It was another tough afternoon for Ross County as they faced Hearts at Tynecastle Park on March 15, 2025. The visitors, traveling from Dingwall with around 350 dedicated fans, returned home disappointed after witnessing their team suffer a 2-0 defeat. Lacking the aggressive desire to win, Ross County now finds itself precariously placed near the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
The match began with excitement from the County supporters, but as the first half unfolded, it was clear the team was struggling to keep up with Hearts. Despite having substantial possession at certain moments, County’s performance lacked urgency and creativity. Fans like Jim expressed their discontent, stating, "We lacked a desire to go for it, as often Don Cowie starts with a negative structure. His mantra continues to be 'stay in the game.'" The implication was clear: such cautious tactics may not be enough to secure their safety in the league.
Hearts, on the other hand, began slowly but managed to find their rhythm, eventually capitalizing on their chances. The first goal came from Elton Kabangu, who broke the deadlock early on, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. Neil Critchley, the Hearts manager, praised the teamwork behind the goal, saying, "It was a really good team goal. We were asking him just to play slightly wider and hang outside the outside centre-back. And he did..." This indication of strategic planning played out well as Hearts gradually took control of the game.
Throughout the afternoon, Ross County struggled to mount a serious response. Their best chance came when Blair Spittal fired over the bar from distance, but for the most part, they had difficulty finding clear opportunities. David, another County fan, voiced his frustration with the team's effort, expressing, "Very poor performance from County. Craig Gordon had a nice easy afternoon."
The sentiment was echoed across the stands, with many fans questioning both team selection and substitutions executed by Cowie. The lack of effective game changers off the bench frustrated supporters eager to see their team claim much-needed points.
Defensively, Hearts found solidity they had previously lacked, achieving their first clean sheet since January 2, 2025. The defense was largely aided by the contributions of player Steinwender, who excelled during the contest, winning 100 percent of his ground duels and making multiple key clearances. Critchley noted Steinwender's importance, stating the game had become "routine, in the end," which indicated both satisfaction with the outcome and acknowledgment of the need for improvement.
Moving to the second half, the game opened up. Ross County attempted to shift their tactics by bringing on strikers to adopt more of a 3-4-3 formation. Despite these changes, they failed to create significant threats up front. Critchley made effective counter-substitutions, bringing on Jorge Grant, who later scored for Hearts to seal the victory late, thereby confirming the win for his team.
By the match's conclusion, Ross County was left sitting four points away from the top half of the table, highlighting their pressing need to focus on survival as the season progresses. Cowie now faces increasing scrutiny as the fans hope for change to combat the lack of performance against their opponents.
The players and coaching staff will need to regroup quickly as the pressure mounts. The stakes are undeniably high for Ross County; with each passing match, avoiding relegation becomes more challenging. The upcoming weeks will require confidence and determination from the squad and effective strategy adjustments from Cowie to revive their season.
