The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Robertson: Beating Dark Blues will not be cup shock
Caley Thistle manager John Robertson claims he will not consider it a shock if Inverness defeat Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
The Highlanders make the trip to Dens Park as underdogs but with plenty of confidence following back-to-back home victories against Falkirk and Queen of the South which have taken them to within three points of the Championship promotion play-off places.
Robertson will not allow his side’s lower league status to thwart his belief Caley Jags can progress to the last 16 of the cup, however, as he believes his players are capable of defeating a Dark Blues side sitting 10th in the Premiership.
Robertson said: “It’s a free one for us as no one expects us to go to Dundee and win but I do as that’s the way I am.
“I expect us to win every game, that’s the attitude I want from my players.
“We have been preparing for Dundee this week, while they have watched us three times and I’m sure they will give us a massive amount of respect. Neil Mccann is a very clever manager and they’ve got good players.
“If we play the way we’ve been playing, and pass the ball the way we have been, we’ve got an opportunity to go there and cause an upset in other people’s minds but not in mine.”
Meanwhile former Caley Thistle striker Graham Bayne is backing his old club to cause an upset at Dens.
Bayne, who played for Caley Jags between 2004 and 2008 but also had two spells with the Dark Blues, has taken note of improvement in Mccann’s side and says they will be a stern test for the revived Highlanders.
Bayne said: “I went to see Dundee a couple of weeks ago when they beat St Johnstone 2-0 at Mcdiarmid Park and they have some fantastic players.
“They were near the bottom but have now got confidence and momentum, similar to Inverness.
“They are certainly two teams on form. I wouldn’t be surprised if Inverness came out on top but by the same token I wouldn’t be surprised if Dundee had too much for them.”