THE well-worn remarks don't fit Inverness Caledonian Thistle any more.

A habit of hanging out in the lower rungs of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League had accommodated talk of how far away they were, the team's affinity for that chip shop in Auchterarder and other cliches that were strewn either side of any mention of the A9, yet such things are not befitting of a team that have now ascended to second in the table. They are a side that have updated their image and the way they are treated is also in need of redress.

This will come to feel signifi-cant for a club of Inverness's background, but it is wholly appropriate given the elevated status of the Highlands within the senior game these days.

Ross County joined their northern neighbours in the top flight during the summer and a William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round replay between the clubs tomorrow will move the region back into the foreground. This season has sought to thrive on variety in the absence of an established altercation and the Premier League has been an open market for a Highland rivalry.

It has been the other fixtures which have proven to be a harder sell. Three goals put Inverness ahead of Hibernian on Saturday and above them in the league table, yet only 3422 supporters were there to witness it. Smaller travelling crowds will always be a factor in attendances at the Caledonian Stadium – it really is a bit of a trek – but the local disinterest is a little harder to explain; if you aren't going to turn up when Inverness are swaggering into second place, then when? Such a query is rendered rhetorical since it is often those inclined to attend on a Saturday who will seek out a report, but it is one which is also being asked among the players.

"When the club is doing well you hope people will come through the turnstiles," said Ross Draper, who scored first against Hibernian. "But at the same time, it is expensive to come out and people have families and things like that."

The midfielder could afford to be circumspect as the visit of County tomorrow will inevitably swell the crowd, with almost 7000 there for the inaugural derby in October.

He was more imprudent when it came to the outcome of the cup-tie. "Can we make the final? Definitely," he said with a smile. But that tone was tempered again when the conversation returned to the league. Inverness were at ease against a Hibs side bolstered by the return of top-scorer Leigh Griffiths, so a top-six finish is made to seem like a modest ambition, but the squad has been made wary of looking too far ahead.

"The gaffer was just saying that a couple of years ago the team got off to a flyer like we have and then didn't win until March," said Draper. "We know a bad run can come at any point."

After a derby win, for example. Hibs might have found some sense of atonement when they forced Hearts out of the Scottish Cup last week, but any momentum that might have followed was lost on Saturday. One defeat does not constitute a collapse in form, of course, and Hibs are still just four points behind Celtic, but it was disconcerting that they seemed unable to get going when they should have been difficult to stop.

Pat Fenlon also had a quiet afternoon, the Hibs manager later saying as little as possible about a match in which his players had delivered even less. "Maybe our preparation and concentration levels need to be better when we come on the road," he said.

That will be the A9, right?

oneminute

pundit

14' 1-0 Alan Maybury concedes a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and Ross Draper plants a header into the net

32' Leigh Griffiths' lofted effort is parried over by Antonio Reguero

76' 2-0 A cross from Gary Warren is bundled in by Richie Clean at the far post

87' 3-0 Aaron Doran works space out on the right wing before sending in a cross for Billy McKay to steer the ball beyond Ben Williams with a header.

THE well-worn remarks don't fit Inverness Caledonian Thistle any more. A habit of hanging out in the lower rungs of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League had accommodated talk of how far away they were, the team's affinity for that chip shop in Auchterarder and other cliches that were strewn either side of any mention of the A9, yet such things are not befitting of a team that have now ascended to second in the table. They are a side that have updated their image and the way they are treated is also in need of redress.

This will come to feel signifi-cant for a club of Inverness's background, but it is wholly appropriate given the elevated status of the Highlands within the senior game these days.

Ross County joined their northern neighbours in the top flight during the summer and a William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round replay between the clubs tomorrow will move the region back into the foreground. This season has sought to thrive on variety in the absence of an established altercation and the Premier League has been an open market for a Highland rivalry.

It has been the other fixtures which have proven to be a harder sell. Three goals put Inverness ahead of Hibernian on Saturday and above them in the league table, yet only 3422 supporters were there to witness it. Smaller travelling crowds will always be a factor in attendances at the Caledonian Stadium – it really is a bit of a trek – but the local disinterest is a little harder to explain; if you aren't going to turn up when Inverness are swaggering into second place, then when? Such a query is rendered rhetorical since it is often those inclined to attend on a Saturday who will seek out a report, but it is one which is also being asked among the players.

"When the club is doing well you hope people will come through the turnstiles," said Ross Draper, who scored first against Hibernian. "But at the same time, it is expensive to come out and people have families and things like that."

The midfielder could afford to be circumspect as the visit of County tomorrow will inevitably swell the crowd, with almost 7000 there for the inaugural derby in October.

He was more imprudent when it came to the outcome of the cup-tie. "Can we make the final? Definitely," he said with a smile. But that tone was tempered again when the conversation returned to the league. Inverness were at ease against a Hibs side bolstered by the return of top-scorer Leigh Griffiths, so a top-six finish is made to seem like a modest ambition, but the squad has been made wary of looking too far ahead.

"The gaffer was just saying that a couple of years ago the team got off to a flyer like we have and then didn't win until March," said Draper. "We know a bad run can come at any point."

After a derby win, for example. Hibs might have found some sense of atonement when they forced Hearts out of the Scottish Cup last week, but any momentum that might have followed was lost on Saturday. One defeat does not constitute a collapse in form, of course, and Hibs are still just four points behind Celtic, but it was disconcerting that they seemed unable to get going when they should have been difficult to stop.

Pat Fenlon also had a quiet afternoon, the Hibs manager later saying as little as possible about a match in which his players had delivered even less. "Maybe our preparation and concentration levels need to be better when we come on the road," he said.

That will be the A9, right?