Ross County midfielder Jonathan Franks reckons all the pressure is off the Staggies when they attempt to break their duck against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.
County have been beaten on all three occasions they have faced the Jambos this season, with Caley Thistle the only other team they have failed to register a point against.
The Dingwall side must recover from a 1-0 loss against St Johnstone last weekend, which manager Jim McIntyre described as one of his side’s poorest performances of the campaign.
The result left the sixth-placed Staggies trailing Saints, in fourth, by five points, but Franks has urged his side to play without fear in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Franks said: “There’s no pressure on us because nobody expects us to get anything at Tynecastle.
“We can go there with a bit of freedom and a plan and see what happens.
“We targeted the two home games as opportunities to get wins – but never got started on Saturday.
“There hasn’t been many games like that this season which has been a good thing. But it was disappointing nonetheless to come away with nothing.
“We’ve got to keep working hard and do what we’ve been doing all season. Hopefully we can go to Hearts and get something.”
Franks is nearing the end of his first season in Scottish football, having made the switch from English League Two side Hartlepool United last summer.
The 26-year-old has made 33 appearances, scoring twice, and having helped County to League Cup success in March, Franks is pleased with the way the move has worked out.
The Englishman added: “It’s been good, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. We’ve had a successful season and reached our goals, but the ambition now is to get as many wins as we possibly can and see how high we can finish in the table.
“The manager likes to play with two wide men, which suits me and Michael Gardyne down to the ground.
“If we keep putting in the performances, hopefully we can get some wins.”
