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Following back-to-back league wins over Montrose and Kelty Hearts which moved us to within three points of the top of the table, the squad makes the trip up the A96 on Saturday to take on Caley Thistle.

After a troubled summer, the Inverness side failed to make it out of the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup, but they have made a solid enough start to their League One campaign, losing just once in the six games. In keeping with much of the division, they have had draws aplenty – four so far – and all their matches have been tight affairs.

The teams have not met since our Championship season, a series dominated by ICT who racked up 4-1 and 6-1 victories in our visits to the Highland capital.

Both sides have changed dramatically in the seventeen months which have elapsed since the last head-to-head, a 2-1 Inverness win at Balmoral, and the likelihood is no more than four or five of those who played in that one will feature at the weekend.

Paul Hartley believes we make the journey north in high spirits:

“It’s been good this week, that’s the case when you win on a Saturday, and we’re looking to make it three on the trot in what will be a very hard game against Inverness.

“We got a wee bit of luck with the first goal last week, but you need that sometimes, and we finished strongly. We’ve been conceding late goals, but it was our turn and we got two very good ones. Blair’s was a wonderful strike and Findlay showed really good feet and had the composure to finish. We’ve had the performances in recent weeks, and that was an important result.”

The manager knows the difficult task will be following that up on a consistent basis in what is a hugely competitive division:

“That’s what this league is! You look at the results every week, there have been so many draws, so stringing a few wins together can shoot you right up the table.

“We’ve watched Inverness, they play a lot of good football, pass the ball well, and they have experience in their team. I’m sure they’ll be up there at the end of the season, so we know the challenge that lies ahead.”

Paul has been relying more on our older players of late, but he likes the balance he has right now, and says the younger players will have a big part to play in the coming weeks and months:

“Findlay Marshall and Adam Emslie have been excellent since they came in, so has Liam Parker, he’s started really well, and we’ve still got young Reuben McAllister who’s been a wee bit unfortunate and just has to be patient for now. It’s a good blend, the squad has settled down now, and while we’re maybe still one or two short, I’m happy with the group that we’ve got.”

“We have good momentum, and if we can keep playing as we did against Montrose and Kelty, hopefully there’ll be more wins to come.”

Two or three players are carrying knocks, so it will be a late decision on the starting eleven.

Supporters travelling up to cheer on the team can find all the information they need HERE and the full interview with Paul Hartley can be viewed at the Cove Rangers FC YouTube channel.

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