Terry Butcher keen to make up for week of suffering after cup exit

Published on Saturday 11 February 2012 05:31

INVERNESS manager Terry Butcher has urged his players to inflict some pain on Celtic after their cup defeat by Neil Lennon’s side prompted prolonged “self-flagellation”.

Butcher was uncharacteristically downbeat after their 2-0 home defeat in the William Hill Scottish Cup last Saturday but, with a chance to set the record straight today, he said, “We should have given Celtic a game but, while we have beaten ourselves up this week and been very critical of the way we played, it’s time to stop the self-flagellation, pump ourselves up and say ‘This is what we can do’. It hurts and it hurts for days, but we have got to forget that hurt and move on and look to inflict a bit more pain on Celtic, because we certainly didn’t worry them enough here.

“We’re looking for more spirit from the players, more hunger and desire, and more togetherness. If someone does make a mistake, we need someone to bail them out and make sure they do to their team-mates what they would like done to themselves. I’m sure we’ll get back to that and do well there – you generally get an opportunity to play and get some time on the ball. We want to show them how well we can play.”