INTERVIEW | Ian Murray Post-Ross County | 23/05/24

and tell us how you saw the draw, yes, as expected, a really very difficult game, we had no illusions, it was going to be anything but that, I thought Ross County came flying into the traps, the first 25 30 minutes We fight to achieve it. getting closer to them um in terms of the physical terms of the tempo at which they played the ball as well um so I was really happy to be level at half time um in my head I was going, you know, a quarter of the tie is over No. , not even half of this game and in fact I felt in the second half great parts with a better team, but we can see two really bad goals, obviously, the V penalty and then a corner kick from a set piece, but no you can lose your man because they are a very physical team and then for 10 minutes after they scored the second, um, um, they passed the ball very well, they were confident, we looked a little tired, at that point you sent him off too, but in the middle, eh, you.

I know right before they scored H and certainly when we scored I thought we were the better team and we finally found our belief and we found our composure we passed the ball well we got higher up the park uh the substitutes gave us tremendous energy um So We got the goal, which I'm happy for everyone because it gives us confidence to get there, but that was the most important thing: making sure that on Sunday we get there and are in a position where we still believe in ourselves. and we and we give the fans the opportunity to really enjoy a day and as long as we go there and give everything you know in terms of attacking sense or the taste and appetite for the game, then No complaints for me, the only question I feel like I could have written before I left the house today was a VAR question, tell us about it, yeah, again, it was the first half, there were no real incidents, um, it's a really difficult question for me because I know I know. the VAR rules I think it's tough for us in terms of being in the game if I'm honest we've played the whole season without it and suddenly we have to go and deal with it, is it because we?

You're probably playing against a Premier League team and everything in this country is geared towards the Premier League, no matter what they want to say or dress up, and this needs to stop very quickly because they're going to kill the game. um selfish completely not selfish and I get it I get it because the Premier League is sacred but for all the Premier League clubs probably apart from the old signing be careful because one day it could be you yeah the arm scene has been in the position. I'm not really sure how you and Muray fall the other way, but when you say letter of the law, the referee gets it right, yes, letter of the law, yes, absolutely, and I think you can say that the

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players From Ross they appeal they know the rules of Until now they know that they were going to receive a penalty and when I saw it I knew that the referee was going to give it.

I don't think the referee can do anything other than give it. By the rules, but frustration and disappointment for us. Second goal. just poor defending um from us Kevin makes a wonderful save um but yeah even our goal you know we're celebrating and all of a sudden we're told like a v um a perfectly good goal but that dampens the celebrations it dampens the mood um so I can look now why, you know, I heard a coach say last week in England that he no longer celebrates goals because he doesn't know if they are going to give them to him, let's go back to what happens with the boys when I have the ball at my feet and you said how Ross County Comm pulled out the traps.

I realized that perhaps the first 25 minutes seemed to be a learning experience for ourselves, as we certainly weren't on the ropes. but we had to adapt to a completely different physicality, yes we did it with a great physical team with decent players, although it's not just about that, but they make good decisions. I think the pace at which they played was also really high. and we had problems, um, but the physical aspect was a big problem for us and in the first half hour we know that I told the players at halftime, believe in yourself, now you know that you are, that you are null, that you don't. we have done.

I really kicked the ball still at times in the game and we had bursts in the first half, but nothing I would really say we did, you know what we've done all season and then in the second half, I thought we did it, I thought we started. very well and we almost took the lead with Aiden Cley and then they went up the other end and got the penalty and that's so quick it changes, but after they scored their second goal and we scored, I thought we were. really good, I thought we had a chance to equalise.

I thought we would go and get another goal that would make this place go through the roof, that's for sure, but we go there now with the belief that we really did it. We have nothing to lose, we are going to a position on Sunday where we know we need to win. The draw is not good for us now, but it all comes down to one game. I think that was our 50th game tonight of the season, so now we go and we know what we have to do in terms of all of our hard work and training and the last minute winners and winning games comes down to Sunday afternoon. .

Positive changes came into play tonight, yeah yeah, I felt like we were a little bit tired and I understand that, understandably, so the guys have been through the mill the last 10 or 14 days, I don't want to talk about the whole season but only from the last period. And I felt that our substitutes gave us very good energy. They were hungry and we looked towards At the end of the game we had more in the tank than Ross County, but we know that Sunday is going to be very, very difficult, we understand the magnitude of the task at hand at Ross County, we I have demonstrated. you know their professionalism in the first highe um tonight and you know they will be disappointed it's 21 they will be a bit like me against the fist split in the filling we have been in that end of the game changed in the blink of an eye when it probably didn't deserve that would change but that's how it was and then they came here and hit us so we'll get there we'll give it absolutely everything we're not going to leave anything in the tank uh Sunday afternoon completely different Dynamics on the road too you know we've got a decent track record on the road , we have great travel support.

