Ferguson craving that winning feeling in Inverness

Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson has urged his players to leave nothing on the pitch in today’s keenlyanticipated Highland derby against Caley Thistle.

The two sides meet in a top of the table Championship encounter at Victoria Park with County a point behind league leaders Inverness.

Ferguson insists more than points are up for grabs in the first competitive derby fixture for more than a year as he looks for a result that will have Staggies supporters in boastful mood come this evening.

Ferguson said: “It’s like any game, it’s three points up for grabs, but we can’t take away the fact we are playing our local rivals.

“It definitely adds something more to the spice.

“We are not going to get any more points from winning the game but it feels like you do.

“Because you live and work here, your performance and how you go about things will get spoken about a lot longer than it would for a game down the road. You’ve just got to make sure you’ve got no regrets.

“They just need to make sure they lay it all out there and try to win. It’s exciting.” Although a number of County’s players will face Caley Jags for the first time, Ferguson believes the newcomers will take the occasion in their stride.

Ferguson, who has defenders Marcus Fraser and Keith Watson back from injury, added: “They might not have sampled the Highland derby but they will have sampled some sort of derby.

“They are all similar in how people think about it going into the game.

“We have an experienced group. I can’t see a Highland derby fazing any of our players and Caley Thistle are relatively experienced as well.

“I can’t see there being any stage fright on Saturday for either team.”

Rallying cry: Steven Ferguson