2 weeks Ago By Kenny MacDonald
BOTTOM-SIX bosses Don Cowie and Derek McInnes were last night embroiled in a bitter pitch battle over their playing surfaces. Ross County gaffer Cowie ignited the row by slamming Kilmarnock 's plastic pitch ahead of tomorrow's post-split opener at Rugby Park . 3 Don Cowie isn't happy about the Rugby Park pitch Credit: Andrew Barr 3 Derek McInnes Credit: Kenny Ramsay Killie manager McInnes hit back by claiming the Staggies' grass surface was "awful" last month when his side played in the Highlands.
The off-field feud has raised the stakes ahead of a relegation six-pointer which will be crucial for both teams. Cowie said: "We play at the elite level of football in our country and I don't think it's something that happens too often in other countries, plastic pitches in the top league. "It's such a change from what we are used to weekly.
It's so different for the players. Players like the same, like what they're used to. Read More Football Stories WELL WANTED Euro club with link to Premier League giants eye fresh bid for Lennon Miller FIRM OFFER Football free bets for Rangers and Celtic games PLUS bonuses and sign-up offers " Kilmarnock 's home record in the last few years has shown how much of an advantage it can be for them in terms of getting results.
It was allowed, so you just deal with it. "We have gone to Livingston and Hamilton as well in years gone by. "You need to recognise that's where we are in the Scottish game.
"But if that change is going to happen in the foreseeable future , I think it's the right thing to do." Most read in Football WELL WANTED Euro club with link to Premier League giants eye fresh bid for Lennon Miller ALL YOURS Welcome to your biggest ever summer Kevin Thelwell, nothing prepares you for Gers ON THE MOVE Rangers 'likely to lose' young star to Premier League giants MURPHY'S LAW Ex-Gers ace reveals reason he WON'T get Ibrox season ticket when he retires County won on the Ayrshire plastic in January and have beaten Killie three times so far this season. They are locked on 35 points - one above Dundee , who sit in the relegation play-off place.
Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes scores HAT-TRICK past his own goalkeeper But Cowie is wary of the longest journey in the Premiership and the surface that awaits them. He said: "When you train on grass 95 per cent of the year going into every other game and then you flip and go on to an artificial surface, your body can be wondering what's going on. "You might feel a little bit uncomfortable, but you've just got to try to push that away and deal with it.
"Some people with historical injuries accept playing on that kind of surface isn't possible. "I know people who, through choice, won't even step on to an artificial surface because of what's happened to them in the past. But I believe we've got a group that is comfortable playing on it.
"We have an outdoor astroturf we can train on and in the winter we have an indoor one. "So it's definitely not an excuse for us when we come up against these games." But McInnes (below) hit back: "Our pitch gets brought into question so many times.
It's normally when a team loses that it gets brought up. 3 The artificial surface at Rugby Park has caused controversy Credit: The Sun "I'm always asked about it and it's not perfect, as we know. But a lot of teams' pitches aren't perfect either ? including, for a long spell, Ross County's.
"We went up and played Ross County a few weeks ago and their pitch was awful. Sometimes that's just the Scottish climate and it's difficult for clubs to maintain a good level. "Being at home, there's always an advantage.
"We have watched back all three games against them and we feel that we've been all right in all the games . Read more on the Scottish Sun HOLIDAY'S OVER UK travel company forced to close with ALL future holidays cancelled AIR WE GO Shoppers run to Home Bargains as viral garden light returns with 'cute' twist "We've had really good chances to get ourselves in front in all three games and just not taken them. "In the game up there recently, I thought we were good, despite the difficult conditions and a tough pitch.
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