Don Cowie puts Ross County’s Rangers triumph to one side as Staggies prepare for crunch Premiership split fixture at Livingston
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Don Cowie insists Ross County cannot afford to rest on their laurels after beating Rangers, with five more massive matches still to come this season.
The Staggies go into this weekend’s first post-split fixture away at Livingston still sitting in the relegation play-off place, although the gap to St Johnstone is now just a single point after victory against the Glasgow giants.
That first ever win over the Ibrox outfit sent County supporters into last weekend’s free Saturday on a high.
Cowie, though, has somewhat pressed the reset button ahead of Saturday’s crucial trip to West Lothian, insisting the Rangers triumph is now in County’s past – a place they cannot afford to stay in if they want to avoid relegation.
“It was a really good team performance and we got the result we wanted,” Cowie reasoned.
“The message now though is pretty clear – that game has now gone. We did well, we got three important points, but we now have to look forward.
“We have to be mentally ready and prepared for a totally different game this week.
“Expectation levels go up because we’ve beaten Rangers and all of a sudden we’re playing a team at the bottom of the league, so as a group and as individual players they have to be prepared and ready for that.
“We take real confidence and belief from Rangers, and we now focus on a very important game against Livingston.”
It is understandable that County fans would want to bask in the glow of their win over Rangers – the first on their 25th attempt – for as long as possible.
Cowie, too, was delighted with the performance, calling it the best he has seen from the Staggies since he took over as interim manager.
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He knows, though, that a poor result at Livingston would see the euphoria of beating Rangers go to waste, and he is determined not to let that happen.
“I really enjoyed not just the manner of the victory, but the performance within it,” Cowie reflected on the Rangers match.
“I thought it was probably the best we have looked in possession. We created chances, and spent probably as much time with the ball as I have seen against the Old Firm.
“That was testament to how good the players were.
“I think it came from them feeling very comfortable and confident within the game. When that happens it can be very powerful – and I’m just delighted they got the rewards on the back of that.
“Getting the two goals after half time was huge, and that gave them real belief to go on and get the victory, but we need to build on it.
“We cannot sit on that. It’s now about getting ready for Livingston.”
