Don Cowie delighted with impact of Ross County’s homegrown stars

Ross County manager Don Cowie hailed the impact of three of the club’s homegrown teenagers during their 1-1 draw against Hibernian.

George Robesten was given his first league start for the club and received the ball from fellow academy graduate Andrew MacLeod to set up Kieran Phillips to win the late penalty County would eventually equalise from.

Dylan Smith was also thrown on in the trio’s first game back from loan spells away from the Highlands in the first half of this season, and Cowie was pleased with how all three coped with the step up.

“I believe they are ready to be a part of our group, that’s why they’re here and that’s why certain players have left the club,” he explained.

“It’s a great reflection of our academy to have three players on against one of the biggest teams in this country.

“It’s important that we get our own players coming through and they are three of a number we have high hopes for.

“They had a big impact on us getting a point from the game. They will take big belief from that. I showed belief in them to put Andrew and Dylan on, and starting George.

“We were playing against a very good team and I didn’t hesitate to put them on the pitch, and that’s because of what I see every day from them,

“It’s now up to them to keep working hard to keep progressing.”

Hibernian boss David Gray felt like Hibs would have been good value for all three points given how long they were in the lead for.

“When it’s only 1-0, you always run that risk of being pegged back, but I did feel in control,” he said.

“I would have liked us to be a bit better in possession in the second half. We did break a few times in the first half and put some good balls into the box, where second half became a bit bitty.

“To be honest, there wasn’t a real great amount of quality for both teams at times, purely because of the surface which is just the time of the year.

“Credit to everyone getting the game on, it was just one of those games. It’s never going to be a classic, but I thought we did do enough in the end.”