Source: Team_Talk
Butcher demands more from Caley
Caley boss Butcher read the riot act after his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Pittodrie on Saturday to leave them just four points above rock-bottom Falkirk.
Fellow strugglers Hamilton are the visitors to the Caledonian Stadium this weekend, and Butcher wants an improved performance and a return to winning ways.
"The players certainly got both barrels at Aberdeen, that's for sure, but they know what they've got to do and they've shown a good response in training," he said.
"That also makes them extra keen to get one over on Hamilton.
"It was very disappointing last week because we were within touching distance of getting ourselves in a strong position for survival and maximum points would've helped us achieve that.
"We felt like we didn't even give ourselves a chance to getting a single point, never mind all three.
"There's not been many occasions where I've had to have a real go at the players and I wasn't holding back in the dressing room because I knew we had a good chance of grabbing a win."
While Caley Thistle went down in the Granite City, Kilmarnock and St Mirren climbed above them.
Inverness will hope to reverse that with three points against Hamilton, who they will also climb above should they win.
But that will not be easy against an Accies side who have twice beaten them 1-0 this term.
Butcher said: "We've not beaten them in the two matches this season so that needs to be put right first of all.
"To do that, we need to take our chances, pass the ball and play to our strengths and generally play a lot better than we did in the second half at Pittodrie.
"We've spoken about the games against Hamilton this season which were before myself and Maurice (Malpas) arrived at the club and heard from the players why they lost the matches and what they did positively and negatively.
"They've been very honest about it but we know what we have to do.
"Hamilton are capable of playing good football and are very hard to beat, so we'll have to work very hard to create chances.
"But if we play with the same positive attitude we've played with against the likes of Kilmarnock and St Mirren, we'll have a chance.
Promoted Hamilton have gone six games without a win or a goal, a run which has seen them slide down the table.
But Butcher believes the New Douglas Park club can cause Inverness problems and will also avoid an immediate return to the Irn-Bru First Division.
"It's always the case when an SFL team comes up to the SPL, they feel the need to justify their right to be in the top flight," he said.
"Hamilton have done that and have adapted their style to suit playing other sides in the league with a mixture of youth and experience.
"Billy Reid is a real believer of strong characters and players and we'll have to be extra careful of that on Saturday.
"But I think our lads are strong enough to handle the pressure at this time of the season, mentally and physically.
"We've got players who can handle the big occasions and, when they cross the line, will give everything for me and the club."
Inverness 5/4, Hamilton 21/10, Draw 12/5
