The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
No scenes like this at Highland derby
Fierce but friendly, predicts ICT manager
John Robertson hopes the Highland derby avoids anything like the ugly scenes that marred the end of Wednesday’s Edinburgh clash between Hearts and Hibernian.
Caley Thistle boss Robertson was in attendance at Tynecastle where Hibernian manager Neil Lennon was struck by a pound coin, Hearts goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal was punched by a supporter and two assistant referees were assaulted.
Tomorrow’s Highland equivalent descends on the Caledonian Stadium with Ross County facing the Caley Jags in their own backyard. There have been flashpoints in the past but the relationship between the supporters has Robertson believing any incidents of violence can be avoided.
He said: “It is a fierce rivalry but in all the right ways. We don’t get what we saw at Tynecastle. I would be incredulous if there were coins thrown or somebody punched at a Highland derby. There has never been anything like that before and, hopefully, there never is.
“Fans travel to the game together on the train. They drink in the same pubs together before the game. They mix outside before they go to their separate ends. Afterwards, they’ll meet up again and get on with it.
“There will always be one or two elements in the supports but while it is fierce and competitive it is all about bragging rights. Long may that continue because the relationship between the clubs and the fans up here is very good.”
Lennon was understandably furious in the aftermath of Wednesday night, calling on the perpetrator to meet him face-to-face.
His Jambos counterpart Craig
Lev- ein also condemned the behaviour of the individuals, with Police Scotland making two arrests yesterday over the assault on the linesmen.
Caley Jags and County have come through the leagues together and that has helped harness the rivalry between the two clubs, with both in the top flight of Scottish football until 2017.
Robertson added: “When you see the scenes in Edinburgh, thank goodness our rivalries don’t get to the point where its mayhem. Our derbies are what they are – rivalries. Both sets of fans, managers, players want to win it.
“Afterwards, it isn’t the end of the world – although it feels like it for a few hours. Don’t under-estimate how much we want to win it. You like to have bragging rights on your neighbours.
“Part of the frustration of our fans just now is they see County sitting above us in the table and realise had we turned some draws to wins we’d be next to them.”
Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson is refusing to get caught up in the talk of unbeaten runs heading into tomorrow’s Highland derby.
Caley Thistle’s 22-game unbeaten run – with 11 wins and 11 draws – has been well-publicised, but County’s 10-game run of their own has gone somewhat unnoticed.
Tomorrow’s visitors arguably head to the Caledonian Stadium as favourites, with a return to the top of the Championship within their grasp should they come away with three points.
Ferguson will not underestimate the Caley Jags given the strength of their recent record, but thinks there can be too much credence given to unbeaten runs.
He said: “It’s something to be proud of but the focus for us is three points.
“That’s so important – Tuesday is a fine example of that. Ayr took three points on Tuesday and we didn’t. If we’ve got aspirations to get out of the Championship then three points is really important.
“It’s something to hold on to but sometimes it can also become the focus. We don’t want to get into that.
“We would rather have the three points than protect any run we’re on. But it goes hand in hand.”
For Ferguson the importance of the local rivalry between the two clubs is deeply ingrained, having first come to Dingwall in 1996 to play for Neale Cooper.
He later returned there at the end of his playing ca- reer to join the coaching staff, before becoming comanager earlier this year.
As an Inverness resident himself, Ferguson is immersed in the build-up to the derby, which is back this season after County’s drop to the Championship.
He said: “I love it. I can’t get enough of it. I’ve got kids in school in Inverness, my wife works in Inverness and I live in Inverness.
“The rivalry is fierce but I don’t think there’s any real hatred there. There’s a desire to be better than the other and it makes a healthy rivalry, which reflects the area.
“Credit to both clubs, for achieving what they have. We’ve been to toe-to-toe
“We would rather have three points than protect any run we’re on”
since we came into the Scottish leagues, with us being a traditional Highland League club and Inverness putting the two clubs together. It adds that spice.”
Ferguson would not be drawn on when captain Marcus Fraser might feature, after missing the last two months with a chipped bone in his leg.
He said: “Marcus is ready. It’s just when we decide to put him back in.
“We can’t emphasise enough that if you’re in possession of the jersey, you’ve got a good chance of keeping it if you do well.
“There’s also times when we’ll look to change things tactically, so Marcus is fit and available and we’ve chosen not to put him in at this time.