'Why can’t it be us this year?': Don Cowie issues cup challenge to Ross County

Don Cowie has challenged Ross County to believe they can get back to Hampden for the first time in more than eight years.

The Staggies have not played at the national stadium since beating Hibernian in the League Cup final in March 2016.

But Cowie senses an opportunity to get to the latter stages of this season’s Premier Sports Cup as his top-flight side prepare for a last-16 clash with League Two Spartans at Ainslie Park on Saturday.

“I want to get to Hampden, I want to get to the latter stages of the cup because once you get to the last four, it’s anyone’s,” said the County boss.

“We’ll respect the opponent this Saturday in Spartans and we’ll plan for what they will do in the game, but we’re a Premiership club going to a League Two team so we have to be confident and believe that we can get into the next round of the cup.

“Other teams who you would say are on par with us in terms of size of football club have got to Hampden in the last number of years.

“It doesn’t have to be the same teams that get there, and I think that’s been proven. Why can’t it be us this year? That’s been the message from the beginning of the tournament.”

County are unbeaten in their six competitive matches this season after winning each of their four Premier Sports Cup group-stage fixtures and then drawing both of their William Hill Premiership games so far.

However, Cowie acknowledged that Spartans have also made an encouraging start to their campaign.

“They’ve started the season really well,” he said. “They got out of a League Cup group with two Championship teams in it. We were delighted to get through ourselves so they should be as well, it was a good achievement.

“They’ve taken four points from their first two league games and they’re at home, so they’ll be feeling really confident. It’s going to be a tough game but we’ll be ready for that.”

County are still without Max Sheaf and Ricki Lamie through injury.