Don Cowie left baffled by ref's timekeeping as Ross County boss rues moment that 'changed the game' in Hibs defeat

Raging Don Cowie was left baffled by ref Lloyd Wilson’s decision not to blow for half-time before Dwight Gayle’s leveller for Hibs.

The seconds had all ticked over the allocated five minutes of additional time when the English striker glanced Junior Hoilett’s cross into the net. It was a huge turning point after County had looked comfortable after going in front through Eli Campbell’s early opener. The Hibees went on to win thanks to second-half strikes from Elie Youan and Josh Campbell.

And Cowie said: “We lost because of poor decisions at important times. We played very well, especially in the first half and had an opportunity at 1-0 to really kick on. After that, things went against us. We made poor decisions and every decision within the game went against us. There’s five minutes of stoppage time in the first half. We go over the five minutes, the ball breaks to Youan and he looks to attack. The ref brings the whistle to his mouth to call time. He’s been told it’s time in his ear.

“He’s told me that he thought about blowing his whistle – but didn’t. After that, it’s our responsibility. We shouldn’t have conceded. But I find it hard to believe why he didn’t blow for half-time then. For me, that changed a big part of the game. It gives Hibs momentum when we’d been in control of the game at that stage.”

Cowie was also adamant that James Brown was fouled in the build up to the third goal too. But he had no complaints about the two penalty awards after George Harmon and Ryan Leak were both deemed guilty of pulling jerseys.

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