Latest news with #DonCowie
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'County close to centre-half signing'
Ross County manager Don Cowie has revealed the Scottish Championship club are closing in on a 12th summer signing in the shape of another central defender. (Press & Journal), externalRead Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Press and Journal
7 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Don Cowie assesses Ross County's biggest Premier Sports Cup test - against league rivals Partick Thistle
Manager Don Cowie insists Saturday's must-win showdown with Partick Thistle will show how ready Ross County are for the Championship kick-off. Tuesday's rousing 8-0 rout over League Two visitors Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup – on the back of last weekend's 1-0 win at Championship hosts Queen of the South – means County still have a chance of reaching the last 16. The back-to-back wins followed a 1-1 draw at League Two Stranraer, which ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat at Stair Park. Thistle have won all three of their ties, so have a two-point lead ahead of the weekend's Dingwall tie. The final Group B fixture comes exactly a week before County, relegated from the Premiership in May, kick off their league campaign at Airdrieonians. For four years running, Partick have reached the promotion play-offs but have yet to clinch their place back in the top-flight, following relegation in 2017-18. In 2023, County staged the most remarkable recovery to beat Partick in the play-off final on penalties, after the Glasgow team led by three goals. Now under the sole management of Mark Wilson, Jags fans will expect their side to again be in the promotion race. Cowie reckons that will be a multi-club chase for places in the Premiership. While beating Edinburgh City in such style was pleasing, Cowie knows only the best will do against Partick. He said: 'I think pretty much every team will be a play-off or a title contender because of how competitive the league is. 'We've seen that year after year and Partick have been really consistent to finish in the play-off for the last few years. 'It will be a good test to see where we are, and we'll have to temper Tuesday tonight. 'Edinburgh are a League Two team and now we're going to be facing a Championship team, so we'll see where we really are. 'It was great to get eight goals but Saturday is what really counts now. 'Like we said after the first game in the group, we gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb. 'We knew that but we also knew that winning the next three games would give us a real chance of finishing top. 'We've won two and that was always our aim. It will be a different quality of opposition on Saturday against Partick, but we're looking forward to it.' Saturday's win in Dumfries was County's first victory since March, with a major dip in form taking them out of the top-flight via a play-off final loss against Livingston. Cowie hopes his new-look side – with 11 new faces – can get used to winning to gather momentum when the league season gets going. He said: 'We want to build momentum to start the season well, and we want our new players to have that good feeling. 'Winning is a habit and last year it became a struggle at the end because we weren't winning, so we want to get into that mode and that habit again. 'The good sign (from Tuesday) was that even though it was 3-0 at half time, we didn't take our foot off the gas. We kept going and it finished 8-0, and that's the mentality we need to create. 'It would be important for us to get out of the group and finish top, and that's what we're aiming to do.' Defender Akil Wright, who played every Premiership minute for his side last term, sat out the goal feast against Edinburgh but he should be back to face Thistle. Returning midfielder Jamie Lindsay is set for his first County appearance since helping the club win the Championship in 2019. Cowie explained: 'Akil felt a little niggle from the weekend, so we thought it was best to be a bit cautious and leave him out on Tuesday and hope that means he is available for Saturday. 'It was good to see Dylan Smith playing in his natural position, and I thought he played really well too, so that was a real positive. 'Akil will hopefully be back, and I think Jamie Lindsay has a good chance. 'He has only just re-joined us, and he's keen and eager to be involved. I thought tonight was far too soon, but Saturday is still a few days away so I think that's realistic. 'Gary Mackay-Steven is back training with the squad, but I think it will be the first league game before he's back, and Connor Randall will be back with us then as well with the protocol (after a head knock).' Cowie underlined that recruiting another centre half remains a priority in the coming week or so after the early capture of ex-Dundee United defender Declan Gallagher.
