Caley Thistle midfielder Joe Chalmers says his side’s form at Caledonian Stadium holds the key to the Highlanders atoning for their poor start to the Championship campaign.
Inverness were due to host Falkirk today, however the match was postponed after the pitch failed a 1pm pitch inspection yesterday afternoon following heavy snowfall.
The game has been rearranged for Tuesday evening, with a 7.45pm kick-off, and is closely followed by another home match against Dumbarton next Saturday.
Chalmers feels the double-header marks a fine opportunity to make up ground on some of his side’s rivals in the chase for promotion, with John Robertson’s men six points adrift of the play-off positions.
Chalmers said: “Home games are massive for us now. We need to keep winning them and keep this momentum going.
“The games are huge just now because of the poor start. Although we are on a good run, we are going into every game thinking we need to win this.
“That is the way it is going to be for the next while. These two home games will go a long way towards shaping the rest of our season.”
Chalmers, a summer signing from Motherwell, says the mood in the Inverness camp has improved drastically since the early season struggles, when Caley Jags took just four points from their opening seven matches following relegation from the Premiership.
The 23-year-old is eager to turn draws into wins following last weekend’s 0-0 stalemate at Queen of the South, adding: “It is completely different. We are working hard for each other, passing the ball better and confidence is a lot higher.
“The amount of clean sheets has built the confidence. We know if we defend well, we have players going forward who can snatch a goal.
“We were disappointed not to get the three points last week but, when you take everything into consideration regarding the bus journey, it probably wasn’t the worst result.
“We need to get back to winning ways.”
Tuesday will be the fourth meeting between Caley Jags and Falkirk this season, with the sides having faced each other in both the Betfred Cup and the IRN-BRU Cup in addition to a league meeting, and Chalmers says his side will be well drilled on their opponents’ threats despite the Bairns still searching for a first win under manager Paul Hartley.
Chalmers said: “It is weird. We do the video analysis stuff and we are watching back the same clips over and over, playing the same team.
“At least we have a clear idea of what we will be up against and we start to figure players out. It has good points as well.
“I am very surprised about where they are in the league. There won’t be many who aren’t surprised given how well they’ve done in recent seasons, always finishing in the play-offs.
“It is pretty much the same team as they had last year as well, so it is surprising.
“We just have to concentrate on the players they have and not dwell on the position they are in.
“If we think it is going to be easy or take our foot off the gas, they have players who can punish us.”