Inverness Caledonian Thistle are a ‘different animal’ this time against Dundee
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Interim manager Neil McCann believes Inverness Caledonian Thistle will pose a completely different threat to Dundee tonight compared to the last meeting between the sides.
A return to Dens Park, where he was manager from 2017 into 2018, was McCann’s second game on the calendar after taking temporary charge at the Caledonian Stadium.
Still getting to know his new squad, the 46-year-old has since said he tried to make changes that did not work as Inverness succumbed to a 2–1 defeat in the city of discovery.
Since then, though, Caley Thistle have found form that has catapulted them back into the promotion mix as they challenge for a play-off spot.
Strong performances against Premiership outfits Ross County and St Mirren have done confidence levels no harm either, so McCann is confident there will be no repeat of February’s loss in the Highland capital tonight.
“We’re a different animal, a totally different outfit,” he insisted.
“We’re stronger and we believe in what we are doing. It has become second nature on the pitch and we’ve found something which has given us a real threat: pace, power and imagination.
“I 100 per cent believe we are a different team to the one which played at Dens.”
Tonight will see two of the form sides in the league clash with direct ramifications for the play-offs, but Inverness can take confidence from their fate being in their own hands.
It is set up to be a huge match at a very late stage of the season, but McCann is not baulking at the stakes.
Instead, he sees it as an opportunity knowing that momentum could well prove to be key when it comes down to the final Championship standings.
“I don’t mind pressure,” McCann reasoned.
“It makes you feel alive and gives you that energy that you want to face it. You want to be fighting near the top of the table and we know if we win all three games we cannot be stopped from finishing in the top four.
“I have an idea how Dundee will play and that information will be passed to the group. They have been on a good run and James McPake picked up the manager of the month award, so we’re not going to disrespect Dundee by thinking we will turn up and win.
“You don’t want to be stumbling going into games. In the play-offs teams at the bottom are at a low ebb and it is the Championship team coming up with momentum even if they have a busier schedule of games.
“We want to be in a good vein of form for these games. It’s been tough, but the mental aspect is huge and I’m looking at a group of players who are enjoying each other’s company and the matches. We are in a good place born out of hard work, and we’re right up for it.”
