LISTEN: Adams antics used to rouse ICT boss against Ross County
Richie Foran believes his side have been "out-muscled" in the two previous meetings with Ross County, as the Staggies look for a hat-trick of victories.
Last updated 16th Mar 2017
Approaching the final five matches before the league split, both halves of the Highland Derby go looking for much-needed points, with Ross County claiming 3-2 successes over Caley Thistle in both previous encounters.
In August, Liam Boyce netted three in Inverness, in a match also notable from ICT's point-of-view with Kevin McNaughton's long-term injury. Then in December it was back in Dingwall where County also won, thanks to a Boyce brace and a goal from Martin Woods.
Richie Foran will be looking for something to propel his Caley Thistle side out of bottom two, as even second-bottom mightn’t provide salvation in this season’s play-offs.
But Foran feels his side haven't been up for the derby occasion in the past, "I think we need to be more up for the fight, more passionate - we need to be fair, but a wee bit nasty at times - I think the last couple of games we've been out-muscled and that needs to change"
The ICT boss says his side have to be right in the faces of their opponents this Saturday:
County could see Inverness just a point behind - if ICT win – but Jim McIntyre still harbours hopes of seeing the Staggies in the top six once again.
The County boss says, "Last weekend's Old Firm derby goes to show that form goes out the window and it's purely about securing the bragging rights over your rivals for the punters"
"Nothing changes when it comes to derbies, and in particular - when it comes to this stage of the season as well - it's a very important game. This is a stage in the season when all that matters is getting results and we just haven't done enough of that"
Foran’s ICT received a boost last weekend - a battling 1-1 draw at Partick with Gary Warren’s late-late header - while it was another setback for Ross County as they lost 2-1 at home to Killie, despite promising spells in the game.
One plus was Liam Boyce netting his first league goal of 2017. Manager McIntyre said: "Boyce's always a goal-threat and it's great to see him back on the scoresheet, Liam's got that clever football-brain, he plays off the front, plays off the side, he always gets himself into goalscoring positions wherever you play him and that's a fantastic asset to have"
It’s fair to say in 2017 neither club’s been on-form – but surprisingly since New Year, Inverness have collected seven points to County’s four.