Ross County

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• Defeat for St Johnstone in this match will see them relegated from the Scottish Premiership for the first time since 2001-02.

• St Johnstone are unbeaten in six league meetings with Ross County (W4 D2), winning the past two. The Perth side have never previously beaten the Staggies three times in a row in the top flight.

• County have lost three of their past four league trips to St Johnstone (D1), including both of their past two without scoring.

• St Johnstone have lost their last three league games and could lose four in a row for the second time this season, having previously done so in December.

• County have lost their past six league games; only once before have they ever lost seven in a row in the top flight, doing so when losing each of their opening seven matches of 2014-15.

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Don Cowie is targeting a "huge" Ross County victory in Perth on Saturday to relegate St Johnstone.

The Staggies have a six-point cushion over the rock-bottom Perth side with three matches remaining.

County remain in the relegation play-off spot - a point behind Dundee - and are seeking to end a run of six successive defeats in the relegation showdown.

"It would be huge," said manager Cowie. "It stops the run that we're on. It gives us a real opportunity to go into the two games after that.

"We would put it in our own hands going into the last two games. That's why winning the game is really important for us.

"In order to do that, we have to go and show it. St Johnstone are fighting for their lives as well. They're not going to make it easy for us.

"It's a place that we've not done too well in the past, but records are there to change. We've done that many times this season already and that gives us real belief.

"Sometimes it's not always about the performance. It's about being strong, being together and finding a way to win a game of football. That's what we'll be looking to do this weekend."

County are yet to beat St Johnstone this season, losing twice at McDiarmid Park after a 3-3 draw in Dingwall.

"We've got to recognise we can't change the last few weeks, we're really disappointed in terms of the results that we've had in that period of time, but it's up to us to change it," added Cowie.

"St Johnstone are very stuck in their way and the principles that they want to do. They're a really good footballing team.

"They want to play out from the back on all occasions. They've got players in the final third that can hurt you.

"They've got different qualities and lots of options in that area as well. We have to be ready for that. At the same time, we have to be ready to punish them at any opportunity."

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Don Cowie has been speaking to BBC Scotland before Ross County's relegation showdown with St Johnstone this weekend.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Cowie was "disappointed" with the 3-1 home defeat by Hearts last weekend after his side scored an "important" first goal.

• On County's six-game losing run: "It's up to us to change it. It's still in our hands. We've got a huge week coming up. We know what's at stake at the end of that week and it starts on Saturday, which is the biggest game of them all."

• The Staggies need a good performance "to show how important" the game at bottom club St Johnstone on Saturday is.

• A County victory will relegate Saints but the Staggies are winless in their past four trips to Perth. Cowie says: "Records are there to change. We've done that many times this season already and that gives us real belief."

• County have to "come together and do what it takes to get the results." Cowie adds: "Sometimes it's not always about the performance. It's about being strong, being together and finding a way to win a game of football. That's what we'll be looking to do this weekend."

• On 14-goal top scorer Ronan Hale: "He's clinical, we need to create opportunities for him because more often than not he'll take them."

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Concerns over a third successive Premiership play-off continue to grow for County fans.

The 3-1 home defeat by Hearts means Staggies have now lost their last six matches, scoring only three goals and conceding 12.

The last victory for Don Cowie's side was a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock at the start of March. That win was a third in four matches which also saw County match their total points from last season with nine matches left and had fans dreaming of a top-six finish.

Two months later, we are still stuck on 35 points and fans are panicking that a third consecutive play-off is looming.

However, our destiny is still in our own hands with three league matches remaining. The Staggies are six points above St Johnstone in 12th and only two behind Dundee in 10th as they face trips to face both sides in their next two matches.

It's absolutely vital Cowie's side turn their form around at McDiarmid Park on Saturday and right the wrongs they've suffered against St Johnstone recently. They cannot afford to give Saints any sort of lifeline or opportunity to halve the points deficit.

In the three previous meetings this season, County have only picked up one point and were beaten on both visits to Perth.

The Staggies were also 1-0 up and only minutes from safety in the penultimate game of last season against Saints before Adama Sidibeh's last-gasp equaliser kept the Perth side alive going into the final day where they'd eventually leapfrog County into 10th place on goal difference.

If County pick up three points on Saturday, it will end any fears about automatic relegation and give the squad a much-needed confidence boost going into the most important week of the season.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Watch all the action from Hearts' 3-1 win over Ross County in the Scottish Premiership

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We asked for your views on Ross County's 3-1 loss against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Davie: This is now a very worrying time. We are leaking goals too easily and there seems to be a nervousness about the team. We cannot cope with pacy wide players, and service to the front men is not good enough.

Hearts bossed the game. St Johnstone next week is at least a 'must not lose' or automatic relegation is a reality.

Derek: Come on Staggies, get some points on the board and quickly! Otherwise, I won't be able to make my annual trip from London to support you in the play-offs!

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• Ross County have lost their last six games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 7 May to 13 August 2022.

• Ronan Hale has scored his 10th goal in the Premiership this season, netting his second goal against Hearts in four appearances.