I suppose the football world would recognize that and travel supports tend to be a bit more vocal and a bit more energetic too. um it's a case of um I think three hits maybe oversimplifies it but nothing to lose nothing to lose now um I said before the game um we the team are trying to move up. Ross County have everything to lose um but they also have everything to gain because they can stay in the league and like I said it's sacred for these types of clubs and they've done fantastically well over the years to be in the Premier League.

We would love to get there and join them. um we will be we can't be there unfortunately right now um but yeah we go we go and we enjoy it we give it. The fans have been tremendous and you know, behind us all season, we're taking Mass, we're taking 2,400 up. there on Sunday they are going to support us they would have supported us if we were not down 5 I have no doubt because that is what they do um but we have given ourselves an opportunity that we have given to the fans I think we have given the fans the opportunity to go and enjoy a really good day at football on Sunday and you know we want to make it even better by going down that path.

You know it's going to be a big comeback trip is part of their job over the next few days to bring some realism that there's really only one goal separating these teams and we just need to look at last year's playoff final. Ross County were the beneficiary of a very, very late turnaround absolutely. I think, you know, I said that to the players after the game, we're one game away, but suddenly we went from a regular 36 games away to four games away. away, now we're one away, we're still one away. Far away, no matter what people want to see, we are the underdogs, yes we are, of course, that's an even harder task than it was before tonight, yes, it probably is, but we're still there, We're still holding on, there's a skill hanging on. going in and holding on, we have shown that throughout the season, with many late goals and many goals, you win if you can hold on and hold on long enough you get your rewards.

I still believe in the players. I believe in the players. 100% um I think they showed that tonight again the support of the fans will be crucial. We know we can, we can really outplay them on Sunday and give our guys massive faith and if we get that first goal, we'll never make it. I know everything is going well, maybe I'll catch up with you before TI Sunday, but I'm going to ask you a little bit about it in case you know the calendar and stuff, don't catch up, first of all, what's your message to those? The Rover fans, you know, around 5,700 of them are heading home tonight, let's say we head to them first, what would you say to them?

Yes, first of all, incredible support tonight, but it goes beyond that, it extends to the entire season, we have our numbers through the roof. Um, you won't. I said it in the play of the year. You will not find a club that has had a notable change in the last 12 months and that is hard work for everyone, I mean the fans too because it is difficult to go to football every week and spend money, spend time, have disappointments and deal with the heights, it gives you a sense of pride because, when you are involved in something and when you can see something evolving, that is the most enjoyable aspect. and there's a lot of different micro bits in terms of the community that comes into play now, young kids are through the roof.

Look, I look around and there are so many young faces, which is the most important thing for us older kids. Our times may be coming H where the young team needs to take control and they are incredible, they were incredible on Friday night, but we want to keep them here and I think we will with the incentives that we are providing as football. The club and the players are delivering on the pitch, you don't really get one without the other, so the club is coming together very, very well because it was a club that needed a bit of TLC and a bit of repair, but it wasn't fixable uh as we saw it um and the message is you know C you fall short on Sunday we will come back bigger and better um sometimes you don't get what you deserve quickly or instantly, it takes a little time.

Experience is something you can't really buy, but we'll go out on Sunday and give it our all for them. A lot of us would obviously prefer the playoff final to be like it's down south, it's one game, the roof is coming off. the place where both fan groups and players absolutely do it effectively, that's what it comes down to now, don't you know? The difference is that I'm going to get on my horse again here, but you know we are. everything prepared For the top league um completely strange situation, we know that before starting the season it has been like this for several years, but yeah, look, it would be too easy if we were, you know, two champion teams competing. against each other in a one-off match to get to the Premier League because we want to take care of the Premier League teams, tell me something there for the fans, um, who can press play right before they leave.

I mean, certainly R TV is on at 6:15 on Sunday morning, thank you Ross County fans because they've had an equally difficult trip down and it's going to be just as awkward coming back in the rain, call us why serve the boys and girls who make their way up, yes again, fair play to Ross County supporters because the kick off times are really bad, that's the nature of television, unfortunately because you probably couldn't pick them two worst start times, but look, like I said, the fans have been absolutely tremendous. for us throughout the season you know that the players have stolen the hearts, they have stolen the hearts of the players, it is that simple, it is a unique opportunity that does not come very often in football, where a great group of people get together for a common cause if you don't arrive you don't arrive but you give everything I think the players will give everything this season I think the fans have given everything this season we only ask of all of us together one more time one last great time push let's move forward together thank you