Battering from Motherwell at Fir Park sparked revival in season for Inverness Caledonian Thistle as they head to Aberdeen to take on Cove Rangers
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ZAK Delaney believes success in a demanding seven-day spell for Caley Thistle would be huge for the rest of the season.
The promising young Irish defender recognises the importance of the team’s four recent victories over likely play-off contenders Raith, Dundee, Ayr and Partick.
Those consecutive wins have been transformative in dragging Billy Dodds’ side out of a mini-slump and up into joint first place in the table.
But Delaney feels that building on the run by taking maximum points from three games in the coming week would be a massive statement from Caley Jags at this stage in the campaign.
Dodds’ men face Cove Rangers in Aberdeen tomorrow, before a Tuesday night home clash with Hamilton Accies and then Raith again the following Saturday.
“It is so tight up in and around the top of the table,” the 20-year-old from Dublin said. “We’ve had a difficult run away from home - Raith, Dundee and Ayr away and then Partick here at home.
“They were tough games, but we won them. Now we have teams more in the bottom half, but three games in a week is hard for everyone.
“It really is a big week for us. If we come out the other side of it with the points, we’ll be in a really good place.”
Delaney, who has hit the ground running with 10 starts since his summer move from West Brom, believes Caley Jags drew strength from adversity in August.
After damaging league defeats to Partick and Morton, they were 3-0 down at the break at Motherwell in the League Cup, eventually losing 4-0. Delaney helped shore up the side as a second half substitute.
“That second half against Motherwell was carried on into the next games,” he said. “We all resolved to bring that fight and that desire into every game from then on. That’s what has helped us. We took some real knocks, but we’re back on our feet.”
