Ross County

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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A four-game losing run coming into this five-game bottom-six scrap was clearly not ideal.

County are used to being in this situation, having been in the play-off two seasons running and survived.

But you don't want to dance with the devil too often, and this outcome leaves them in the play-off spot with a lot of work to do.

If they are to avoid third time unlucky in terms of overall survival, they'll need to find an effective way to trouble their opponents more consistently.

They couldn't pose many problems for Kilmarnock and there's little to be gained from being competitive but not making it count. That's what is happening and at a bad time.

In truth, the Dingwall side rarely looked likely to take anything after falling behind and with a bruised Hearts side next at home, they need to quickly arrest this form.

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Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell has had a setback with an ankle injury, but Rory McKenzie is available after recovering from a thigh injury and Matty Kennedy is back training. Kyle Magennis (knee) remains out.

Ross County's Andrew Macleod will see a specialist to ascertain the seriousness of a groin injury. Noah Chilvers (knee) and Ryan Leak (Achilles) remain out.

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Defender Zac Ashworth says the pressures of the Scottish Premiership and honesty of Ross County manager Don Cowie have been a welcome "reality check".

The 22-year-old left-back has made seven appearances in an injury-disrupted spell since joining on loan from Blackpool in January.

"I've wanted to play more, but I had a little injury that set me back," he told BBC Scotland.

"But it's just about embracing all those challenges and playing against different teams, in different stadiums, in different conditions and using that to become a better player in the long term."

Football is in the Ashworth blood – his father Dan is the former sporting director at Newcastle and Manchester United and younger brother Finn turned professional with Wolves last year.

But he believes he has learned already from his stint under the leadership of Cowie.

"He sort of pushed me in a different way to get more out of me and I respect the honesty he's given me at times," he added.

"I think that's sort of been a bit of a reality check sometimes for me, because some managers will tell you you're doing everything well even though maybe you're not.

"The gaffer here has been good with me and has helped me a lot and made me understand what is expected and what my standards should be every single day. That will make me better player in the long run."

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• Along with Celtic, Ross County are one of two sides to win all three of their Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock this season; the last team to beat Killie four times in a single top-fight campaign were Rangers in 2010-11.

• In their top-fight history, Ross County have never beaten a particular opponent four times within the same campaign.

• Kilmarnock have only won one of their past seven league games (D1 L5), although that was their last at home, beating Motherwell 2-0. Indeed, a league-high 74% of their points in the Scottish Premiership this season have come at home (26/35).

• Ross County have lost their past four league games – the longest ongoing losing run in the Scottish Premiership this season. The Staggies last lost more in a row in August 2022 (six), and last did so within a single season in December 2020 (six).

• Ronan Hale has scored nine league goals this season and could become only the sixth player to score 10+ in a top-fight campaign for Ross County, after Liam Boyce (three times), Alex Schalk (2017-18), Regan Charles-Cook (2021-22), Jordan White (2022-23), and Simon Murray (2023-24).

Ross County goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw fears missing his friend's wedding should the Staggies end up in the Scottish Premiership play-off final. (Sun), external

Laidlaw, 32, is putting talks about his future on hold as he tries to help County retain their Scottish Premiership status. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Manager Don Cowie believes "having a clear mind" is key for Ross County as they bid to secure survival in the post-split Premiership run.

County are a point above second-bottom Dundee and six clear of St Johnstone with five matches remaining.

The Staggies head to Kilmarnock on Saturday seeking to end a four-match losing streak.

"We've had two weeks since the last game and we've been really frustrated with the results we've had. We've got to recognise that," Cowie told BBC Scotland.

"As I always say there's so much effort in those games that the boys have put in and to get no reward for it is disappointing.

"But it's about being consistent, making sure you stay with that intent you are playing with and you want to come out and get the rewards from it."

Having survived via the play-offs in the past two seasons, Cowie is not avoiding the dreaded 'R' word this term in favour of being honest with his squad.

"It's about being open and recognising where we are in the league and that's the challenge for us as a group," he added.

"We've been in it before, we know what's at stake in these situations and you've got to draw on those experiences that we've had in the past and use it to our advantage.

"I've always said we've got a great group of players here and I demand a lot of them so what they deserve in return is for me to be open and honest with them.

"If I want more, or they are doing well, I'll certainly try and relay that message to them and it means we've got a healthy, really good group who enjoy being with each other."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ross County manager Don Cowie has been speaking to BBC Scotland before his side's first post-split fixture, a trip to Kilmarnock in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the main points:

• The Staggies boss felt they should have come away with at least a point from the 3-2 defeat at St Mirren, but while disappointed still believes his side "performed well at a difficult venue".

• As they head into the final five games with just 11 points separating the six sides, Cowie says: "Every team in the bottom half now knows what's at stake. It's very tight, very competitive."

• Despite County having won all three meetings this season, Cowie says anyone who witnessed the "competitive" fixtures would "know they could have gone either way" so Kilmarnock will "see it as an opportunity" on Saturday.

• He predicts Derek McInnes' side - who sit level on points with 10th-place County - will force the Staggies to defend and adds: "They've got players back who have been out with long-term injuries so they'll be looking strong."

• Cowie is determined to halt County's four-game losing run and says: "At this stage of the season it doesn't really matter how that victory comes, it's just about rolling the sleeves up and doing whatever is necessary to get those points."

• Noah Chilvers and Ryan Leak remain on the long-term injured list, with the squad otherwise feeling good after a fortnight without a competitive game.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County have been involved in plenty of post-split drama in recent seasons.

The Staggies have had their destiny in their own hands going into the final day in three of the past four campaigns. All they needed to do was pick up three points to secure their Premiership status for another season – simple, right?

