Don Cowie urges Ross County to focus on themselves ahead of Hearts clash

Ross County manager Don Cowie has urged his players to focus on themselves as they prepare to face a Hearts team in a state of flux.

Liam Fox begins his second caretaker spell in charge of Hearts this season in Dingwall on Saturday after Neil Critchley was sacked in the wake of home defeat by Dundee.

Fox’s first spell also began against County, in a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle which halted an eight-game losing run for the then-bottom side in the William Hill Premiership.

The spectre of relegation hangs over both teams but County especially, who occupy the play-off place.

Cowie said in a club video: “When an interim manager comes in, you’ve always got to expect the unexpected in terms of personnel. Someone who’s maybe not been involved comes back in. That’s part of football.

“But for me, I think it’s really clear. It just makes the message that it’s about us.

“We know Hearts are a good team. They’ve got good individuals, what they’re capable of doing.

“But it’s about us taking on us, performing at a high level in a difficult game and giving ourselves a really good opportunity to get an important three points. I think it takes the doubt away and it gives us real clarity.”

The Hearts board reacted after taking one point from four Premiership games and losing against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

County are on a similarly difficult run, having lost five matches on the spin.

But victory at Dingwall on Saturday would move them two points behind Hearts and put pressure on Dundee and Kilmarnock while edging themselves away from the threat of automatic relegation.

Cowie said: “It’s the same in any sport, football especially – all it takes is one moment, one result and the confidence comes flooding back.

“But what you can’t do is you can’t wait for that moment. We have to look to change that ourselves. No-one’s going to help us.

“It’s about this group, myself, the staff and the fans coming together for an important game this week and turning the results back in our favour to give ourselves a really good possibility to get out of the position we’re in.”