Danny Devine: ‘Pressure is a privilege’ as Caley Thistle keep their eyes on the League One title prize

Danny Devine is urging League One title-chasing Inverness to embrace the pressure with 10 games to go this season.

Ahead of hosting Montrose on Saturday in the first of three successive home fixtures, the Caley Jags captain is relishing the chance for the club to try to win a place back in the Championship two years after relegation.

Since then the Highlanders have come through administration thanks to a lifeline purchase from now-chairman Alan Savage, overcome a 15-point deduction last season to avoid relegation and are now bidding to win the league after starting on -5 points.

Inverness are top of League One, level on points with Stenhousemuir, who have played one match more, with Alloa Athletic still in the mix, six points behind.

‘If you’re under pressure, you’re doing something right’ – Devine

The 2015 Scottish Cup-winning defender is desperate to help lead ICT back to the second tier.

He said: “It’s completely the different end of the scale this season.

“Last season was about fighting relegation. This season is a good pressure.

“Pressure is a privilege. If you’re under pressure, you’re doing something right in terms of being under pressure to win, being top of the table, and trying to go up.

“But you can’t get caught up in the pressure too much. We just need to focus on ourselves and focus on your own individual mindset and performance, and the rest will take care of itself.

“We’re still in pole position with a game in hand (over Stenhousemuir).

“The boys are ready for it. We’re looking forward to the last 10 games.

“It has been a good season with plenty of ups and downs. We need to make sure these last 10 games are really positive.”

Shaping up for return to next level

Amid 10 Challenge Cup matches this season, Caley Thistle have knocked out Championship sides Partick Thistle and Ayr United on the way to reaching the final on April 5 against another second-tier side, Raith Rovers, at Firhill.

He said: “Before the Ayr game, I said this was the level we want to be playing at next season.

“We knew it would be a test for us as a team and squad, and we came through those games.

“It’s easy to get up for those games against Championship opponents. Those games take care of themselves.

“When you play teams in our own league, that’s when you really must focus. We will keep our focus on the league and keep building.

“We have a lot of quality in our changing room. We’ve boys who have played in the Championship or higher levels.”

Pride at keeping 22 clean sheets

Across all competitions, Inverness have recorded 22 shutouts, which Devine stresses comes through an entire team effort, with firepower at the other end giving the side a winning chance.

He added: “The boys at the back get all the plaudits, but it really is credit to the whole team in terms of how we play and how we go about defending as a team from the front.

“To get 22 clean sheets this season is brilliant, so hopefully we can keep building on that in the next 10 games.

“The boys at the back just need to do our jobs, giving the boys up front a base to go and do their stuff and win us games.”

[Source: Press and Journal]