• Ross County have conceded 28 first-half goals in 35 games, only St. Johnstone (32) and Dundee (30) have conceded more in the Premiership this season. 17 goals of those have been in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

• The Staggies have also conceded 19 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Hearts won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 26 February 2025 against St. Mirren (four games without a win).

• Hearts attempted 22 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Hearts have scored nine goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (16) and Rangers (11) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• Lawrence Shankland has now scored nine goals in 12 appearances in the Premiership against Ross County.

• Lawrence Shankland has attempted 90 shots this season, the highest total in the Premiership. He has scored six goals, no Hearts player has more in the league.

Ross County fans, how concerned are you by your team's run of form ahead of a huge match against St Johnstone next weekend?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Ross County were full of scrap and snarl, typified by the industrious Nohan Kenneh in the middle of the pitch, and wing-backs George Harmon and James Brown, although their attacking impact was often limited by Hearts' dominance.

Ronan Hale was their liveliest threat, showing his ruthlessness with an excellent opening goal, and drawing a terrific save from Craig Gordon later in proceedings.

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On their five-game losing streak, the Highlanders had scored only two goals, so little wonder Don Cowie named a front-line bristling with menace.

Their early openings were limited to long balls, hoping one of the front three would pluck a rabbit from a hat.

Ronan Hale's snapshot imbued them with some belief, but again, they were unable to capitalise further on momentum or maintain their lead for more than a few minutes. Defensively, they were unpicked by Hearts' wide men too easily and too often.

For all County's endeavour and competitiveness, this bleak run of form - at this time of the season - will deeply concern those in Dingwall.

Dundee's late loss to Motherwell gives them some hope ahead of a monumental bottom-two showdown in Perth next weekend.

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Ross County midfielder Scott Allardice suffered a recurrence of a knee injury while Ross Laidlaw is a major doubt through illness. Andrew Macleod (groin), Noah Chilvers (knee) and Ryan Leak (Achilles) remain out.

Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland is available after a minor injury and James Wilson returns from suspension. Gerald Taylor (knee) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) remain out.

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross County club captain Connor Randall admits the possibility of fighting for their Premiership status for a third year running "hurts", but guarantees everyone is pulling together to avoid ending up in the dreaded play-off spot.

The Dingwall side host Hearts on Saturday, before final fixtures against St Johnstone and Dundee away and Motherwell at home.

As things stand County sit 11th, the same relegation play-off spot in which they found themselves at the end of the past two terms.

"This club means a lot to me," Randall said.

"I've been here for a while now and the place and the people in the club mean a lot to me too, so it hurts when you are in the position that we are in and on a run that we are in the moment.

"But that only adds to the motivation to get ourselves out of it."

The 29-year-old hopes to draw on previous experience of ending up in the play-offs to help steer the team out of danger.

"You can always look back and take positives from [winning the play-offs]. But we are looking forward.

"We've had honest conversations this week as a group and as a club about what we need to do," the midfielder added.

"Everyone is in the same boat and pulling in the same direction. Everyone at this club wants to achieve the same thing.

"So that's one thing you can guarantee is that you'll have everyone working together to get this club up the table to where we want to be.

"It's very important that we finish the season strong and make sure as a group that we keep this club where it belongs in the Premiership."

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• Ross County have only won one of their past 18 Scottish Premiership meetings with Hearts (D10 L7), a 2-1 victory in March 2024.

• Hearts have only lost one of their past 13 Scottish Premiership away games at Ross County (W6 D6), although are winless in their last two (D1 L1).

• Ross County have lost league games in a row; in their top-flight history, only in September 2014 (seven), December 2020 (six), and August 2022 (six) have they endured a longer losing run.

• Hearts lost three of their final four league games under Neil Critchley (D1), failing to score in all four. Not since March 1999 under Jim Jefferies have they gone longer without a goal in the top-flight (six matches).

• This will be Liam Fox's first Scottish Premiership game in charge of Hearts since a 3-2 defeat to Aberdeen in October this season. Two of his last three games as a manager in the competition have been against Ross County, losing 4-0 with Dundee United in February 2023 and drawing 1-1 with Hearts in September this season.

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Manager Don Cowie says he is "very confident" he has the full backing of the Ross County board despite the club's perilous Premiership position.

County suffered a fifth successive defeat last weekend, losing 2-0 at Kilmarnock, to drop into the relegation play-off spot with four games remaining.

Cowie, whose side host managerless Hearts on Saturday, told BBC Scotland: "We are in a poor run of form, but we're the same group of players, managers, staff that five weeks ago were in a healthy position. And it's only us who can change the position we are in now.

"We've got plenty of evidence from this year to show what we are capable of. When we perform at a high level we've won football matches, we've gone on good runs at different stages of the season.

"And that gives us belief, it gives me belief. I've got a lot of trust in the players we've got at this football club. But, myself included, we need to do a bit more going into these four games.

"I know the scrutiny and pressure that comes with it - you've got to embrace it, you've got to accept it. Just like when things are going well you don't get too high, and when you are in a challenging period you don't get too low.

