Scottish Premiership picks: Graeme Shinnie, Hearts v St Johnstone & Don Cowie,

Rewind a few months and there was little anxiety over Ross County’s Premiership status.

They had a clear identity, claimed some decent scalps and seemed secure enough in mid-table. As recently as early March they occupied eighth place, seven points clear of the bottom two and 10 ahead of St Johnstone at the foot of the log.

A seven-game losing run has dynamited any positivity and placed Don Cowie in the crosshairs of angry fans, some of whom have grown tired of his post-match mantra that County “can’t feel sorry for ourselves”.

The Staggies have set a new club record for consecutive top-flight defeats at the worst possible time, and with ever diminishing opportunities to haul themselves out of trouble.

They have plummeted to 11th spot, three ahead of St Johnstone and two behind Wednesday’s hosts Dundee, but with the poorest goal difference of the trio.

There are two crumbs of comfort.

Firstly, County have beaten Dundee three times already this season, and handsomely at that – an aggregate scoreline of 8-1.

And secondly, the club acquired the slightly unenviable tag of play-off specialists, having eased Raith Rovers aside last summer and stunned Partick Thistle with an incredible comeback victory on penalties a year earlier.

Cowie was involved in both those campaigns. He will back his side to beat the drop once more, but how he’d love them to make things a little easier for themselves – and for him.