In 2020-21, everything went to plan as a 2-1 victory at Fir Park against Motherwell earned a 10th-place finish at the expense of Kilmarnock, who occupied the dreaded play-off spot.

Two years later, Kilmarnock got their revenge as County lost 3-1 at Rugby Park and were consigned to the Premiership play-off for the first time.

Last term, a 2-2 draw with Aberdeen alongside a 2-1 victory for St Johnstone against Motherwell allowed the Perth side to move up to 10th at the expense of Don Cowie's side, who fell into 11th for the second successive season.

With only six points separating seventh and 11th, it looks like the battle to avoid the play-off spot will go down to the wire once again.

Cowie will be desperate to see his side end their streak of four consecutive defeats as soon as possible because every side in the bottom six will know a poor run of form at this stage could be disastrous.

Going into the final five fixtures, Cowie can take a lot of encouragement from County's results against the other bottom-six teams this season, which includes 100% records against Dundee and Kilmarnock.

If the Staggies can maintain that in the post-split fixtures, they might be able to avoid final-day drama and hopefully experience a much calmer end to the season.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

How many times have you heard a relegation-threatened manager talk about the need to hit the coveted 40-point mark?

Well, the truth is, no Scottish Premiership team has ever required that total to avoid the bottom two since the play-offs were brought back more than a decade ago.

However, that is projected to change this season.

Based on current points-per-game averages, 11th-placed Dundee are set to end on a total of 39, meaning 40 could be the magic number to guarantee safety.

If that is the case, that would mark the highest tally required to ensure survival in Scotland's top tier since 38-game seasons were reintroduced in the 2000-01 campaign.

That would also mean Hearts are effectively safe, given they are already on 40 points and four teams would need to make up ground on them, while eighth-placed Motherwell would need just a single point from five post-split games.

With Kilmarnock in ninth and Ross County in tenth both currently on 35, which is just one more than Dundee's 34, the fight to avoid 11th is clearly likelier to be between those three.

But that is not set in stone. The nature of the split means each team in the bottom half will face the other before the end of the campaign, so there is scope for points-per-game averages to fluctuate.

And what does all of this mean for St Johnstone? Well, the 33 points Simo Valakari's side are projected to finish on would be the highest for a bottom-placed team in the Premiership since 2017.

That would be no consolation for the Perth club if they go down, but that is certainly not guaranteed to happen just yet.

However, they have a real fight on their hands to make up a five-point gap while improving their inferior goal difference.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County's list of painful experiences in Paisley continued last weekend as they fell to a 3-2 defeat against St Mirren.

The Staggies have a woeful recent record in Paisley with their last victory there coming in April 2015 courtesy of a Liam Boyce hat-trick.

The fans who made the journey down the A9 started to dream that record was about to end when Ronan Hale capitalised on a scramble in the St Mirren box and fired the ball into the back of the net for his first goal since 15 February.

St Mirren, who were chasing the final top-six place, fought back and got themselves ahead through goals from Caolan Boyd-Munce and Jonah Ayunga either side of half-time.

When Jordan White's equaliser dragged County level just after the hour mark, the momentum was fully with the away side. Don Cowie altered his side's shape to a 3-4-3 and for long spells in the second half, the Staggies looked the more likely side to get the next goal as they applied pressure on the St Mirren defence.

But the home side stood strong and punished County late on as Roland Idowu's stunning strike from distance four minutes from time earned St Mirren the three points and a place in the top six.

On another day, County's performance would have earned at least a point. It was a much-improved performance from Don Cowie's side compared to recent weeks, especially in the attacking areas, which he'll need more of as they fight to maintain their Premiership status for another season.

Ross Morren can be found on The County Corner podcast., external

• Kilmarnock v Ross County - Saturday, 26 April 2025

• Ross County v Hearts - Saturday, 3 May 2025

• St Johnstone v Ross County - Saturday, 10 May 2025

• Dundee v Ross County - Wednesday, 14 May 2025

• Ross County v Motherwell - Sunday, 18 May 2025

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Watch the pick of the action from Paisley as St Mirren beat Ross County 3-2 to claim the final top-six spot. (Available to UK users only)

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• Jonah Ayunga has assisted four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other St Mirren player.

• Ronan Hale has scored nine goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Ross County player.

• St Mirren have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 30 October 2024 against St Johnstone (nine games without a win).

• Ross County have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 14 December 2024 against Hibernian (five games without defeat).

• Ross County have lost their past four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 30 November 2024 to 21 December 2024.

Did you take in Ross County's narrow defeat by St Mirren or were you following from home?

Have your say on the match

Ross County manager Don Cowie: "Our players put everything into it. At two all, we looked like the team that was maybe going to go on and win the game.

"At that point, it's important that you don't lose the game. You take the point and move on. That's the frustrating aspect of the game. I saw an awful lot that I really enjoyed from my team.

"We know where we are and we have to get ready for five really big, important games coming up. It's so tight. It'll be a challenge but we'll be ready for it."

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Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland

Having contested the Scottish Premiership play-off final by virtue of finishing second bottom in the previous two seasons, 10th-placed Ross County are eager to just finish higher than 11th.

That is still within their gift but they are not yet assured of being above bottom place come the end of game 38.

And Hearts' presence in the bottom six will be most unwelcome for County and indeed all the sides battling to stay in the top flight.

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St Mirren have Conor McMenamin, Alex Iacovitti and Elvis Bwomono fighting their way back to fitness, while Evan Mooney (ankle) is out for the season.

Ross County lost Noah Chilvers to cruciate ligament damage ahead of last weekend's defeat by Aberdeen and continue to be without Michee Efete (knee) and Ryan Leak (Achilles).

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.