The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Baird shows selfish streak
Forward hungry for more goals after focusing on being team player
Caley Thistle’s John Baird ended a long wait to rediscover the goalscoring feeling in his last home outing and the experienced striker is eager for more.
Baird went 10 matches without scoring after he netted his first league strike for the Highlanders in a 4-2 loss to St Mirren on September 9, but he ended the barren spell of more than two months with a goal in a 4-0 win against Brechin City on November 28.
The 32-year-old, who joined from Falkirk in the summer, has been a regular scorer for several clubs including the Bairns, Raith Rovers and Airdrie.
Inverness host Dumbarton today and Baird is determined to add to his tally.
He said: “I have been playing well. I wouldn’t be in the team otherwise.
“I have obviously been contributing, but I put pressure on myself to score. I do enjoy scoring goals – it’s what I live for.
“It is frustrating to then not get games to build on the goal, but I only take the positives.
“When I went through the run of not scoring, the team was doing well and I was in the team, so it was fine.
“But obviously it was good to score. It changes your mind-set a wee bit.
“I have probably been a wee bit focused on the team and not being selfish. But the team are now in a position where they can accommodate a more selfish strike, so I can get back to sniffing out goals, rather than worrying about the team.”
Inverness have not played since their 0-0 draw away to another of Baird’s former clubs, Queen of the South, on December 2.
John Robertson’s men have shown good form, with just one defeat from their last 10 matches, and Baird hopes recent calloffs have not disrupted his side’s momentum, adding: “It has been like a miniwinter break.
“It has been very frustrating, especially while on a decent run of form. We just need to make sure it doesn’t take us off that.
“In the last few games it has been disruptive, with always some doubt about the game, including Queen of the South away where the bus was held up behind a road accident.
“I’m sure the club will do all it can to get the game played.
“There was a good set of fixtures where it looked like we could go and take maximum points.
“We just need to move that on now and make sure we take three from Dumbarton and then into the Morton game before Christmas.”
Today’s opponents inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Caley Jags when the sides last met at The Rock in September, however Baird is determined to leapfrog the Sons into seventh with a victory this time around.
Baird said: “The good thing is we are full-time and are playing Dumbarton, who aren’t – it gives us a massive opportunity to go above them. That’s the carrot.
“We have a strong squad of 21 now, nearly two teams, so everyone has to make sure they are doing the business to keep the jersey.
“Full-time helps just with organisation. I played parttime when I was younger and it can be difficult, with boys not making it through work.
“It just gives them an excuse – we haven’t any excuses.
“We will treat them with the respect they deserve.”
“I put pressure on myself to score. I do enjoy scoring goals”