dundee from August 2004 to August 2012, while the last to do so without being relegated during the run were St Mirren from November 2009 to October 2010.

• Ross County have conceded more second-half goals (eight) than any side in the Scottish Premiership this season, with this also accounting for a league-high 73% of their total goals shipped this term.

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George Harmon is set to be out for a "significant time" with an ankle injury, Ross County manager Don Cowie confirms.

The left-back, who has been a regular in the side this season, suffered the blow in the victory over Dundee a fortnight ago.

Cowie says the injury is a "bad" one and it could require surgery.

"We're now waiting for a second opinion on his ankle," he added.

"In terms of whether he may need surgery, he may not, it just depends on how we want his rehab to go, but he is going to be out for a significant time.

“We're waiting on Josh Reid to see how he is, but it's good to have Ricki Lamie and Will Nightingale back on the pitch."

Cowie's County travel to managerless Hearts on Saturday.

The Tynecastle club sacked Steven Naismith on Sunday following a nine-game winless start to the season, but Cowie says his former side are "still a very good football team".

Given the change in the dugout, Cowie says he has to prepare for every possibility.

"They’ve got a good squad of players and there's a real expectation and demand there," added Cowie.

"It’s a little bit unknown, there’s an interim manager in charge so you don’t know how many changes might come, whether it’s a shape change, personnel change, so we’ve got to be on our guard and prepare for whatever comes."

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Don Cowie has been speaking to the media before Ross County's Scottish Premiership trip to Hearts this weekend.

Here are the key points by the County boss:

• He says managerless Hearts are "still a very good football team with a good squad of players" despite their poor start to the season.

• Although they came back from two goals down late on, Cowie is "disappointed" County only got a point against St Johnstone at the weekend.

• He insists County are "very strong at home" but need to "add points away from home" as they prepare for the trip to Edinburgh.

• County faced St Johnstone without Craig Levein last weekend and face managerless Hearts this Saturday, and Cowie added: "You don’t know how many changes will come, so we’ve got to be on our guard and prepare for whatever comes."

• Cowie also confirms George Harmon will be out "for a significant time" with an ankle injury.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County have already had their fair share of late drama in Dingwall this season.

Akil Wright's stoppage-time equaliser against St Johnstone has continued a recent trend of late goals.

There have been goals in the 95th minute or later in three of the four Premiership matches this season.

Last campaign, County were leading 3-1 against Motherwell at Fir Park with less than five minutes to go. That two-goal lead disappeared in a matter of minutes as the home side fought back to earn a 3-3 draw.

For County fans, it certainly wasn't a happy drive home that evening as the draw felt like a defeat after throwing away a two-goal lead so late on.

Saturday's match felt very similar to that draw at Fir Park last season. Thankfully, it was roles reversed with County on the right side of the comeback.

It was a draw that felt like a victory to County fans, while St Johnstone fans will have travelled back to Perth stunned at how their side threw away their lead so late on.

The Staggies have now scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of matches than any other top-flight side this season, while only Dundee can better County's record of points gained from losing positions.

Those stats show the strong character and never-say-die attitude Don Cowie has instilled in his side, which could play a big part in their success this season.

Watch the best of the action from Dingwall as Ross County and St Johnstone share six goals in a Premiership thriller.

(Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Ross County's 3-3 draw against St Johnstone.

Here's what you said:

Graham: We started well and finished well. Ronan Hale should have had a second before and we should have been out quicker to stop the goal before the break. That said, both their free-kicks were difficult to see. Great substitutions by Don Cowie and a gutsy performance to the end.

Ron: Frustrating game, albeit an exciting end and the squad showed great spirit. We should have been three up by the middle of the first half but didn't take our chances. St Johnstone did well to get back in the game but were helped by some strange refereeing decisions, not least the goalie's barge on Jordan White. Akil Wright fast becoming a local hero!

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• St Johnstone have conceded four goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Ryan Leak attempted 60 passes in this game, the highest total for a Ross County player in the Premiership this season.

• Nicholas Clark has scored two goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), no St Johnstone player has more.

• Ross County have won two points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (three) have recovered more.

Don Cowie believes Ross County fully deserved the point after they came from behind to draw 3-3 with St Johnstone.

Akil Wright's 97th-minute goal earned a dramatic draw for Ross County in a six-goal Scottish Premiership thriller with managerless St Johnstone.

Ronan Hale opened the scoring for the hosts when he latched on to Josh Nisbet's pass and sent a low effort beyond Ross Sinclair in the St Johnstone goal.

However, the visitors' response was emphatic. Drey Wright equalised just before half-time with a powerful strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

And Nicky Clark netted twice from free-kicks - including a stunning second - to put the Perth side in control in their first outing since Craig Levein's sacking.

But Alex Samuel made it a nervy finish in Dingwall when he headed in from close range and Wright completed the comeback with a spectacular header from Jack Greives' free-kick.

County rise to eighth in the table while St Johnstone stay 10th.

Give us your thoughts on County's performance here, external.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie:

"It was a strange game, I thought we were really in control of the match when we went 1-0 up and probably should have been further ahead.

"When Nicky Clark's on the pitch there's always a chance he can punish you and he did that in the second half with two excellent free-kicks but we kept going, showed great character and went right to the end and got a point which I think we deserved.

"At home there is that never say die attitude, we want this to be a really hard place for teams to come to get points.

"We're a really fit team so we go right to the end and that was evident again today.

"My overriding thought is that I'm really proud of the group again, they've shown great character to get a point out of a really challenging situation."