Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell reckons Saturday’s Highland derby has taken on added significance with the sides sitting first and second in the Championship.
Caley Thistle replaced the Staggies at the summit with a 3-2 victory against Partick Thistle, while County were held to a stalemate at Queen of the South.
John Robertson’s players are one point clear at the top ahead of the short trip to Dingwall this
weekend.
Kettlewell said: “We know every game in this league is going to be difficult.
“The game against Queen of the South proved that once again.
“They have players such as Stephen Dobbie, Lyndon Dykes and Gary Harkins who can magic up a chance out of nothing, so keeping a clean sheet was a big positive for us.
“Inverness will be a different prospect and a different type of game. The local rivalry comes into play and the fact both teams are up the top end of the table adds a bit of spice to it.”
Kettlewell said there was no need for stern words after his side’s 0-0 draw with the Doonhamers.
He said: “We want to win every single game.
“We want the best from our players and we didn’t get that on Saturday but we weren’t screaming and bawling at them afterwards.
“They were disappointed and probably felt flat themselves. We just want to see a bit more impetus in our attack and be slightly more creative than we were at Queens.
“The players know and accept that.”
“It was a decent enough point and, hopefully, we will see that come the end of the season.”
Kettlewell, meanwhile, says he will have no hesitation in utilising Ross Draper as a central defender against his former side this weekend after the Englishman impressed in the heart of a three-man defence against Queens.
He said: “I thought he was a standout on the day. Even in the last 10 minutes, Queens put some decent deliveries into the penalty area but Ross was the one who was well positioned and mopping it up.
“For someone who has predominantly played as a midfielder I thought he did really well. We never really had any doubt he could do it.He did a good job.”
