Stage set for north derby classic
McGOVERN REJECTS NOTION OF COUNTY AS FAVOURITES, WHILE FORAN LABELS INVERNESS THE UNDERDOGS
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Ross County goalkeeper Michael McGovern rejects suggestions that the Staggies are favourites to win Saturday’s Highland derby against Caley Thistle.
County’s Victoria Park is the venue for the third meeting between the teams this season, with the Staggies two points ahead of their rivals in the First Division table.
County lost for the first time in five league games against Queen of the South last weekend, but McGovern insists form will have no bearing when Inverness visit.
He said: “The biggest games so far this season have been the two against Inverness and it will be another big game on Saturday.
“When you play in a derby it is really about who wants it most on the day. Home advantage does not count too much.
“Form goes out of the window. No one looks at the league. You just want to win it for yourself, the team and for the supporters so they have the bragging rights in the local area.
“Inverness have picked up a bit, but we have quite a good record against them.
“We know what to expect from them, having played them twice.
“We will be working hard in training to prepare ourselves for the game and hopefully we can get a good result.”
The 25-year-old goalkeeper spent much of his career on the substitutes bench while at Celtic and Dundee United.
Since moving to County in the summer, he has been an ever-present, proving himself as one of the best keepers in the First Division.
McGovern added: “I am pretty happy with how I have done but the defence in front of me has been first class and has made my life really easy this year.
“Things are going well and to have the chance of playing every week was a big factor in me signing in the summer.
“I am enjoying every match and, hopefully, I can stay in the team for the rest of the season.”
Caley Thistle forward Richie Foran reckons Inverness will be the underdogs at Ross County’s Victoria Park on Saturday.
The teams meet for the Highland derby on level terms this season – County recording a 3-1 victory in the First Division at the end of August and Inverness gaining revenge with a single-goal triumph in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup in early October. Foran reckons going to Dingwall will be the most demanding away trip they have faced this season.
He said: “It was a very poor performance from us when they beat us in the league and a very good performance from Ross County. You have got to give them a lot of credit as they played really well.
“Now it is up to us to go there and play as well as they did when they came here.
“It is going to be a tough game. They are a very good side with some great individual players.
“They will be very confident going into the game. They are two points ahead of us and they will be favourites to win the game at their place.
“Our away form has been magnificent. It is the best in the league. We haven’t lost and we have a lot of wins. That is what you need to do if you are going to go on and get promoted.
“Probably the most difficult place we are going to go to is Ross County. It is going to be a big test for us and it is one we are going to relish.
“Hopefully it will be a cracker of a game and the supporters will enjoy it.
The 29-year-old has benefited from manager Terry Butcher’s change of formation, scoring a hat-trick from the left flank in an emphatic 5-1 win at Ayr United.
Foran also played a central role in the 4-1 victory against Morton and was always confident Inverness would recover after a winless league run at home which stretched to five games.
He added: “All of us were disappointed with our performances early on in the season. We lacked a little bit of confidence and it was tough as we had not won at home in a while. We knew it was going to come good.”
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