Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran claims Inverness are not feeling the pressure despite sitting bottom of the Premiership.
They are on a poor run of nine games without a victory ahead of today’s Highland derby against Ross County at Victoria Park.
The Dingwall encounter is Caley Jags’ final game before next month’s winter break but Foran reckons a victory against their rivals would go a long way towards resurrecting Inverness’ campaign.
He said: “I expect a battle, a fight, a tough game. It’s just the norm. It’ll be a fantastic atmosphere as always. It’ll come down to who can take their chances.
“We’re sitting bottom and deserve to be but we’re playing quite well. We’re the better team and dominating most games but we’re losing them. I’ll take a poor performance and a 1-0 win.
“It’s too early to talk about pressure. If we win this game, we can jump two or three places and are a point behind them heading into the break. It’s one we want to win badly. I still believe we’ll finish in the top six but we need to turn these performances in front of goal.
“We can talk about luck but we have to go and make it. There are no excuses now – it’s down to us all to get results and I believe we will.”
Foran has been pleased with recent performances despite not having the results to match.
He added: “I’m a broken record. I’d be really concerned, I’d be beating myself up if the performance, attitude and workrate were not there. Do you go hammer a player for missing the target? No, he wants to score that goal.
“I don’t care if it’s a screamer, tap-in or own goal. We need that first goal. It could change the outlook of our season. Both teams looked nervy and waiting for someone to do something.
“We’re being positive, we’re creating chances and we’re not getting cut open any more.”
Caley Jags defender Lewis Horner, meanwhile, has received a boost after learning he will not require an operation on a knee ligament injury, with the Englishman expected to return in up to eight weeks
.