McNamara wants assertive approach
Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara has called on his players to assert their positive style of play when Inverness visit Tannadice on Wednesday night.
United thrashed Caley Thistle 5-0 in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-finals earlier this month during a rich vein of form for McNamara's side.
The Tayside club can move four points behind third-placed Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, but their visitors are looking to leapfrog them.
McNamara said: "That's seven out of eight we've won and naturally we want to keep that going.
"We know what the players are capable of and we know we can match the best teams on our day.
"It's a good time to be hitting a bit of form and hopefully we can keep it going until the end of the season. They are all big games at this stage of the season.
"That's what you would rather have as a player rather than the other way about.
"It's about preparing as well as possible and giving yourself the best chance to get the three points.
"It's our home game and we want to assert ourselves and play in the manner which we know suits us best."
The cup thrashing is fresh in the memory of the visitors but they had two players sent off that day after gifting United two cheap goals and then a penalty before half-time.
McNamara does not feel that game will have any bearing on the league encounter.
"I don't think they will come here any more motivated," the former Celtic captain said.
"They are a good side and John Hughes will have them trying to win as they would any other match. That side of it will never change.
"We know we will have to play well to get the victory we're looking for.
"Inverness have some dangerous players who we'll need to watch but, at the end of the day, we'll be focusing on ourselves.
"Both teams have plenty to play for so it should be a good, open match."
Inverness full-back Carl Tremarco is suspended for the clash.
Tremarco sits out one game after picking up his sixth Scottish Premiership booking of the season earlier this month.
Winger Aaron Doran missed Saturday's home win over Partick Thistle with a hamstring injury and could be absent again.
Meanwhile, defender Gary Warren believes Inverness can still secure a top-three finish.
Caley Thistle go into their meeting with United nine points adrift of third-placed Motherwell, but they have a game in hand and host the Lanarkshire side next week.
Warren is focused on breaking into the top trio after missing out on a Europa League place on the final day of last season.
United won 5-0 on their most recent visit to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium this season, but Warren is more interested in climbing above McNamara's side than avenging that Scottish Cup defeat.
"I don't think it will be a reaction, I think it will be more a case of trying to improve and be the best you can be, and striving to finish as high as we can," the centre-back said.
"That means everyone has to be at the top of their games.
"It's important we finish the season well. We finished fourth last season and we want to go one better than that.
"We have got a side that's more than capable of finishing in the top three but that's if we apply ourselves and everyone is at their very best."
Source: PA
