Ross County midfielder Jim O’Brien knows the significance of derby matches and is desperAte not to let the Staggies supporters down against Caley Thistle tonight.
O’Brien, who had a six-and-a-half year stint in English football after leaving Motherwell in 2010, was regularly involved in Barnsley’s Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday during his four-year stint with the Tykes.
The 29-year-old’s efforts to forget about defeat in the fixture were quickly thwarted by supporters he encountered in the days that followed and O’Brien expects passions to run high at tonight’s Dingwall encounter.
O’Brien said: “The derby between Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday was always really good.
“There was always a good atmosphere, the supporters were always properly on it. Games against Sheffield United were good as well.
“It’s tough to take because you know it means a lot to people around the place.
“We lost one away to Sheffield Wednesday. It hits you hard and it takes you a few days to get out of the funk. If you’re out and about you don’t really want to see anyone or bump into anyone. There’s always a sly comment here or there.
“It’s another derby and it means a lot to people. Where this club has come from in the last 10 years, it means a lot to County, so it’s one we’re looking to get a result in. More so, because it’s a derby as well.”
Time is running out for Inverness, who are five points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership with five games left, with County three points ahead of Dundee, who occupy the relegation play-off position.
O’Brien expects a determined Caley Jags showing, which the on-loan Shrewsbury Town player says the Staggies must match and he added: “I think the pressure is on them because of the situation they’re in.
“I’ve been there myself and it’s not nice. As a dressing-room they’ll be together and they’ll be right up for the game.
“The derby thing just adds that little more to it but every game for them until the end of the season is just going to be a scrap.
“It’s just about who wants it more. Hopefully, we can just turn up and give a good account of ourselves. We have got workers here as well.
“If the workrate is there, we’ve got plenty quality within the team to get a result.”
County are unbeaten in three games, drawing 2-2 against champions Celtic in their last outing on April 16, and O’Brien feels Jim McIntyre’s men have momentum on their side.
He said: “The confidence we can take from the last game is immense. Everyone is on it in training, tails are up a little bit, and they are fighting for their lives. It should make for good viewing.
“We’re confident at the minute and getting beat is not really in our thoughts with the way we’ve played last week, and even the games before that.”
