Ross County

Celtic could still win a 13th Scottish top-flight title in 14 seasons this weekend, despite their shock defeat away to St Johnstone last Sunday.

Victory at home against Kilmarnock on Saturday would be sufficient to confirm the arithmetic should Rangers lose at Aberdeen the following day.

The Ibrox side are almost certain to clinch the second Champions League place, but four points from their final six matches would confirm it.

Whoever finishes third and fourth will also be in Europe, as will the division's fifth-placed side should the Scottish Cup winners be one of the Premiership's top four.

The fight for the final top-six place will go to the final game before the split, with one of Hearts, Motherwell or St Mirren claiming it.

Hearts visit Fir Park one point in front of their hosts and the Paisley side, who take on Ross County.

The two teams missing out could yet be sucked into a relegation battle.

Bottom side St Johnstone are now five adrift of Dundee and six behind Kilmarnock and Ross County. Motherwell and St Mirren are a further three points ahead.

With the teams all playing each other again post-split, there is still plenty scope for movement between now and 18 May.

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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It has been a frustrating season for Ross County, whose springtime hopes of achieving a top-six finish this season have now been dashed and replaced with the scramble for top-flight survival.

Frustrating, too, for Staggies defender Will Nightingale, who has only made four appearances for the Premiership side, in what is his second stint in Dingwall.

The 29-year-old made his return to the bench against Aberdeen after sustaining a knee injury in October.

"I wanted to come back up here and help the club," he told BBC Scotland. "I wanted to do my bit for the fans, for the coaching staff who have been brilliant for me.

"Obviously, when you can't do that, you get to a dark place, a dark and lonely place, I'd say. And it was a struggle. But you keep your head down, you work hard and hope your luck is going to change eventually."

The English centre-back joined the Highland club on loan from AFC Wimbledon in July 2023, and that deal was extended for another year after a successful spell last term.

"The fact that we are not probably over-bundled with staff, but everybody does their job and their responsibilities and more," he gave as his reason for returning to Ross-shire last summer.

"Everybody goes that extra mile. Everybody chips in and pulls their weight. And that lines up with my values, so that was a big draw for me to come back."

County find themselves 10th in a tightly congested league table, impossible now to reach the upper half before the split and determined not to be drawn into a third consecutive battle to avoid the drop.

Something Nightingale hopes returning players can draw on as they head into what promises to be a tough final six games, beginning with St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday.

"You want to finish as high as you can, every team does," he explained.

"Everybody wants to take the experiences that they've had from through their football careers and bring that to the party. The younger players might not be able to bring that experience but have other qualities that not every player has.

"You have to look at yourself in the mirror and see what you can take to the table."

County fans, with the final top and bottom six spots yet to be decided, we asked who you'd least like to play post-split.

Here's what some of you had to say:

David: Due to our current form I fear all three, plus Kilmarnock, Dundee and St Johnstone. The midfield are not creating opportunities and the strikers are absent. Where Don Cowie is getting this belief that we can be successful from I wonder, is it a figment of his imagination. He is obviously not watching the same team as I am lately.

Alistair: Definitely want to avoid St Mirren, their dirty style of play is shocking. Referees allow them to get off with some really dubious stuff. They see the ball as an aside, they concentrate more on just taking out the players. Don't want them around.

Ali: Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell are all hard to beat at their home grounds, but probably St Mirren who have a hard, uncompromising defence, would be the hardest to beat in Dingwall. I thought County competed well with Aberdeen last Saturday except for our lack of goal threat up front and from midfield. Ronan Hale proved in his 15 minutes on the park that he is the only player we have who can get shots away in the box, therefore he must start in all of our remaining six games along with Jordan White they are our top scorers this season after all.

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• St Mirren are unbeaten in their past four league meetings with Ross County (W2 D2), and are looking to win back-to-back league matches against the Staggies for the first time since October 2021 (run of four).

