Inverness CT V Dundee Utd at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium : Match Preview

10 May 2013 18:01
Inverness CT V Dundee Utd - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Foran taking nothing for granted

Captain Richie Foran is desperate to see Inverness end the season with a bang by claiming the final European spot.

And he would love the Highlanders to complete the job in front of their own fans when they host Dundee United on Saturday.

Victory against the Taysiders would keep Caley Thistle in third spot in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with a Europa League berth guaranteed if St Johnstone also lose to Celtic earlier in the day.

Foran said: "United are a tough side, just like Motherwell. We are taking nothing for granted. We are up against a very good side.

"On their day they can beat anyone so we know we're in for a tough match but I'm sure it will be another cracking game.

"We want to go out on a high and hopefully we can do that on Saturday.

"It's been a wonderful season but it's not finished yet. We would love to go out and win on Saturday now and hopefully Celtic can do us a favour.

"Hopefully we can do it in front of our home supporters and get that European place."

Foran insists Inverness will be fully focused on the task of securing three points regardless of what happens at Celtic Park in the early kick off.

He said: "I won't be putting too much interest in it but I'm sure I will find out before the game what the score was.

"Once you find out, you've got to put it to the back of your mind straight away and keep fully focused on the job at hand, which is beating Dundee United no matter what happens in the Celtic-St Johnstone game.

"We're good at that. We are good at keeping focus. We are mentally strong. We know what we've got to do.

"We've got to work hard and play with a smile on our face like we did against Motherwell and we believe we can come out on top."

Inverness triumphed against Motherwell in a thrilling encounter last week, prevailing 4-3 win against the side in second place in the SPL.

Foran would love more of the same this weekend against United.

The Irishman said: "It was a cracking game - one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played in, to be honest.

"Even when it went to 3-3, I still believed we were going to go out and win it. The quality that we showed was unbelievable."

Dundee United midfielder Rory Boulding insists his desire to win a new Tannadice contract will keep him firing on all cylinders in the final two games of the season.

Three defeats since the Clydesdale Bank Premier League split have counted Jackie McNamara's side out of the race for Europe.

But Boulding, like team-mates Jon Daly, Willo Flood, Barry Douglas, Steve Banks, and Marcus Tornstrad, will see his United deal expire in the summer.

Skipper Daly has been linked with a move to Rangers and Polish giants Lech Poznan have held talks with defender Douglas, but Boulding has no idea where his next move lies.

However, the former Kilmarnock man has not given up hope of securing an extended stay with the Arabs and hopes to convince McNamara - who only took over at Tannadice in January - he is worth another contract when United face Inverness and Celtic in their last two games of the season.

He said: "We don't have much to play for anymore in the league. But we've got a new manager in and I've got everything to play for in terms of impressing him and showing that we want to be part of his plans next season.

"I'm only contracted to the end of this season, so I will have to find out about my future soon.

"I've got these two games left to put down a marker. It would be good to get a few minutes in both matches and show the manager I'm worth another deal.

"If you believe in your own ability, then you know you will get a club somewhere and that you will be playing next season. But it would be nice to stay here as it's such a big club."

United head up the A9 to take on Europa League-chasing Inverness without defenders Keith Watson, Sean Dillon, Gavin Gunning and Douglas but their involvement in the race for continental competition is over.



They sneaked into the top six when Boulding headed a last-minute winner against Aberdeen in the final game before the SPL split, but since then McNamara's men have been beaten by Motherwell, St Johnstone and Ross County.

Source: PA