Ross County

Don Cowie was "delighted" to pick up all three points against Hibs and move into 10th spot in the league.

County fans, did you take in that late win at the Global Energy Stadium or were you following the match from home?

Either way, have your say here.

Don Cowie tells BBC Scotland: "I’m delighted to win the game. I thought we responded really well after going behind. An open game, lots of chances at either end. Just delighted to come out of it with three points.

"A lot has been made of us not being able to turn the game around in our favour, but that’s the last two home games against Rangers and now Hibs. It’s a different way to win football matches, it doesn’t always go plain sailing but it’s about reacting. The boys showed great character.

"First of all, it comes from George Harmon being in the front foot and being on the ball. We spoke about that, being on the front foot. It was then about Jordan showing that clinical nature and it was a great finish.

"It’s part of what we are trying to achieve. It’s three points, we are delighted. There are three games to go. Naturally, now we are in tenth it’s a great feeling but we need to keep building on that."

The interim manager provided an update regarding an incident involving Yan Dhanda during the match.

"I know from speaking to the fourth official, I know there was a comment made that was passed onto the referee. I hope there is nothing too sinister in it.

"He seemed fine and got on with it... He showed great character to get on with it."

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An enthralling ding-dong battle in Dingwall was settled by a sublime substitute's showing.

Jordan White twice threatened Jojo Wollacott after his introduction, before punishing the Hibs 'keeper for his late lax pass - with the help of fellow sub George Harmon, who intercepted the loose ball.

It was an impressive - though sometimes fortunate - performance from the home side, who were willing to give up space in return for lightning quick attacking scenarios that Simon Murray and Co. could embrace.

A tricky game to judge tactically as both teams seemed to embrace the chaos. But, undoubtedly, terrific viewing for the neutral fan.

Simon Murray is very unfortunate here but Jordan White's 15-minute cameo was simply incredible.

The forward wreaked havoc following his introduction and threatened Jojo Wollacott's goal twice before punishing the goalkeeper for his late mistake by firing in the game-winner.

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Don Cowie opts to make three changes following last Saturday's defeat to bottom club Livingston.

Will Nightingale returns after a three-month absence alongside Josh Reid in defence. George Harmon and Victor Loturi drop to the bench in their places.

In attack, centre-forward Eamonn Brophy comes in for midfielder Josh Sims.

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Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Baldwin, Leak, Efete, Nightingale, Reid, King, Dhanda, Brophy, Murray.

Substitutes: Wickens, Brown, Sims, Loturi, Harmon, Henderson, Khela, White, Ayina.

Hibernian: Wollacott, Cadden, Hanlon, Bushiri, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Newell, Boyle, Marcondes, Maolida, Vente.

Substitutes: Johnson, Levitt, Mayenda, Stevenson, Le Fondre, Triantis, Tavares, Campbell, Owens.

Ross County could welcome back Will Nightingale after almost three months out with a hamstring issue, while goalkeeper George Wickens is available after missing the defeat at Livingston.

Max Sheaf (muscle), Dylan Smith (ankle), Ross Callachan (knee) and Scott Allardice (knee) are still out.

Hibernian forward Elie Youan remains doubtful after missing the win at St Johnstone with an ankle injury while a late decision will be taken on Will Fish, who went off last weekend with a back issue.

Luke Amos could return following his injury lay-off but Lewis Miller (hamstring) and Jake Doyle-Hayes (ankle) are still out.

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Jack Baldwin says Ross County are fully focused on catching St Johnstone and climbing out of the relegation play-off spot.

The Dingwall club trail 10th-placed Saints by one point, with captain Baldwin hoping his side can continue their improved home form.

“It was a great result for them, fighting for their lives down there," he said.

“But I think we’ll be absolutely fine in the last four games. I think we’ll pick up results along the way.

“With all due to respect to Livi, I think we’ll be looking ahead of us rather than behind us. We want to catch St Johnstone and, with three games at home, it’s a target I think is achievable for us.”

“We believe we’ve got a good chance of getting out of the spot we’re in and catching teams above us.

“There’s been a big thing made of our home form, and with three of the last four games at home, that’s something we’ll be looking to capitalise on to make sure we’re not in the same position we were in last year."