• Ross County have failed to win any of their past eight away games at St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership (D3 L5) since a 3-0 victory in April 2015. The Staggies have failed to score at all in each of their past six league trips to face the Buddies.

• After their 5-1 win over Kilmarnock, St Mirren are looking to pick up back-to-back home league wins for the first time this season; they are one of only two clubs yet to win successive Scottish Premiership home matches this season, along with bottom side St Johnstone.

• Ross County have lost each of their past three league games without scoring; only once before have they had a longer run of defeats without reply in the top flight, going five in a row in December 2020, which included a 2-0 defeat to St Mirren.

• A St Mirren win over Ross County, along with Hearts failing to beat Motherwell, would see St Mirren finish in the top six in each of the last three Scottish Premiership seasons (Hearts will also achieve this if they beat Motherwell). The only other two clubs to finish sixth and above when the league splits in every season since 2022-23 are Celtic and Rangers.

With one round of pre-split fixtures remaining, the final position of three teams is yet to be finalised.

So, with every post-split game crucial to your side's survival, which side would you rather avoid out of Hearts, St Mirren or Motherwell?

Tell us why via this link and come back later in the week to see what your fellow fans are thinking.

Amy MacBeath
BBC Scotland

Image source, SNS

Ross County manager Don Cowie has been consistent with his message all season - one game at a time.

He has repeated that mantra week in, week out in his media interviews and it is one that has been echoed by his players.

The County boss is continuing to keep a cool head amid a three-game losing run, which leaves his team just a point and a place above the relegation play-off spot.

"Last week was just another indication that you've just got to concentrate on yourselves, not worry about anyone else," the County boss said of his side's 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen on Saturday.

"It's about us, we know what is at stake."

Now there is just one game left before the Scottish Premiership splits in half, and for those who find themselves in the bottom six it could well be a battle to the final game to guarantee safety.

The harsh reality for County is they have now won just one of their last five league games, losing four of those and failing to score in each of those defeats.

It leaves them in the precarious position of 10th, meaning they are all too close for comfort to the dreaded relegation play-off spot, which they have found themselves in at the end of the last two seasons.

"We know we are in a fight with every other team that's in the bottom six because it's so tight," Cowie added.

"And it's about us performing at a really high level to get the points we need to make us have a good end to the season.

"We've had a challenging couple of weeks, but the belief is there. I've got so much trust and belief in the group of players we've got and we'll be ready for the next six games."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Scotland

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Ross County manager Don Cowie has been speaking to BBC Scotland before his side's trip to Paisley to face St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership this weekend.

Here are the main points:

• He spoke about the "frustration" they felt after losing their third consecutive match, games Cowie believes they were "more than capable of winning".

• "The reality is we need to do more" said the Staggies boss. "There's plenty of effort going in, it's just turning that into creating opportunities".

• Cowie revealed he has spoken to the team about "not letting the game pass them by", asking them to be the "one who grabs the game by the scruff of the neck" and "turn the momentum" around on the pitch to win those valuable points.

• The challenge, he said, is going to Paisley to spoil the party, but Cowie insists they have belief that they can be successful.

• And while the Dingwall side know what is at stake for St Mirren - a potential top-six finish - returning home three points richer would be crucial for County in their bid to avoid a relegation scrap.

• Cowie is prepared for a rowdy Renfrewshire support "trying to push St Mirren over the line into the top six", but he adds that their own support has been "incredible" and gives them "that extra boost and help along the way".

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County's place in the bottom six after the split was confirmed following a 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen in Dingwall.

Aberdeen started the match well and eventually capitalised on their strong start when Shayden Morris picked up the ball inside his own half, drove forward at pace and fired beyond Jordan Amissah.

The Staggies have struggled in front of goal in recent matches and they were suffering from the same symptoms yet again.

They enjoyed a lot of possession in midfield and outside of Aberdeen's 18-yard box, but their final ball was so poor and they were severely lacking any sort of creativity or imagination to cause the visitors' defence problems.

