Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell expressed his frustration following his team’s 3-0 defeat to Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, describing the result as a self-inflicted setback. The loss, which secured Hibs’ progression into the semi-finals, came after a difficult first half in which Ross County conceded all three goals.

Kettlewell acknowledged that despite the scoreline, the gap between the teams was not as large as the result might suggest. He highlighted that their goalkeeper made only one save during the match, underlining missed opportunities for his side.

Reflecting on the goals conceded, Kettlewell pointed to specific mistakes that cost Ross County dearly. The opening goal came from an impressive header by Thibault Klidje after a cross that Ross County could have prevented. The second goal, a penalty, was described as a naive error, noting that defender Akil Wright rarely finds himself in such a vulnerable position. The third goal particularly disappointed the manager, as it contradicted the team’s defensive philosophy and approach to regaining possession.

Taking full responsibility for the defeat, Kettlewell was clear that neither refereeing decisions nor external factors such as conditions or the pitch bore any blame for the outcome. Instead, he emphasized the need for his team to reflect on their own errors.

Kettlewell also remarked on the momentum shift early in the game. He suggested that if Ross County had been able to recover from an early setback within the first 15 to 20 minutes, there might have been opportunities to put pressure on the higher-ranked opponents and create uncertainty among the Hibernian players and fans. However, he felt that Hibs maintained control throughout and did not allow the match to reach such a phase.

Although disappointed by the manner of the exit, Kettlewell was reluctant to praise his team simply for reaching the quarter-finals. “I always just see it as doing your job,” he said, implying that expectations remained high and that progression in cup competitions requires consistent performance.

Ross County will now turn their focus back to their league campaign as Hibernian advances in the cup to face their next opponents.