Ross County interim manager Don Cowie admits Staggies ‘unravelled’ in 5-1 defeat to Motherwell – but situation remains same in bid to avoid Premiership relegation play-off
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Ross County interim manager Don Cowie admitted his side “unravelled” at the end of their 5-1 defeat to Motherwell.
With 10 minutes left to play, the Staggies were chasing for a goal that would have levelled the scores at 2-2.
However, three goals in the closing stages meant it was the second time County have conceded five – with the first being in Derek Adams’ last game in charge back in early February.
Cowie said after the full-time whistle that there was no shame in defeat, but he was disappointed by the manner of the scoreline.
The saving grace for County is that St Johnstone also lost, 2-1 to Livingston, meaning that the standings remain unchanged in the race to avoid a relegation play-off.
That means that if the Staggies can win in Perth on Wednesday evening, they will have mathematically secured Premiership football for next season.
“We’ve gifted them two goals in the first half, and we got punished for it,” he said.
“The game was 2-1 with 10 minutes to go, and ultimately Motherwell have picked us off when we had to go for it.
“I have no issue with losing games of football, but we have to make sure it doesn’t spiral out of control like it did today.
“We huffed and puffed a little bit, but with 10 minutes to go we are still well in the game. With the way our home form has been, I expected us to go on and get the equaliser, but obviously it unravelled.
“Motherwell are a very good team with really good players in Blair Spittal and Theo Bair who can pick you off when they have space, and maybe we just lost our discipline a little bit.
“We tried to force it, and our shape got dismantled, and when that happens good teams punish you. That’s what they did.
“When you lose games of football, you have to assume the worst will happen, but St Johnstone didn’t take advantage so we’ve been fortunate.
“It sets us up for a very important game on Wednesday night. When I came into the role we were five point behind, and now if we win on Wednesday we’re safe, so we’ll take that.
“We have another massive game on Wednesday night, and we have to focus on that now. Nothing changes for us – we know that if we go to St Johnstone and win on Wednesday night, we’re safe, so it’s pretty simple what our goal has to be.”
