Terry Butcher eager to bounce back after defeat

“Philosophical is a very good word for how I felt after the Aberdeen result,” he said. “You are raging inside because you lose the game, but if you lose one game in seven, that can’t be too bad, can it?

“There wasn’t much between the teams, I felt, and they scored when we were having our best spell of the game.

“Losing is an unusual feeling for our lads. It is the first time we’ve experienced it since we started pre-season on 27 June.

“It was a weird sensation over the weekend – and we don’t like weird sensations here at Caley Thistle. We want our normal post-match feelings back.”

Even if they had won in Aber-deen, there would have been speculation as to whether Butcher would tinker with his team for tonight’s League Cup tie at Dundee. It is a temptation he has resisted in all seven matches so far, with only two of ten summer signings – Dean Brill and James Vincent – starting competitively to date.

Butcher added: “The tie could possibly give me a chance to play one or two other players, but I have to give Dundee great respect. John Brown is an excellent manager and motivator.

“Dundee’s form hasn’t been great lately, but it’s a cup tie. Like us, they’ll want to bounce back quickly from a defeat at the weekend.

“We drew 1-1 down there last time in the old SPL, but it’s an exciting place for us to go. The boys also went there last year and won 4-1, so a lot of them have good memories of winning there.

“Last year we got to the semi-finals on the back of away victories and we’re trying to do the same again.”

Butcher reported “one or two knocks and niggles” from Saturday’s game but kept his cards close to his chest.

Dundee manager John Brown has warned his side they had better be in top form against the Premiership table toppers.

The Dark Blues suffered a 3-1 league defeat away to Falkirk at the weekend and are now bidding to make amends. But Brown has told his below-par players they must get their act together. He said: “It was a poor result against Falkirk. We never played and that’s the disappointing part of it.

“But you then look for a reaction. It’s ideal to have Inverness, the team who has been the form team in Scotland, coming here, so you can’t dwell on the previous game, you look forward to the next one.

“The players have got a lot to prove after Saturday’s performance – they know that I’m expecting to see a reaction.”

Brown revealed his players met yesterday in a bid to thrash out their problems. “We’ve had a meeting – the players have had their bit to say, I’ve put my points over, and now we’re gearing up for the game.

“You can’t dwell on the past. You’ve got to look forward, and we’re looking forward to a great game at home with our own fans here, playing against one of the form teams in Scotland.”

Dundee defender Gary Irvine insists the players are on a mission to erase the memory of Saturday’s slopping showing.

He said: “It’s good that we’ve got a game so quick after what happened at Falkirk. We want to bounce back.”

Irvine also urged their brassed-off fans to stick by them.

He said: “The fans are honest.Ever since I’ve been here they’ve always been like that.

“They have every right to shout their unhappiness when things aren’t going well. I’ve been here when things have been very good and they are the loudest fans I’ve experienced.”

Dundee midfielder Kevin McBride is suspended and stopper Kyle Benedictus is out with a back injury.