Edinburgh Reporter
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
City reeling from County's eight goal blitz
Edinburgh City travelled to Dingwall to meet Ross County, a side recently relegated from the William Hill Premiership, and it was a night Citizens fans may wish to forget. Don Cowie's men thrashed the men from Meadowbank Stadium 8-0 in the Premier Sports Cup, Group B, on Matchday four of five, three goals coming in the first-half and five in the second. This left City boss Michael McIndoe with much to ponder on the long trip back to the Capital from the Highlands. Northern Ireland international striker Ronan Hale completed his hat-trick with a penalty after 47 minutes after opening the scoring in 22 minutes. Jay Henderson added No 2 in 37 minutes and Hale was back on the scoresheet two minutes later. He claimed his third from the penalty spot two minutes into the second half with Henderson netting his second after 57 minutes. Joe Coyle scored a double after 76 and 89 minutes, his second completing the scoring, and Kieran Phillips also netted after 82 minutes. Edinburgh City bosses thanked the 12 fans who travelled to support their team in the fixture and the dominant display from the second tier club who are close to sealing their spot in the next round. Cowie was understandably pleased with the performance of his men and said: 'We had to be patient for the first goal and a real moment of quality from Ronan breaks the deadlock. 'You could see the freedom which came after that. 'I spoke at half-time when it was 3-0, could we kick on from there and be ruthless and we got the two goals right after half-time. Overall 8-0, two debuts for Academy graduates, so delighted.' On a positive note, City gave two Academy graduates their first professional appearance and, overall, Ross County had 23 shots against ten in reply, 12 on target against two from the opposition, and enjoyed 54 per cent of possession against 46 per cent Partick Thistle still top the section with nine points from three games, followed by County on seven points also from three starts. Third are Queen of the South with three points from the same number of games, Stranraer are fourth on four points from three starts and City prop up the rest with two points from four games. Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Ross County test for Edinburgh City
Edinburgh City make the long trip to Dingwall on Tuesday (19.45pm) as they continue their journey in the Premier Sports Cup. It will be a huge test against Ross County who were relegated from the William Hill Premiership last season, sensationally losing out to fired-up Livingston in the play-off final with the decisive, second-leg, in Dingwall. The Staggies obviously seek an instant return to the top league and the match at the Global Energy Stadium is another step on that road. County come into the game after busy week which has seen them travel over 1,000 miles with trips to Stranraer and then Dumfries to face Queen of the South. They can't wait to have a home game and manager Don Cowie, who once played for Hearts, said post-match at Dumfries that it was a really hard-fought victory. He praised Queen of the South for their performance but added that he noted moments of quality in the first half from his men, but the ball just did not drop for the visitors. The manager felt his men improved in the second-half and he said they then took control of the game. A 'real moment of quality', he said, put The Staggies ahead and then it was about making sure County came away with a win which improved their position in the section. He added: 'I was delighted with the clean sheet and the three points.' Cowie will look for a further three points in Group B against the Citizens. The Staggies record so far? County drew 1-1 at Stranraer in their opener and edged Queen of the South 1-0 with midfielder Jay Henderson netting after 73 minutes. Partick Thistle, who beat City 4-1 at Meadowbank in their opener, currently top the section with six points with County tucked in behind on four. Queen of the South sit in third with three points, all having played two matches. Stranraer are fourth also on three points but they have played three games, the same number as City who prop up the table with two points, but fans must have been were encouraged by a 5-3 shootout success over Stranraer at Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday after the sides were deadlocked at 0-0 at full-time. Manager Michael McIndoe will also be pleased that City had 62 per cent of possession against Stranraer against 38 per cent and he was really encouraged by the showing of his younger players, one of whom, Aidan Burgess, netted the winning penalty. FLASHBACK: Partick Thistle at Meadowbank Stadium in Match One of the Premier Sports Cup. Picture Tommy Lee Like this: Like Related
Press and Journal
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Duncan Shearer: Winning the Championship is priority, but Ross County cannot let Premier Sports Cup cash chance slip past
