We deserve to stay up, insists proud Butcher

Published on Thursday 14 May 2009 23:00

TERRY Butcher has urged his Inverness players to cement their place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a victory over relegation rivals Kilmarnock.

A win over the Rugby Park outfit tomorrow would seal Caley Thistle's status in the top flight in a stunning turnaround from the start of the year, when the Highlanders looked doomed before Butcher took over from Craig Brewster as manager.

With two games remaining, former England captain Butcher knows his side's fate is very much in their own hands.

"It's always been down to us," he said. "We know now if we win at Kilmarnock on Saturday then we're safe and I'm sure Kilmarnock will be saying the same thing too.

"A draw could be enough if St Mirren lose, but we'll be going down there and doing what we always do and that's send out a team to win. The team at the moment is bubbly, bright, sharp and hungry and gelling well together.

"The same XI and formation has helped us achieve good results in the last three games, and it's just a case of keeping that freshness about the side.

"There's a lot of character in this team and deserve to stay up because of the way they've gone about their business. They're a credit to themselves, the club and their families. It'll be a shame if it doesn't happen because they've put a lot in to it."

Inverness are full of confidence after going unbeaten so far in their post-split fixtures.

They have also won all four of their league and cup games against Killie this season.

"We've played extremely well after the split and put ourselves in a strong position," said Butcher. "I think a lot of people will be saying we should be safe by now and the very fact that we're not means we have to raise our game again."