Noah Chilvers has been the creative spark in this County team so often this season. However, pre-match the news broke of Chilvers' ACL injury, which will rule him out for the remainder of this season and a large part of next season too.

That news, as well as County's lack of potency in front of goal in recent weeks, has arrived at the wrong time going into the split.

With St Johnstone, Dundee and Kilmarnock all winning this weekend, the results elsewhere couldn't have been much worse for County.

The Staggies are only one point above the play-off spot, but with only four points separating the sides from seventh to 11th, several sides are going to be anxiously looking over their shoulder.

Don Cowie's cool, calm and collected manner has been consistent during both the highs and the lows this season, so those characteristics will be vital as the pressure builds between now and the end of the season.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ross County striker Jack Grieves has vowed they have got the character and quality in the dressing to get them out of relegation danger.

The Staggies lost 1-0 at home to Aberdeen on Saturday and are precariously placed 10th in the Premiership table, just one point above Dundee in the relegation play-off spot.

Despite their recent struggles, Grieves is optimistic about their chances in the ongoing relegation battle.

"Obviously we are in a bit of tough period now but I know the character of the boys in that changing room there and we are going to go out there and we are going to give everything we have got for the last six games," he said.

"We are just focusing on the next game, focusing on winning against St Mirren. I think that is the main thing and if we take it game by game then hopefully by the end of the season we will be in a good place.

"For every team there are ups and downs in a season. We have got a lot of talent here and players that are going to put up a fight between now and the end of the season, so I am confident that we can pick back up turn another corner."

It is not just results which are of concern for County, a lack of cutting edge has become a real problem, having scored only one goal in their past five matches.

"To win football matches you have got to score goals," Grieves said. "We struggled to find that moment of quality that meant we could score and give ourselves the chance to win the game.

'It is frustrating but we have just got to keep going, keep training well and keep giving ourselves the best chance to go out there and win the game. The more we keep at it, it will come."

Watch highlights as Ross County lose 1-0 to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

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We asked for your views on Ross County's 1-0 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

David: Definitely relegation form. Never looked like scoring. Team selection and substitutes yet again leaves me baffled. It's as if Don Cowie picks them to give them a game to keep them all happy. Ronan Hale might get a start next week as he had two shots on goal at the end!

Alistair: I am utterly fed up watching a team that appears to have no shape, no cohesion, and has players that just punt and chase directionless long balls up the park. We have players who actually do have talent but don't seem to have any idea what is required of them and certainly don't look like they are going to drag themselves out of a self-inflicted mess that leads to relegation unless the brakes are applied. Another home game where we have absolutely no effect in front of the opponent's goal. One shot in the 94th minute and it went wide. I don't know if I want to see much more of this. Cowie's assessment of games shows he and I watch different matches.

John: First half was good barring the goal. Second half was a repeat of last Sunday, just no real threat up front. Too long before Josh Nisbet and Hale got on the pitch.

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• Ross County have lost their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 30 November 2024 to 21 December 2024, a run of four games.

• Aberdeen are undefeated in their last four games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 16 March 2024 to 9 November 2024, a run of 20 games.

• Ross County have failed to score in 14 of their 32 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Graeme Shinnie attempted six tackles in this game, more than any other player.

Shayden Morris' solo stunner gave Aberdeen a narrow victory over Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, continuing their good form in the final weeks of the season.

The result keeps the fourth-placed Dons on the coattails of third-placed Hibernian and leaves County looking over their shoulder at the wrong end of the table.

What went wrong, County fans? Are you worried about relegation yet, now that any top six dreams are over?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "It was a tight game. We got done by a moment of real quality, a fantastic goal from Shayden Morris.

"We know the strength he possesses, pace. It was disappointing to concede a goal in that manner, but you recognise it's a very good goal.

"I didn't think there was too much in the game, lots of endeavour, lots of effort from both teams. Challenging conditions with the wind. It was very similar to the Dundee United game, I'm just frustrated we didn't create any real opportunities to hurt Aberdeen.