Ross County started their competitive season with a bit of whimper – drawing 1-1 with League Two Stranraer in their Premier Sports Cup opener before losing a penalty shoot-out. For full-timers, who will have had plenty of time on the training pitch this summer, and who have aspirations of winning the Championship and bouncing back to the top-flight at the first attempt, a false start against part-timers who finished third-bottom of the SPFL last season has to go down as a disappointment. Don Cowie has, however, brought in nine new signings during the transfer window, including some good experience, and perhaps they just needed a little bit more time. It was no surprise County's goal at Stranraer came via now-Northern Ireland international cap Ronan Hale. Staggies supporters will have taken great encouragement from Hale's interview with The Press and Journal over the weekend, where he appeared to commit his future to the club. I hope he does stay beyond the window, because I've enjoyed watching the boy. I think he's been a fantastic signing for them, and they will need his goals to fulfil their Premiership promotion ambition this season. Ross County's second Premier Sports Cup group B game is another big long trip – this time to League One Queen of the South. Cowie is building his side up for the league season, which is the priority, yes, however, they still need a result in this one. While the manager will be most concerned about getting a shape and a balance to his side at this stage in the year, obviously he wants to qualify out of that League Cup group. Of course he does. County have taken a financial hit with relegation, so they cannot treat the cup as an extension of pre-season. They need to try to progress, because, obviously, the further they progress, the more money they'll get. They're not going to get the riches Chelsea got for winning the Club World Cup on Sunday, but every penny's going to be a prisoner this year for Ross County. Another interesting interview in the P&J in recent days was David Wotherspoon opening up on why he decided to return to Caley Thistle and help them get out of League One this term. The veteran, like several Inverness players, past and present, pointed to the draw of boss Scott Kellacher's magnetic personality – but I imagine the quality of the surface at Caledonian Stadium was also a lure for as gifted a player as the long-time St Johnstone attacker is. Caley Thistle's competitive action gets under way with a Premier Sports Cup home group game against Elgin City on Tuesday, which will be the chance for a positive start in front of what should be a good crowd. But I'm convinced Wotherspoon can drive them to success in the third-tier this term. He's a fantastic player. And he'll play in that division very easily. They just need to add goals – they seem to have everything else in regards to the shape of their team. I would love to see somebody there who can get them 20-plus goals, because I think it will be difficult, given Billy Mckay's coaching commitments and advancing years, for him to be able to do it. He doesn't get in behind defences as often as he used to. But the need to bring in a goalscorer will be being balanced against the financial constraints at ICT. While Alan Savage has taken them out of administration, the last thing they will want is to go down the same road as they did before, with the club almost going to the wall. They have been creative in their business already – like taking a chance on talented Highland League player Jordan Alonge from Forres Mechanics. Alan and chief executive Charlie Christie will be very wary about pushing things too far this summer – but also conscious of doing what they can, alongside the manager, to get Caley Thistle back up the divisions again. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin will have been pleased with his side's first pre-season outing in front of the Red Army – with 2,200 making the short trip to Cove Rangers to watch the Scottish Cup winners tune up for the new campaign. Despite eight changes, and a switch of goalkeeper, the Dons recorded a clean sheet and a 2-0 win, via goals in each half from Ante Palaversa and Nicky Devlin. These games are not about results, as before you play these pre-season matches, you've basically already decided, injuries notwithstanding, when each substitution will be made. But supporters still don't like seeing their side struggle against perceived lesser opponents. However, Aberdeen came through the bounce game against League One Cove in solid enough fashion. Again this summer, Thelin has made quite a few signings – with more to come, I reckon – while a few faces have also exited Pittodrie. There will still be integration, as well as building up the extra bit of fitness across the squad, to be achieved in further friendlies before the Premiership kick-off in August. I understand there is another closed-doors friendly away from home pencilled in for the Dons this week, before a fantastic clash with Ipswich Town on Friday, July 25th, which will be a great game for everybody – most of all for older fans who remember the early 1980s European meetings between the clubs.
