George Oakley believes Caley Thistle have put the fear factor into their Championship opponents and he aims to make Dundee United their latest victims this afternoon.
Inverness have recovered from a poor start to the campaign and have produced some resounding victories at home. In their last two league matches at Caledonian Stadium, they have netted seven goals in wins against Falkirk and Queen of the South.
Despite an away defeat by Falkirk and a Scottish Cup exit at home to Dundee earlier this week, English attacker Oakley does not believe the shine has been taken off his side’s improvement and he reckons its rivals are starting to take notice.
He said: “We’re beating teams more comfortably now, rather than scraping a 1-0 win or drawing. We’re a unit now, defensively and offensively. We’re finishing teams off and I think other sides are looking at us and saying ‘Wow – look at Inverness’. They’re scared.
“Teams are asking how we are where we are, with the way we move the ball and attack teams. It wasn’t the best of weeks but that’s behind us now and we’re saying ‘start again’ against Dundee United – get our winning momentum back and finish the season on a high.
“As a team, we’ve come on leaps and bounds this year. They are going to feel a bit threatened by how we play now. Last time we met was at their place and we beat them.
“Now they’re not going to want to come here and face a team I feel has been in form. They will be frightened of us.”
Inverness have gone from relegation candidates to play-off contenders in a matter of months, with three points separating them from fourth-placed Dunfermline, and Oakley is determined to keep the charge going.
The 22-year-old added: “If we can keep that momentum going you never know where we’re going to end up. Hopefully, it will be the play-offs.
“I’d back us against any team in those play-offs.
“People were talking about relegation for us at one point, rather than promotion, but that’s football.
“Right at the start of the season, everyone felt it was going badly.
“Now we have this momentum”
Oakley has enjoyed a prominent run in John Robertson’s side after a slow start after his summer move from AFC Wimbledon, with seven goals for the campaign making him Inverness’ joint leading scorer.
Oakley wants to continue leading the line, adding: “I wanted to grasp the opportunity to come to Inverness because football is a short career and I want to take myself out of my comfort zone and push myself.”