We asked for your opinion on who should be Ross County's player of the year. Overwhelmingly, there seems to only be one man worthy.

Here is what you had to say:

Aaron: Despite the tumultuous season we've had a few standouts. Simon Murray has got to take it for adding end product to his tenacious style. Special mentions to Ryan Leak who has been a great signing, Victor Loturi who's improvement has been stellar and Yan Dhanda, who we run out of superlatives for every week. We wish him well.

Ron: Player of our season? Murray - no one else comes close.

David: Obviously it’s been a pretty poor season. Ross Laidlaw’s return to the first team has coincided with an upturn in form, but the standout candidate for POTY has to be Simon Murray with an excellent return of goals.

Craig: Can only be one man. Every time he steps on the pitch he gives everything for the team. Without him we would be relegated. Murray needs a bumper new contract, we have to tie him down.

Mike: Loturi - cruises through games. Cool headed, eye for a pass and gets the ball back very well. Goes under the radar in the same team as the equally impressive, but further forward Dhanda.

Ronny: I'd say it would have been a three-way shoot-out between Ross Allardice, Connor Randall and Murray. All 3 have been solid, reliable performers this season, but I'd go for Murray. Both Randall and Allardice have not had injuries to seek - which hasn't helped the team, but Murray has ran himself into the ground every week and 11 league goals is a decent return.

Kyle: It’s Murray without a doubt. Great goals, endless running, full of fight and passion. We’d have been dead and buried if it wasn’t for him. New three-year deal as soon as possible.

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• Ross County have only had one win in their last seven league meetings with Hibs (D3 L3), a 2-0 victory in November 2022.

• Hibs have only lost one of their last six league visits to Ross County (W2 D3), going down 1-0 in November 2021.

• Ross County are unbeaten in their last five Scottish Premiership home matches (W3 D2), their longest unbeaten run at the Global Energy Stadium since April 2022 (7 - W3 D4).

• Hibs have won just one of their last eight matches on the road in the Scottish Premiership (D5 L2), although that did come in their last such match, beating St Johnstone 3-1. Hibs could win back-to-back matches on the road for the first time this season, last doing so in March 2023.

• After notching just one goal in his first five Scottish Premiership appearances for Hibs after joining on loan in January, Myziane Maolida has since scored six in his last nine league appearances. In fact, since scoring his first goal for the club (January 27), only Lawrence Shankland and Theo Bair (both eight) have scored more league goals than Maolida (seven).

Ross County return to action after last week's 2-0 defeat to Livingston with a visit from Hibs.

Who should be in the starting line-up for Saturday's match?

Put yourself in Don Cowie's shoes and pick your XI here.

The quest for top-flight survival continues for Ross County with just four games left of the season.

But who has impressed you for the Staggies this season?

Give us your thoughts here.

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Twenty-six decisions since the start of the Premiership season have been deemed incorrect by the Scottish FA's VAR independent review panel.

The tally, based on incidents requested by the panel or submitted for consideration, is a rise of 10 since February's last meeting of the group.

Not among the incidents included was one where Hibernian claimed the Scottish FA agreed an error had been made.

The governing body later disputed that assertion, made after Hibs were not awarded a penalty after Aberdeen's Nicky Devlin handled in February's 2-2 draw.

The 10 incorrect decisions shared with Premiership clubs on Wednesday were:

Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen (6/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to Rangers' Dujon Sterling. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.

St Mirren 2-0 Dundee (7/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to St Mirren's James Bolton. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.

Ross County 1-1 St Mirren (27/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty awarded against Ross County for handball.

Hearts 1-1 Hibernian (28/2/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty decision, which led to Hearts' equaliser, should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded.

Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers (28/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty decision, which led to Kilmarnock opening the scoring, overturned - no handball offense against Rangers.

Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty decision should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded to Celtic.

Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): On-field decision correct, no penalty to Hearts. Handball should not have been awarded for spot-kick that led to opening goal.

Motherwell 0-1 Aberdeen (16/04/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty to Motherwell should have been awarded for handball.

Hibernian 1-2 St Johnstone (6/4/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty should have been awarded to Hibs for foul by St Johnstone goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.

