Inverness CT V St Johnstone at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium : Match Preview

26 October 2012 17:01
Inverness CT V St Johnstone - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Raven expects goal-fest

Inverness right-back David Raven expects to be busy in Saturday's clash with St Johnstone.

Caley Thistle have won three successive Clydesdale Bank Premier League matches and Saints have won their last five.

"They're on a very good roll, the same as us," Raven said.

"It should be a good one for the fans, probably all-out attack. We're looking to end their run, they're looking to end our run.

"I'm sure they'll come here and try to win."

Former Inverness forward Gregory Tade is among the players a new-look Caley Thistle side must keep quiet.

Raven, who joined from Tranmere, said: "The lads have spoken about him. He's a good player and one to keep our eye on, stay tight to. He'll be a threat, definitely.

"There's only a few lads that were here last year.

"We were new together at the start of the season. It does take a few games to get to know each other, how each other plays.

"The fact we've had a steady team for the last five, six, seven games has helped a lot.

"It's going all right, so we're just keeping it going, looking forward to Saturday and making it five."

Inverness are unbeaten in six and their winning run is four, including the penalty shoot-out success over Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Communities League Cup.

Despite a relatively short period together since manager Terry Butcher had to overhaul his squad in the summer, Raven believes the group is a cohesive one.

"The lads stick their bodies on the line every week," he said.

"We're enjoying playing together, we work hard for each other. We get the best out of each other and we're decent mates off the pitch as well.

"The lads up front have been brilliant, chasing balls down defensively and scoring goals. It makes life a lot easier at the back."

Inverness have quietly climbed into the top six of the SPL and Raven is happy to continue to go unnoticed.

"The less people notice us the better," he added.

"We'll keep doing our jobs and keep trying to get the points."

St Johnstone striker Gregory Tade aims to prove he has become a better player since leaving Inverness when he returns to the Tulloch Caledonian Thistle stadium.

The Frenchman moved to Perth in the summer and remains insistent that it was a step up to a bigger club.

However, the 26-year-old is looking to ensure Caley fans are made aware of his improvement at high-flying Saints, who are second to Celtic at the top of the Premier League following their 2-1 win over Kilmarnock last week which equalled a club record of five straight top-flight wins which dated back to 1971.

Tade told Press Association Sport: "I don't think many people can argue with the fact that St Johnstone is a bigger club than Inverness. No disrespect to them, that's just the way it is and I am just glad I joined.

"The league table shows it is a bigger club. It is, there is no doubt.

"They are a well-established SPL club so it was only normal for me to try to better myself as a player and to see if I could handle the pressure.

"Inverness gave me a great opportunity, but you have to move on if you want a good career.

"You always have something to prove in this league, especially against your ex-employer.

"You need to do something to show them that you have improved and you moved to better yourself.

"So I am going to go up there and be as professional as I can and do as much as I can to win the game.

"I have a different employer now and I will give 100 per cent and cause as many problems as I can, score a goal if I can or set up a goal."

Tade joked that he might get punched when he meets up again with his former boss Terry Butcher.

"He was tremendous for me, I cannot forget that," said the former Raith Rovers player.

"He gave me the opportunity to express myself in the SPL.

"If he is bitter he never told me, but I don't think it is.

"I will shake his hand a crack a few jokes - maybe he will crack me in the jaw, I don't know, but I don't think so."

Source: PA