"We were in enough good areas but lacked that bit of quality."

"It's a concern because we're not scoring goals, but we're all in it together. We recognise we need to get better.

"We had the news that Noah Chilvers was going to be out, and he's been our talisman in creating something. Now it's up to someone else to step up and take that role on."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

There is never a good time to go on a poor run of results, but the business end of the season is certainly a very bad one to endure such a sequence.

The harsh reality is that County have now won just one of their last five league games, losing four of those.

A return of just one point from the 15 on offer during those fixtures has very much stalled the Staggies' revival which they looked to have mounted prior to that run.

Don Cowie will know that if that form continues between now and the end of the season, there is every chance they will find themselves embroiled in the dreaded battle at the bottom.

The Staggies have relied on play-offs to preserve their top flight status in the each of the last two seasons and, while they may be accustomed to what is required to prevail in such a situation, they will be desperate to avoid having to go through it again.

Scoring goals has been a problem for the Staggies of late, and the news pre-match that the immense Noah Chilvers will miss the rest of the season after injuring his ACL in training is a huge blow for both him and County.

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Noah Chilvers will be out long-term for Ross County after the English midfielder picked up an ACL injury in training.

The 24-year-old has been one of County's key players this season as they tilt for the Premiership top six.

"We got really bad news about Noah Chilvers, who's been outstanding for us," manager Don Cowie said. "He had a coming together in training on Thursday and we found out on Thursday that he's done his ACL.

"He's a really influential player for us. It gives an opportunity for someone else to step in, but our focus is on helping Noah in his recovery."

Chilvers, who joined from Colchester last summer, made 32 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals, registering another five assists.

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Ross County welcome back Michee Efete from a three-month lay-off but Ryan Leak (Achilles) remains sidelined.

Aberdeen remain without Dimitar Mitov (shoulder), Kristers Tobers (hamstring) and Sivert Heltne Nilsen (eye) along with long-term absentees Vicente Besuijen (knee), Jamie McGrath and Gavin Molloy (both shoulder).

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Don Cowie is confident Ross County can avoid being drawn into a third successive relegation scrap.

Having survived via the play-offs in the past two seasons, County are consigned to the bottom six this term following last weekend's defeat by Dundee United.

But with a four-point cushion over second-bottom Dundee, and a nine-point gap on St Johnstone, the Staggies boss is looking up rather than over his shoulder as his side prepare to host Aberdeen on Saturday.

"We are sitting ninth in the league for a reason," said Cowie. "Our form has been relatively good since the turn of the year and that gives us evidence and real belief going into every game.

"Last time we played Aberdeen we came out on top, so we've got something to look back on and what we can achieve. And that's what we'll strive to do.

"We have to embrace the challenge of playing a massive club in the country here in Dingwall.

"We are disappointed and frustrated on the back of the [United] game. We thought it was a real opportunity to continue the momentum and keep stepping forward. We move on."

Cowie has challenged his side to head into the split with back-to-back wins over the Dons and St Mirren.

"We've got two games left, six points to play for and that's what we'll strive to try and achieve. Big ask, but there's no reason why we can't do it," he added.

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• After their 2-1 win in January, Ross County could earn successive league victories over Aberdeen for the first time since October 2013 (three in a row).

• Aberdeen have lost just once in their past 11 league visits to Ross County (W7 D3), and are unbeaten in their past six (W3 D3) since going down 4-1 in January 2021.

• Ross County are the lowest scorers in the 2024-24 Premiership with 31 goals. The Staggies have found the net just once in their past four league games combined, and have failed to score in a league-high 13 matches.

• Aberdeen have won just one of their past 12 away league games (D4 L7), a 2-1 victory at Dundee in February, while they have failed to score in six of their past eight league matches on the road.