St Mirren 1-2 Hearts (6/4/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty should have been awarded to St Mirren for a foul on Conor McMenamin by Aidan Denholm.

It now looks a straight fight between St Johnstone and Ross County for the relegation play-off place.

It’s difficult to predict, but from what I’ve seen of County, they have a bit about them. They have a goal threat, they’ve got patterns of play, and Don Cowie has done an unbelievable job to turn around what was a toxic environment when Derek Adams walked out.

There’s a bit of positivity at County – even after the weekend defeat by Livingston – but I’m not sure the same can be said for St Johnstone.

The style of football under Craig Levein is dire. It inspires no positivity and is inherently negative. It might get the odd result here and there, but do folk want to be involved in that?

It’s worrying times for St Johnstone. Their form is not great at all, I don’t see a massive goal threat, and three of their last four games are away, whereas County have three at home.

County’s only away game is at McDiarmid Park – that’s a huge one.

Michael Stewart was speaking to BBC Sport Scotland's Martin Watt

Amadou Bakayoko, the striker on loan to Dundee, and midfielder Teddy Jenks, who is with Ross County, are being retained by Forest Green Rovers next season along with former St Mirren midfielder Kyle McAllister, former Rangers youth Charlie McCann, one-time Dundee United left-back Jamie Robson and ex-Hibernian striker Christian Doidge after their relegation from League Two. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Don Cowie says his Ross County side must "take real belief" from their recent home form if they are to guarantee top-flight survival.

The Highlanders have been poor on the road this term and that was compounded on Saturday with defeat at bottom-side Livingston.

But County have not suffered a loss in Dingwall since February, winning three and drawing two of their last five - including recent victories against Hearts and Rangers.

Three of County's final four games are at home, starting with the weekend visit of Hibernian, who have won just one their three encounters with the Highland club this term.

"We're really happy with the form at home, but now it's about maintaining it," said Cowie, whose side remain a point adrift of guaranteed safety.

"We're on the back of six points out of six against Rangers and Hearts. We'll need to be really good to add to that against Hibs.

"But we believe in ourselves - and when we're at home we've got every opportunity to do that."

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Don Cowie has been speaking to the media before his Ross County side welcome Hibernian on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• Cowie reiterated his disappointment at the result and performance at Livingston on Saturday, but he says his side "won't dwell on it" and now have "full focus" on Hibs.

• The County boss says Hibs "will bring a real challenge" and have a "very good team with a lot of very good attacking players".

• He added that Hibs' performance in their win at St Johnstone showed "they still have a lot to play for".

• Cowie hopes the Dingwall crowd can continue to have a positive influence on his side, saying "they’ve been great the last two months, we’ll need that over the next three home games".

• George Wickens and Will Nightingale are available to return.

Ross County fans have experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows in their last two matches.

The Staggies received plenty of plaudits in the aftermath of their 3-2 win over Rangers two weeks ago. They looked dangerous going forward, solid defensively and outfought the Glasgow side all over the park in what was labelled as County’s best 90-minute performance since Don Cowie was appointed interim manager.

The question among County fans travelling down to West Lothian on Saturday was if their side could match those performance levels against a Livingston side 12 points adrift at the bottom of the table.

Unfortunately, the answer was no.

From the start of the match, the Staggies looked like a shadow of the side which put one of the title contenders to the sword last time out. This time, it was County who were being outfought all over the park as Livingston didn’t give them any time to settle into the match.

Since Cowie’s appointment back in February, he’s often reiterated the need to cut out lapses in concentration and individual mistakes defensively which have put the Staggies on the back foot in matches and cost them potential points away from home. The opening goal came from yet another defensive mistake.

County failed to respond after that early blow and things were only going to get worse. They huffed and puffed in the final stages of the match and tested Shamal George on a few occasions but it was too little, too late.

Livingston comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to cut the gap and send the County fans home bitterly disappointed. It emphasised how quickly football can change.

Saturday’s defeat made it 16 away league matches without a win, with seven defeats in a row. One of the few positives from Saturday is three of County’s four remaining matches this season are in Dingwall, where the Staggies have gone five matches unbeaten under Cowie.

Based on the recent performances and results, the players will believe they can pick up points against any team travelling to the Highlands, starting with Hibernian on Saturday.

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