I won’t stand back and take a shoeing in derby again

Anier fired up for Highland showdown after his Dens drop agony with United

HENRI ANIER knows only too well how derbies can become the stuff of nightmares when the threat of relegation is thrown into the mix.

The Caley Thistle striker sat and watched from the Dundee United bench last May as city rivals Dundee condemned the Tangerines to Championship football.

Edward Ofere had fired United into a 54th-minute lead at Dens Park only to see Kosta Gadzhalov’s equalising header push the Tannadice club to the brink of disaster. Craig Wighton’s stoppage-time winner only confirmed the inevitable.

Estonia ace Anier insists Caley’s dressing room in no way resembles the demoralised environment he witnessed at United last term. The 34-times capped hitman, who has also played for Hibs and Motherwell, said: “We have such a positive attitude here and we don’t think about pressure. “I don’t know what it is like with other teams in our part of the table but people put pressure on themselves. “We’re focused on only one thing and that’s getting three points against County. “We’re bottom of the table but it doesn’t feel like it in terms of the mood and spirit at the club. That’s such a good thing to experience.

“We know where we are and it has been hard work but we just need to keep our motivation high as there’s plenty of games to go for us to climb up the table.

“I experienced relegation with Dundee United last year and it wasn’t pleasant but it’s not easy to compare the two clubs. The points level and the situation in the table was different.

“This doesn’t feel like a team in that kind of difficulty. I’m enjoying my time here. Everyone is positive and working hard around the club, from the fans and staff to the players and the only focus is on getting the three points.”

Understandably the memories of Dens Park last spring are not ones Anier is keen to revisit but he said: “I was involved in that Dundee derby and derbies are always massive games, for the supporters as well as for the players.

“There’s a bit extra about the matches. If you get a win it’s a massive bonus but we’re taking it one game at a time.”

Anier, signed at the end of January by boss Richie Foran, arrived too late to play any part in his new club’s two derby defeats this season.

But he is happy to dig up a different recollection from last term, having made a huge contribution for United against the Staggies in a 3-2 Scottish Cup victory in Dingwall just over a year ago.

The 26-year-old said: “I remember the game well from last season – I scored two goals against Ross County. Hopefully I can play my part in another victory. We want to keep a clean sheet and score a few goals to get the win.

“We have been working all week on this game to do the things we need to in order climb the table. “It’s massive and everyone is looking forward to it.

“At the moment both teams are near the bottom so it’s important.

“But we haven’t focused on other teams at all – we just focus on ourselves – and the players see that, for us, the only way is up.

“We’ve been working hard and we know need to be 100 per cent to get a result.

“We’re taking it game by game but a derby game always has a bit of spice.

“We’ll get this one out of the way then focus on the next match.”

HENRI ANIER