• Kevin Nisbet has been directly involved in eight of Aberdeen's past 11 league goals (six goals, two assists). Nisbet has scored two plus goals in two of his past three Scottish Premiership appearances, having only done so in two of his previous 92 before this.

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Is the Scottish Premiership in need of a shake-up? If so, how do you go about it?

News emerged on Tuesday that the SPFL is considering changing Scotland's top flight to a 10, 14 or 16-team division in an attempt to help reduce fixture congestion.

In its current 12-team form, the clubs split into a top and bottom six after 33 rounds of matches, with 38 rounds played altogether.

That format has been in place since 2000-01 and retaining that model is also an option, but reports have also suggested the split could be scrapped.

For any fresh structure to pass, it needs the backing of 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs, and eight out of 10 from the Championship plus 75% of League One and League Two combined.

And judging by the fan reaction to the mere thought of reducing the league to a 10-team division, you would have to assume that idea is already unlikely.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former Premiership players Cammy Bell and Cillian Sheridan provided their views on a potential restructure.

Expansion is the only option for former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Bell, while ex-Celtic striker Sheridan would like to see the split retained.

"I think we need a little bit of freshness about our game," Bell said. "So, if we can expand that league, then absolutely do it. We've got big enough clubs now that can generate good crowds.

"We're at a time just now where we've got the potential of trying to change it and certainly for me it's got to be expansion."

"The split works now," Sheridan added. "When I first came over and saw the whole split thing, I just never really got it. But in the past few years it has been quite interesting.

"If the league is wrapped up, if relegation is wrapped up, it does add a little bit of excitement to things in terms of teams getting into the top six and having to get European football."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross County youngster Dylan Smith is taking inspiration from fellow Inverness-born players Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong as he looks to build on his recent Scotland Under-21 debut.

The 18-year-old defender, who featured against Republic of Ireland and Iceland last month, said: "Seeing those role models coming from the Highlands shows it's not impossible to play for your country from here, but I'll have a couple of years in the 21s and hopefully take another step from there."

Smith has made two County appearances in 2025 after being recalled early from his season-long loan at League 1 leaders Arbroath, where regular game-time benefitted him "massively".

"Last season wasn't ideal for me, I came off the back of an injury, but I got the chance to prove I can play at a good level and thought I showed that," he added.

"Arbroath are doing well and I left top of the league as well so it was a good loan spell and I'm coming back stronger and fitter than I was last season."

County boss Cowie said the coaching staff have a lot of belief in the teenager, who they have watched gradually improve since he joined as an apprentice at 16.

"We are absolutely delighted with where he is right now, the progression he's making and it's an unbelievable achievement for him from the Highlands making his debut for the Scotland Under-21 team," said Cowie.

"He's training extremely well, he's challenging, and that's on the back of a really good loan spell at Arbroath. But one thing at a time. The next challenge is playing in a regular basis in the Premiership."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Ross County manager Don Cowie has been speaking to BBC Scotland before the Premiership game against Aberdeen this weekend.

Here are the key points:

• On the 1-0 home defeat by Dundee United, the Staggies boss says his side are "disappointed and frustrated" at missing out on "a real opportunity to continue the momentum".

• With two games left before the split, Cowie insists County "strive for six points and that will always be the case". While they are huge outsiders for a top-six place he says "that's the beauty of the league - everyone is striving for something" so the points are "so valuable" for everyone.

• On stopping the Dons' nine-game unbeaten run, Cowie will use his side's 2-1 win in the last meeting to show what they can achieve and strive to do again.

• Asked if County are confident they can avoid being drawn into a relegation scrap this season, he says "we are sitting ninth in the league for a reason" having enjoyed some "relatively good" form since Christmas. That has given them the "evidence and real belief going into every game".

• On how tight the Premiership is this season, Cowie described it as "ultra-competitive" and a league where you "have really got to earn what you get" from every match.

• He confirmed "everyone is fit and healthy" with Michee Efete finally returning after three months out. Ryan Leak is the only player who remains injured.