Foran aims to turn up heat on rivals

Inverness manager Richie Foran wants to crank up the pressure on second-bottom Dundee with a Highland derby victory at Ross County tonight.

Caley Thistle are five points behind the Dark Blues with only five Premiership games left and have won just one of their last 22 league matches.

Despite his team’s poor form, Foran still has the Dens men in his sights.

Foran said: “Dundee have lost seven in a row now but our full focus is on Ross County now. We want to go there and beat them.

“If we can win this game, it takes us two points behind Dundee – and there’s a lot of pressure on their shoulders waking up on Saturday going to Motherwell.

“We’d love to be higher up the league going into this but we can get ourselves three points closer to Ross County and the rest of the clubs around them.

“For me, it’s still in our hands. I believe we can go and win the next five games.”

Foran added: “It’s one we must embrace and look forward to. The mentality is strong and they’re driven boys – they know we’re so close to getting wins.”

Foran will be without left back Carl Tremarco for the rest of the season due to a cruciate ligament injury but the Irishman can call on the experience of Kevin McNaughton and David Raven, who returns from injury.

County boss Jim McIntyre says his side’s need is just as great as Caley Thistle’s tonight.

Although County are eighth, McIntyre does not believe his players are under any less pressure, with the Staggies only three points ahead of Dundee.

McIntyre said: “We need to pick up the points just as much as Inverness do.

“A win for us would make it difficult for them and results the following day would determine just how difficult.”

Striker Alex Schalk begins the two-match ban he received for his Celtic dive. Skipper Andrew Davis is suspended, but Martin Woods returns.

Richie Foran: aims to close gap on Dundee to two points.