Pressure off after unbeaten run ended, says John Hughes

John Hughes and assistant Russell Latapy after the Firhill setback. Picture: SNS

Caledonian Thistle had won four and drawn one of their first five games and sat top of the Scottish Premiership before their 3-1 defeat by the Jags at Firhill. The Highlanders’ boss, however, has put the defeat behind him and is relishing the prospect of returning to Glasgow to take on Championship side Rangers.

“It was inevitable that we were going to get beat eventually,” he said. “What we tried to do was delay it as long as we could and we did that by playing some right good football.

“It is important not to forget what we have done. It was a great achievement by the boys but what it (the defeat) does, it takes that bit of pressure off and lowers the expectations.

“There is no point in cutting yourself up because you lose a match, it is going to happen.

“The games come quick and fast so we are looking forward to the game tomorrow night against Rangers.

“It is going to be a really difficult match. We know the strengths and weaknesses of Rangers – we think we do – and we will try to exploit that.”

Hughes watched Rangers turned in arguably one of their best performances in months to beat Raith Rovers 4-0 in Kirkcaldy on Friday night.

“I was very impressed,” said the former Falkirk and Hibernian boss. “It is just a matter of it coming together because you know the quality of players in their squad, they are a real talented football team.

“They are at home, there will be a good crowd and a good atmosphere but we are looking forward to the game.

“It is a big challenge but one that I am hoping we take on and give a good account of ourselves.”

Inverness keeper Dean Brill believes the cup trip is the perfect antidote after the weekend disappointment at Partick.

As well as losing their unbeaten record, the Highlanders saw a perfect run of clean sheets broken by the Maryhill men.

Ex-Luton Town goalkeeper Brill admits it is an exciting prospect for relative newcomers like him and for the group of six or seven veterans of the superb 3-0 League Cup triumph at Ibrox two years ago.

On that occasion, goals from Gray Warren and Andrew and Graeme Shinnie shot down Ally McCoist’s side emphatically.

Brill believes Rangers are a much better side than the then-Third Division entity but is quietly confident the Premiership visitors can make a match of it.

He said: “I’ve never played against Rangers before, but the boys are all very complimentary of what to expect down there.

“That’s what you’d expect going to somewhere like Ibrox, with all the history of the club.

“We’re excited about it and it is good to get a game so quickly after Saturday’s defeat. Sometimes, otherwise, you can dwell on it through the week.

“We have a good number of lads still here from the team who went down and beat them a couple of years ago. That shows the kind of settled squad we’ve had now for a long time.

“We’re confident going down there. Rangers are improved and they’re up in the Championship now, making their way back up the leagues. It will be a good game and it’s a great place for us to go and play football.

“It’s a strange one. We’re the Premiership club but I would say they’re favourites.

“It’ll be a good test for us – and also a good test for them.”