Caley Thistle winger Jake Mulraney hopes to reap the rewards of a conscious effort to keep his temper under control during games.
Mulraney infuriated Inverness manager John Robertson when he was sent off during Caley Jags’s 3-1 defeat to Falkirk in January, however Robertson was quick to note the Irishman’s redemption when he struck the late winner in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over the Bairns.
The 22-year-old, who was brought to Inverness by previous manager Richie Foran from QPR in 2016, has acknowledged the issue and says he must learn to keep his emotions in check.
Mulraney said: “I sometimes have that little bit of a temper and it’s something I need to control myself.
“It’s about learning I suppose and I will do that in the end.
“Off the pitch I am fine, I’m sweet. But in football I’ve just got a stupid temper, I don’t know what it is.
“Sometimes it gets me in a lot of trouble. It did last year, and it has got me in trouble this year.
“I didn’t really get sent off growing up when I was younger, not that I can remember, but I am competitive.
“Most of the Irish boys I know are competitive – the manager last year was the prime example.
“Most of the boys I know are like that and it’s probably just something that comes from being a Dubliner and being Irish.”
Mulraney’s strike helped to keep Inverness’ slim play-off prospects alive, with eight points separating them from both Dundee United and Dunfermline, and the midfielder is eager to play his part in the run-in.
He added: “I haven’t played in the past three or four games so I was just dying to get on and just get a kick of a ball, really.
“It’s frustrating not to play – especially for three or four games straight. When you come on you’ve just got to make the most of it and make sure you’re in his mind for the next game.
“The manager makes changes all the time. The boys that haven’t played as much will get that chance, like the boys did the other week against Brechin.
“There might be some changes against Dumbarton on Saturday. We will see what happens.
“I just hope we can keep picking up the points. It’s six unbeaten in the league. That’s what we need coming into the last two games of the season.
“We knew we needed the three points before we played, it was crucial that we kept climbing and kept getting the points. We can’t afford to drop any points between now and the end of the season, really.”
