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Press and Journal
24-07-2025
- 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
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ross County v Edinburgh City
Update: Date: 6' Title: Post Content: Attempt blocked. Robbie Mahon (Edinburgh City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Update: Date: 2' Title: Post Content: Attempt missed. Nicky Clark (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Update: Date: 1' Title: Kick Off Content: First Half begins. Update: Date: 1' Title: Post Content: Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Edinburgh Reporter
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Belgian defensive midfielder Allan Delferrière leaves Hibs by mutual consent
Belgian defensive midfielder Allan Delferrière has left Hibs by mutual consent. The 23-year-old has agreed a deal with the Club and departs with the best wishes of everyone at the Club. He joined Hibs in February 2022 and made nine appearances in all competitions. Delferrière also spent time on loan at Edinburgh City, MFK Vystok and Racing FC Union Luxembourg. Hibs head coach David Gray said: 'Allan needs to be playing at this key point in his career and we are not able to give him that opportunity here. 'He's a good person who always worked hard and had a smile on his face, so I would like to thank him for all his efforts. We wish him all the very best for the future.' Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
McIndoe: developing teenage talent is key
Michael McIndoe, Edinburgh City's manager, praised his men for their first-half performance in the nerve-jangling, Group B, 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Stranraer and also stressed the importance of developing young talent. The 45-year-old told Citizens TV that it was important to get a win thanks to a game-winning penalty from Aidan Burgess after back-to-back defeats by Partick Thistle and Queen of the South. Overall, McIndoe's men enjoyed 62 per cent of the possession in the game at Meadowbank. The straight-talking manager added: 'Much more important than that, was having seven 18-year-olds on the bench, a 16-year-old starting and an 17-year-old starting.' They will be monitored in training and in match environments and they will assessed them week by week. The ex-Coventry City and Bristol City winger, who also dressed for Wolverhampton Wanderers, added: 'The youth programme is developing well. 'It is an exciting time for the youth guys. We are averaging 21.5 (years) in the squad. That is fantastic, long may it continue. They are going to get more opportunity than any other club, ion my opinion, in the SPFL to play. That is what we are here for. 'It is part of the passion to develop young players and I will through them in at the deep end to see how they get on.' There were ten Academy players in the squad for the game and Edinburgh-born McIndoe added: 'Getting back to the first half, we moved the ball really well, dominated possession, created three or four really good half chances, but overall really pleasing.' Like this: Like Related
