Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran has urged his side to man up for today’s visit of Hamilton Accies to Caledonian Stadium.
Foran called for warriors following his side’s humiliating 4-0 Highland derby defeat by Ross County at Dingwall last weekend, which left Inverness seven points adrift at the foot of the table and on the brink of relegation.
The Highlanders’ fate could be sealed by a defeat in their lunchtime kick-off against Accies, if Motherwell beat Ross County and Dundee win at Kilmarnock.
Foran wants his players to show a reaction by displaying the ugly side of their game today and he said: “Individual mistakes have been a problem for us and we’ve been getting punished.
“We’ve been creating chances but they have to be willing to be hurt, putting their head on the ball where they might get hurt. We haven’t got enough players like that. We need to be nasty and hungry. I questioned the lads this week, so I need to see a reaction.
“We need 11 men, the subs and everyone else to have the passion and the pride. We need to outwork Hamilton and not be outmuscled or outfought, which has happened too many times this season.
“It’ll be a huge boost for us if we win. There’s 12 points up for grabs. Talk is cheap – go out, man up and perform on the park.”
Foran has regularly shouldered the blame for Inverness’ struggles during his first season in management but the Irishman says it is not in his nature to try and pass the buck.
Foran, who welcomes skipper Gary Warren back from suspension but will still be without injured goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams, added: “I think it’s just me. I have a look at the last 10 years and I think footballers in general, and in society in general, we all look to blame someone else when something happens.
“I didn’t want to be one of those people, or one of those managers who looks to blame someone else.
“We’re sitting bottom of the table. I signed half the players and I pick the team, shape and tactics. I do the team talk. I’ve got to take the majority of that blame.”
