Ross County midfielder Jim O’Brien insists his side will not lack belief they can spring a surprise when they face Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.
County take on a Gers side that is high on confidence following back-to-back wins over Aberdeen, and appear to be closing in on the appointment of Dons boss Derek McInnes as their new manager.
Rangers have won just three of their eight home league games this season however, and the success of other teams in Govan this term gives O’Brien hope the Staggies can inflict an upset of their own this weekend.
O’Brien said: “I think you feel like an underdog when you see the crowd and stuff like that.
“We know it is a big club and obviously bigger than our club, but we have seen teams go there, especially this season, and get results so we know we can go and get something.
“The Hearts game recently maybe showed that as we didn’t play particularly well, but we defended really well and got a 0-0 draw. Hearts had a lot of the ball, but if you go with that mindset then you have got that as a foundation in your game and then why not? We have talented players here and we can go and get something.
“As players we want to play in these games, with big crowds, nobody expecting us to win or give us any chance so these are the games where we like to maybe surprise people.”
O’Brien is back in contention for this weekend’s match after recovering from a hamstring strain, although he was suspended for last weekend’s 2-0 defeat against Dundee regardless, and the 30-year-old added: “It happened early on in the season at Motherwell away and then I got back for the Rangers game the following week, but it just wasn’t right.
“The suspension came at the right time given I also had a niggling injury like that, but I will be glad to be back and hopefully I will be fresh enough.”
O’Brien is enjoying life under manager Owen Coyle and hopes to show that Saturday’s defeat against the Dark Blues was an off-day, adding: “From Saturday’s point of view it is out of character from us and we cannot quite put our finger on what it was. But there is a feel good factor and he is very relaxed and very approachable.
“He likes us to come in and enjoy ourselves and have a laugh, and then on the park it is work time.
“As players we want to be coming into work relaxed and enjoying it, but we know where the line is as well.”
