Ross County manager Jim McIntyre says his side’s need is just as great as Caley Thistle’s tonight despite the Staggies’ eight-point advantage over their bottom-of-the-table rivals.
Inverness look increasingly likely to be relegated to the Championship, having fallen five points adrift at the bottom of the table with only five games left.
Although County are eighth, McIntyre does not believe his players are under any less pressure than Richie Foran’s men ahead of the Victoria Park encounter, with the Staggies only three points ahead of Dundee, who occupy the relegation play-off position.
McIntyre said: “I think the pressure is on both teams to get a result – we need a result as well.
“There are not enough points in it that we’re detached from that situation. We need to pick up the points just as much as Inverness do.
“Obviously, it would be a massive three points and take us closer to trying to finish in that seventh-place spot. If it goes the other way, that heaps pressure on our next games.
“A win for us would make it difficult for them and results the following day would determine just how difficult.”
County are unbeaten in three matches and McIntyre is eager to keep the momentum going in order to steer clear of relegation danger.
McIntyre, who is without the suspended Andrew Davies and Alex Schalk and has an injury doubt over Jay McEveley, added: “If we can go and get our victories in the first couple of games that alleviates a bit of the pressure.
“We’ve had quite good momentum. We’ve lost one of the last five games and we’re looking for three points.
“We recognise it is going to be a battle, a tough game. Inverness have had a lot of good play in the last couple of games. They’ve created chances. We’ve got to make sure we do what we do well and put them under real pressure.
“The key message to our players is not to think just because we have an eight-point cushion, that’s enough. It’s not enough.
“We have to make sure we win the next game and try to keep the run going.”
