Caley Thistle manager John Robertson feels today’s Championship match against Dunfermline marks the start of a vital period for the Highlanders.
Inverness make the trip to East End Park looking to build on a fine streak of seven points from their last three games since they opened their campaign with a 4-1 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice.
With back-to-back home games against Queen of the South and Partick Thistle to follow, along with an away trip to Ayr United before Inverness next break from league action for their Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup tie against Alloa Athletic on October 12, Robertson sees an opportunity to put points on the board.
Robertson said: “We are coming into a very crucial set of games now because, if we can go down to Dunfermline and pick up a win, it sets us up for two home games where we could find ourselves finishing the first quarter very strongly.
“We are notoriously slow-starters, so it would be good if we could really concentrate on the next three games and take as many points as we can – and keep ourselves at the top end of the table.
“If you look at the last two years, we’ve been slow-starting and it has taken time to build up momentum.”
Today’s opponents are still searching for their first league victory of the campaign, however Robertson has been impressed by the recruitment of his Pars counterpart Stevie Crawford.
Robertson, who has Brad Mckay and Mitch Curry back in light training following injuries, added: “It’s a big change. They have taken a couple of senior players in, but have brought in a lot of younger players with legs and energy, intensity. They’ve raided the lower leagues and utilised their own good, young players.
“They are a bit like us — they’ve had a mixed bag. They had a very strong League Cup section and were moments away from taking Celtic to penalty kicks. They were terrific against Dundee for an hour — absolutely on fire — before a couple of decisions went against them.
“They are like us last year — away from home they seem OK, but they’re struggling at home. We have to go down there and impress our game on them.
“We have to get in about them when they have the ball and be expansive when we have it. That’s what has got us our success this season and that’s what we hope will be key to success this weekend.”
