Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran has called for his side to play without fear in tonight’s crucial Betfred Cup match against Dunfermline.
Inverness will be firmly on course to qualify for the last-16 of the competition if they secure a victory at East End Park but a defeat against the newly-promoted Championship side would leave their hopes hanging by a thread.
With stakes high, Foran has called for his side to avoid getting caught up in the pressure ahead of the trip to Fife.
He said: “I am very relaxed to a certain extent. I will have a little blow-up every now and again but I want to come across as relaxed, so that the players can relax. I give them the freedom to go and express themselves, so that is how I will be acting on the sidelines.
“There will be times when they will need a kick up the backside but, overall, it is best for me to stay relaxed.
“I’m not sure about pressure. Pressure is when someone tells you you have cancer or something like that. Football is not about massive pressure and I am trying to get that across to the players. I am giving them freedom to relax them, so they can put on a performance of a lifetime in every game they play in.
“I want to get their confidence up to the highest level we can. Football is about how we are mentally. We are working on that as well, getting them into the right frame of mind in every training session and every game. We also have to be clever in games and not be caught in the counter attack.”
Caley Jags drew 1-1 against Dundee United on Saturday, before losing out on the bonus point due to their opponents’ 4-1 penalty shootout victory.
Summer signing Scott Boden netted his first goal for the Highlanders and Foran hopes it can be the first of many for the former Newport County attacker.
He added: “I want to hear that hunger from forwards. He doesn’t need me to tell him he could have scored one or two more on Saturday. He said that even before he sat on the bench after coming off.
“I have been impressed by how he holds up the ball. He is strong and can finish with both feet. His movement is probably the best aspect of his game. He gets into great areas. He is a poacher. His allround play is excellent and he will score goals for us.”