"You are the figurehead that the players look to, the staff look to. It's up to me to keep them together, united and get ready for this game."

On Saturday Hearts return to the Highlands with Liam Fox in interim charge following the departure of head coach Neil Critchley after just six months in charge.

"I know the demands and expectations," said former Tynecastle midfielder Cowie. "They are a club that will see themselves as a top-six team and at any club they've got their right to make a change and do what's necessary."

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It will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.

A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".

Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.

"Look at the 16, which is the one that supporters really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.

"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."

Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".

"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.

"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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

Here are the main points:

• Cowie is "very confident" he still has the board's backing after the 2-0 loss at Kilmarnock left County in the relegation play-off spot.

• He adds: "We understand where we are as a football club and the challenges. We are in a poor run of form but we're the same group of players, managers, staff that five weeks ago were in a healthy position."

• Cowie says it is time to "stick together" and stand up to the challenge as he looks for a "better, more complete performance" on Saturday after five straight defeats.

• It will be the second time County have faced Hearts off the back of a manager departure and with Liam Fox in interim charge. Cowie says: "The challenge or problem it poses for us is that there could be a change in system, change in personnel, people that have maybe not been playing could come back into the reckoning."

• Former Hearts midfielder Cowie knows the "demands and expectations" at Tynecastle and reckons they will see the trip as "an opportunity to come up here, win a football match and distance themselves from any issue at the bottom of the table".

• With four games left, the Dingwall boss insists his side must focus on themselves to get out of relegation danger.

• Midfielder Scott Allardice is a doubt after coming injured at Rugby Park, while goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw is struggling with illness.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

In their biggest match of the season so far, Ross County's performance was completely lacklustre as they failed to lay a glove on Kilmarnock.

The damaging defeat leaves Don Cowie's side in the Premiership play-off spot with four matches remaining.

In the first half, the Staggies completed 186 passes, which was more than double the hosts' amount. However, once the ball was moved into dangerous areas in the final third, the players looked totally devoid of confidence and ideas on how to test Kilmarnock's backline.

They would then give possession away so cheaply or choose to recycle the ball back into midfield or defence which killed any momentum – it was hugely frustrating to watch.

The second-half performance was even worse. The difference in determination levels between the two sides was glaringly obvious the longer the match went on.

Kilmarnock were first to every second ball, snapped into tackles and took a real grip of the game by showing the type of character required to try to avoid any scraps at the bottom of the table.

On the other hand, County retreated into their shells and failed to impact the second half whatsoever. They registered their one and only shot on target in the 82nd minute.

Ultimately, the fans who made the 400-mile round trip from the Highlands to Rugby Park and back deserve better than the unacceptable performance they witnessed.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock pick up a vital win against Ross County.

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We asked for your views on Ross County's 2-0 defeat against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Alistair: Don Cowie is single-handedly driving that gutless, useless and hopeless group of players straight down into the Championship. He hasn't a clue. Does the chairman still have Stuart Kettlewell's number on his contacts list? Got to be worth a try.

Jamie: Another really poor performance where we never look like scoring. It was blatantly obvious this team lacks pace and creativity but this wasn't addressed in January for whatever reason. Like Yan Dhanda last season, we have totally relied on Noah Chilvers to come up with something, but with him out injured it's hard to see who can provide our strikers with a bit of service they so desperately need. We must now be heavy favourites for another 11th-placed finish, but still wouldn't rule out finishing 12th.

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• Ross County have lost their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 7 May 2022 to 13 August 2022, a run of six games.

• Kilmarnock have scored in each of their last five games in the Premiership, scoring seven goals in that run.

• Ross County have failed to score in 15 of their 34 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Daniel Armstrong has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (one goal, two assists).

Kilmarnock earned a potentially vital three points in their bid to remain in the Scottish Premiership as Bruce Anderson's first-half header and Liam Donnelly's fine finish saw off relegation rivals Ross County.

County fans, give us your thoughts on the game here.

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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "Overall, probably, yeah [a fair result].

"I don't think there was much in the first half at all. One moment of quality from Danny Armstrong puts in a great ball into the box, and they score from it, and that was the difference.

"In these games, that's really important, getting that first goal then allows Kilmarnock to play with that bit of confidence, bit of freedom.

"We chased the game to try and get back into it, and it gives them spaces to exploit, so they then win the game 2-0.

"So, really disappointed because we spoke all week about how important it was to try and get that first goal.

"Well, we won't hide away from it. We're disappointed with the run of form that we're in. So we know where we are. We've got four games left, it's a case of not feeling sorry for ourselves.

"It'll hurt right now, you tonight. Long journey up the road, a lot of time to reflect on the game, which I'll do, and then it's making sure that on Monday that we are ready for a massive game against Hearts.

"We're at home, we've got to be ready for it, and it's still in our hands.

"That's the message. It really hurts in terms of losing a game today, a big game, it was important, but we need to recognise [we have] four games to go, 12 points at stake, and it's in our own hands and it's up to us to go and deliver that."