Ross County interim manager Don Cowie expects St Johnstone to come out with all guns blazing in Premiership relegation play-off head-to-head in Perth
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Don Cowie believes Ross County will have to be prepared for an early onslaught from St Johnstone on Wednesday evening.
The two teams will meet in a match that could decide which club will have to contest a play-off to preserve their place in the Scottish Premiership for next season.
County have the upper hand going into the clash, sitting two points ahead of the Perth Saints, meaning they can secure safety with a win midweek.
Conversely, though, St Johnstone will be doing everything they can to leapfrog the Staggies in the standings – and Cowie says his players must be ready for a fast start from their hosts.
“We are going to have to be prepared,” County’s interim manager explained.
“I have watched their game from Saturday against Livingston. They came out of the traps flying, and were probably a bit unlucky not to be more than one goal up.
“They set their stall out pretty early as to what their mindset is. They want to attack, and I don’t think that will be any different on Wednesday night.
“You look at the personnel they are playing with – there were a lot of attacking players on Saturday. Craig (Levein) has openly said it was probably their best performance since he has been there.
“I expect very much the same again from them. We are going to have to deal with that, and then it’s about our quality going the other way.
“I always believe we have quality in our team that can hurt opposition. It’s about making sure we can be concentrated, defend well, and the players at the top end of the pitch can make the difference for us.
“We have shown time and time again over the last few weeks that, when we get that right, we create chances. It’s then about being clinical.”
Being a shoot-out between the two teams still in danger of dropping into the play-offs, it is likely to be both clubs’ biggest game of the season.
Each side is also coming off the back of disappointing defeats, but Cowie is confident in his squad’s ability to put that behind them and rise to the biggest of occasions on Wednesday evening.
“It’s going to be a challenge to go there and win, but I firmly believe in this group,” Cowie stressed.
“They are a group that have responded really well at difficult times this season. Time and time again, even when we have had good results and not backed it up, they have then come again with another good result.
“You’ve got to draw upon that. I have said before that not everything goes plain-sailing, you have got to be able to adapt and show character.
“Even on Saturday, despite starting poorly and going behind, we got the goal to get back into the game. We were on the front foot, looking to go ahead.
“They have shown they have got that in their character, that they respond really well. It might be that we have to do that again on Wednesday, but I have got no worries in terms of their mindset.
“We have proven in the last six to eight weeks that when we get it right, we are a match for anyone in the league. We are going to have to play very well, but we’ve got a lot of belief we can go there and win the game.
“I don’t think you’ll be able to doubt either of the teams’ desire to go and win the game on Wednesday. It’s a big game for both clubs.
“It’s then about having that cool head in a pressurised situation, and being able to embrace the situation you are in. When everything is maybe a bit hectic and quick around you, have you got that composure to stamp your authority on the game?
“We have earned the right to put ourselves in this position where it’s in our own hands. Now it’s about going and completing the job. It’s easy saying it, we have got to go and act upon it.
