Celtic v Ross County – Don Cowie plans ‘to take in’ his first taste of Paradise

The Celtic Star

·30 November 2024

Celtic v Ross County – Don Cowie plans ‘to take in’ his first taste of Paradise

Ross County boss Don Cowie says he is going ‘to take in’ the experience on his first visit to Celtic Park as a manager this afternoon…

Ross County manager Don Cowie and Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers shake hands at the final whistle

The legendary Staggies figure has been in post in Dingwall since February following the sacking of Derek Adams.

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Ironically, the two managers in the dugout today go a long way back. Cowie was Brendan Rodgers’ first ever signing as a manager. When Rodgers was Watford head coach in 2009, Cowie put pen to paper with the Hornets for a deal worth just under £50,000 from Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

A disciple of Rodgers, Cowie will meet his former manager in the dugout for only the second time. Celtic narrowly defeated Ross County 2-1 in early October courtesy of a late winner via Nicolas Kuhn in the duo’s first meeting facing off against each other.

Following an impressive home victory last weekend against Motherwell, after 15 league matches thus far the Staggies currently sit eighth in the table on 15 points.

Of that 15 points tally, Cowie’s side have only taken three away from home. You would have to go back to 2 September 2023 [Kilmarnock 0-1 Ross County], the last time County won a Scottish Premiership encounter on the road.

Meanwhile, Celtic will be aiming to go five points clear at the foot of the table with a victory. Aberdeen dropped yet more points during the week at Easter Road in a pulsating 3-3 draw with relegation-threatened Hibernian.

Celtic have a game in hand but can pile the pressure on the Dons before their tough test at Tynecastle tomorrow afternoon.

Ross County interim manager Don Cowie looks towards Rangers manager Philippe Clement as the final whistle sounds. Clement did not shake hands with Cowie at full-time Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

Acknowledging the difficult task at hand for his players, Don Cowie insists he is looking forward to matching up against the best in the country.

“You always have that opportunity [of taking points versus Celtic], and we believe in ourselves. At the same time, we recognise that we are playing against a Champions League team who are doing extremely well,” he said as reported by Press and Journal.

“They have quality individuals who are playing at the top of their game, but we will still go there and try to get the result we want. Against the bigger teams, many factors need to go in your favour. You must be at your best, be resilient, show togetherness, and recognise there will be times when you will be challenged, and it will be difficult.”

Cowie added, “the last game [against Celtic]gives the group a reference in terms of what we’re capable of doing against the best team in the country. But this is a different game, at their stadium, on a bigger pitch with 60,000 fans, so you must take that into account.”

“We’ve not played Celtic away yet. On the day, I might take it in and recognise the scenario we’re in.”

Conor Spence

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