Inverness Caley Thistle manager wants Partick Thistle spirit away to Cove Rangers in Aberdeen
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BILLY Dodds is warning Caley Thistle to bring the same ruthless mindset with them to Aberdeen tomorrow as they showed in recent victories.
With confidence high and momentum building behind the Inverness side after four straight league wins, Jim McIntyre’s Cove Rangers lie in wait at Balmoral Stadium.
The newly-promoted hosts have so far experienced ups and downs in the Championship, but carry real threat.
Dodds trusts his players to recognise that, but is aware that seven of the 10 league points dropped so far this season have come against teams currently in the table’s lower half.
“We’ll definitely go there with confidence and belief, but not over-confidence,” Dodds said. “Cove are a good team, especially at home.
“We need the exact same frame of mind going there as we took into the four games we won or we ain’t getting three points.
“That’s the warning, but I don’t really have to relay that to the players because they are professional and determined enough to realise that’s what it takes every week.”
Cove lost heavily at Raith last weekend, but their previous home fixture brought a fine 3-1 home victory over Dundee.
“I watched it and they were brilliant,” Dodds said.
“The goals were quality from Mitch Megginson and Conor Scully and it is quite some work ethic Jim gets from his team. We can’t take that lightly, and we won’t.”
Dodds, meanwhile is delighted with the impact of Zak Delaney, who has settled superbly since his summer switch from West Brom.
The left-sided 20-year-old has played a big part in consecutive clean sheets against Ayr and Partick, with Dodds adding: “Let’s just say, he is one of the characters in the group and has fitted in pretty well. He is not a shy Irish boy, put it that way!
“Football-wise, he’s been a revelation. I love his attitude. He as this steely determination, is desperate to win and just gets wired in from start to finish. He listens and his positional sense is good.
“He’s been a real bonus to us. I left him out for one or two games, and he responded brilliantly. I don’t want to say we’ve found a gem, but so far he is doing really well.”
