Aaron Doran has saved some of his best Caley Thistle form for Highland derbies and the Irishman is hopeful he can bring his side more good fortune against Ross County tomorrow.
Midfielder Doran has netted five goals in 14 outings against the Staggies since joining Inverness from Blackburn Rovers in 2011, and was initially part of a team that held the upper hand against the Dingwall side.
Although County’s derby record has improved, with four wins from the last seven meetings between the sides, Doran started just one match during that sequence due to a succession of knee problems.
Now fully fit again, Doran is eager to have another big say against the Staggies in tomorrow’s Victoria Park encounter, and he said: “Of all the teams I have played against, I have scored the most goals against Ross County.
“The fixture has been pretty good to me, so hopefully I can keep them coming.
“I haven’t really played against them in a few years through injury. I missed all the games when they beat us in the season we went down. My record against them, and the team’s when I did play, was pretty good.
“That’s what I can take from those games, as I wasn’t really involved in the games when they were on top. That stays in my memory.”
There has been plenty change on both sides of the Kessock Bridge since the two sides last met in a 4-0 victory for County on April 2017, and with the clubs located just 14 miles apart, Doran says some of the derby debutants can instantly endear themselves to their new supporters.
The 27-year-old added: “You can make a name for yourself in these games.
“With the fans, if you score a few goals against them you will be loved up here and that can only hold you in good stead for the rest of the season.
“Both teams are in the same boat. They probably have a few players that won’t know what it’s all about.
“They have probably played in derbies down the road at their old clubs though.
“The players that have played know all about it – it’s good for the fans. You walk around the town on a Monday and everyone is really happy. Our fans won’t want to get defeated by Ross County though – they won’t be happy to see us around town.”
A number of Doran’s former Inverness team-mates will line up in County colours this weekend, and he added: “It will be good to see them again, but hopefully we are coming out with the result at the end of the day. We don’t want to let Iain Vigurs, Ross Draper and Billy Mckay get bragging rights over us – that’s what we want to stop.
“We know what their strengths are and what their weaknesses are, and I’m sure they will be giving insight to their manager of what we are like as well.”
