Ross County interim manager Don Cowie knows form in Dingwall will be crucial in Staggies’ Scottish Premiership survival bid
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Don Cowie believes Ross County have to make the most of home advantage over the remainder of the Scottish Premiership season.
The Staggies interim manager is unbeaten through his five game in Dingwall to date, and knows that his side are at home for three of their final four matches of the 2023/24 campaign.
Sitting one point behind St Johnstone in the relegation play-off place, that could prove crucial if County can continue their strong form at the Global Energy Stadium.
“We’ve got to use that as a massive positive for us,” Cowie stressed.
“The manner of the performances, the results – taking six points from the last two against Hearts and Rangers – we’ve got to take a lot of confidence and belief from that.
“We’ve got to respond from Saturday. We’re at home where we’ve been really good and it is about trying to maintain that.
“We’ve spoken about how the last two games are really good evidence of what, when you play well collectively, can be produced and what can happen against Rangers and Hearts and when, collectively, you don’t quite get it right and are on the receiving end of a result like Livingston.
“That’s how important it is that we go into Saturday focused, united, and ready to put on a really good performance.”
Defeat to Livingston last time out could have been a hammer blow to morale in the County changing room.
Coming off the back of their highlight of the season in a first ever win over Rangers, the Staggies had the chance to mathematically relegate Livingston, only to lose 2-0 to the side sitting bottom of the Premiership table.
Consolation came from the fact that St Johnstone lost to County’s next opponents Motherwell, meaning Cowie’s men did not lose any ground in the battle to avoid relegation.
“All that’s happened is we have one game less,” Cowie reasoned.
“We have three home games, but the focus has to be Hibs. I want to see a reaction from the group.
“It is a very honest group we’ve got here and they understand we didn’t perform anywhere near the levels we’ve shown in previous weeks, so it is about making sure we are focused and ready to go.
“Without going into too much detail, we’re definitely a better team when we go on the front foot.
“Saturday, we didn’t give ourselves that foothold to do that. That gave Livingston the initiative to see the game out.
“They get a penalty out of nothing really and then defended really well. We huffed and puffed, but that just shows the importance of not having an error in the performance because that can change the whole perspective of the game you’re playing in.”
