Ross County

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.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

As Premiership football returned following the international break, Ross County fans were optimistic their side could make it three home victories in a row and continue their late push for a top-six place.

County faced a Dundee United side who had only won one of their previous eight matches and were looking to make amends for defeat in the Dundee derby.

Victories against United in Dingwall have been hard to come by for the Staggies, with just one win in 11.

Sunday's meeting was not one for the football purist. It was extremely cagey as both sides battled to take control, but they lacked the quality to carve out any clear chances from open play.

However, in the second half United took a strong grip of the match and looked the far more likely side to find the opening goal.

In these types of matches, it's a defensive mistake or a set-piece that can make the difference and it proved to be the latter this time as Ryan Strain's corner was met by Ross Graham, who scored the only goal.

County failed to have any shots on goal in the entire second half, whereas United had 11, including four on target, which emphasises that if either side deserved the victory, it was the visitors.

Overall, it was a really disappointing performance by County and it now looks almost certain, barring a miraculous run of results, we will be playing bottom-six football when the split comes around.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external

With two matches to go until the Scottish Premiership splits, only four points separate the teams in sixth and ninth as they fight to squeeze into the top half and potentially secure European football next season.

Dundee United's narrow win in Dingwall means they are almost certain to be in the top half regardless of their results against Hearts and St Johnstone before the split.

Data company Opta give Jim Goodwin's side a 99% chance of being in the top six given their six-point buffer and superior goal difference to St Mirren, Motherwell and Ross County.

At the other end of the spectrum, they rate County's chance as next to zero, at 0.3%, given they have a four-point gap to make up on sixth-placed Hearts with a far poorer goal difference.

Hearts are only one point above both St Mirren and Motherwell, but the Tynecastle side's superior goal difference is almost worth an extra point at this stage, and they are heavy favourites to sneak in with a 66% chance.

However, Neil Critchley's side play Motherwell away in their final match before the split, which could prove crucial given the congested nature of the table.

St Mirren are away to Dundee and home to Ross County as they attempt to overhaul Hearts, buoyed by their dominant 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday.

And Motherwell boss Michael Wimmer is hoping to bounce back from their defeat by Aberdeen when they travel to Rugby Park next weekend before that all-important match against Hearts.

"The league always feels - Celtic and Rangers are a bit different - like you could beat everyone," said John Sutton, who played as a striker for three of the sides hoping for a top-six spot in Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell.

"The split gets knocked a little bit, I really liked it as a player. You make the top six, and it's game on, trying to get European qualification.

"I think if you take Celtic and Rangers out of things to an extent, every game's a very tricky game. I expect the picture to change this weekend and I expect it to change the following weekend as well."

We asked for your views on Ross County's defeat at home to Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Ali: County players cannot be criticised for lack of effort, they all gave 110%, but we struggled to compete with United physically, and with the finer 'dark arts' side of the game. Apart from Connor Randall's closing down and ball winning, our midfield was non existent. So heads up and onwards with the main task at hand, to stay in the league.

John: Hugely disappointed in the football. A golden chance blown away by long-ball tactics against a taller defence. No thought of playing out from the back. Old school football.

Alistair: That was awful. Both teams played it like a pre-season friendly. It lacked skill, there was very little passion and it turned into a dire match on a dire surface. Not good for anyone seeing this on TV. I would've changed channels. County players beware, you are far from safe from the drop.

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• Ross County have failed to score in 13 of their 31 league games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee United have kept a clean sheet in 10 of their 31 games, only Rangers (13) and Celtic (20) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee United have scored in their last five games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of seven games from 30 October 2024 to 14 December 2024.

Watch highlights as Dundee United edge out Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Match report: Ross County 0-1 Dundee Utd

Available to UK users only

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Ross County manager Don Cowie: "Frustrated. Disappointed. We spoke before the game that this was an opportunity, at home, to get three points.

"We just didn't do enough within the game. At half time, the game was balanced and there was a fine line between who could win it.

"We fell foul of a set play, which we had a warning of five minutes prior, and we didn't take heed of that.

"Credit to Dundee United, they deserved the victory.

"We're at home and we want to play on the front foot and create chances. We had a couple in the first half but nowhere near enough.

"It was about doing the right things, making them defend, and we didn't do that. They did, that's why they're a top six team."

Dundee United all but secured a top-six finish after a scrappy 1-0 win at Ross County.

Defender Ross Graham headed in the winner from a second-half corner to earn Jim Goodwin's side their first league victory in eight matches.

Both sides traded chances in the first half with United's Luca Stephenson and County's Alex Samuel each passing up big opportunities to open the scoring.

After a tight opening 73 minutes, the visitors eventually took the lead.

Graham, who had just missed a near-identical opportunity five minutes prior, outmuscled County defender Jonathan Tomkinson to get his head on Strain's fine delivery and fire United in front.

The visitors then enjoyed a period of sustained pressure in which Louis Moult and Sam Dalby came close, but were denied a second by a combination of strong defending and goalkeeping.

Goodwin's side are now six points clear of the bottom six with two games until the league splits.

Let us know your thoughts here.