MARLEY Watkins believes all of the pressure is now stacked heavily on Dundee United shoulders approaching tomorrow night's big Tannadice crunch match.
The Welsh attacker described the looming six-pointer in the race for a European place as a "must-win" for Jackie McNamara's recently ailing team.
United, from a marvellous unbeaten start to 2015, have lost consecutive matches to slip seven points adrift of John Hughes' third Inverness and the next victory, draw or defeat now has the potential to define their season. For the lightening-paced Watkins, instrumental in all three home goals in a thrilling draw with Kilmarnock, Caley Thistle hold the clear psychological advantage after going nine games unbeaten in 2015.
The makeshift striker, who had a hand in all three goals on Saturday, declared: "I'm not sure if I'd agree the United game is even more important to us now after Dundee United's defeat. It doesn't change we want to do. We want to win the game, of course - that's no different - and we think we can win it.
"But it's a must-win game for them. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't take three points. Obviously we want to expand our lead over them, and that's what we'll be looking to do."
There was obvious frustration for Watkins and his team-mates after letting the lead slip three times against spirited Killie. But while cursing both the state of the pitch and his team's ill-fortune for the first two goals, the former Swansea City and Hereford attacker could place it all in perspective. Caley Thistle have amassed 23 points from a possible 27 in 2015 so far and show no sign of losing momentum.
Watkins stressed: "The unbeaten run definitely brings confidence. But also we've got to watch out to make sure we keep those standards, because teams will be looking at that and trying to end this run. We've got to rise to the challenge and make sure it doesn't happen. We've been quality this season - we just want to maintain the standards."
Saturday's breakthrough arrived after 17 minutes, with Aberdeen-bound Graeme Shinnie hungrily snapping up his chance. Shinnie struck with a decisive left foot volley close in after Marley Watkins leapt to knock a header back across goal from David Raven's searching ball into the box. Killie hadn't shown too much threat, but enjoyed a little stroke of good fortune to equalise just three minutes later.
The lively, tricky Chris Johnston tried a dig from outside the box and his effort ricocheted off Eccleston before dropping kindly into the former's path. Eccleston then showed poise in cushioning the equalising volley past Ryan Esson. A sweeping move nudged the hosts back ahead again after 33 minutes. Ryan Christie's skill on the ball sparked the danger before Watkins sliced the ball back across goal to Nick Ross who saw his finish spin wickedly into the net with the help of a deflection.
It seemed Caley Thistle might extend their lead before the break but, somehow, the Rugby Park men mustered a second reply, right on the stroke of half-time. Again, there was an element of good fortune in the circumstances, although it was cruel on Craig Slater that it was destined to go down as an own goal.
Some 25 yards out, Slater struck the ball sweetly and with venom, watching it tipped against the post by Esson before it cannoned back into the net off the keeper's back. Caley Thistle must have felt aggrieved to be level at the break, but wasted little time in rectifying matters after the break. Just seven minutes after the re-start, Danny Williams stepped up to take a free-kick close to 30 yards out and unleashed an absolute screamer past Craig Samson.
Killie grabbed the sixth goal of an increasingly frantic game just after the hour. Moments earlier, young Christie had bailed out colleague Raven with a great saving tackle on Tope Obadeyi after a rocket-fuelled run on the break. From Slater's corner Pascali knocked down with a thumping header and Obadeyi diverted a shot into the net. Killie's opening scorer, Eccleston, admits he is out to show Partick Thistle just what they are missing after failing to gain favour at Firhill.
The former England under 17 international, who started his career at Bury and Liverpool, managed just one goal for the Jags in half a season but felt starved of opportunity. Eccleston, now on his 10th club at the age of just 24 after repeated loan deals, said: "I just want to be playing football. Thistle gave me an opportunity by introducing me to Scottish football but I found myself third choice over there. The manager Kilmarnock told me there would be opportunities and that it was up to me to take them. I think I've got off to a decent start.
"This is a fresh start for me. Throughout my career it's been stop-start with injuries, loan deals and spells not playing but I like challenges. Nothing in life ever comes easy but I couldn't have got off to a better start today. The top six is still in our sights, definitely. I think as a club we have to be ambitious and it's not that far away. I think if you can come to Inverness and get a good point against a team that doesn't usually concede goals it is heartening."
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