WHILE they do not have a win to their name in the nascent SPL campaign, Inverness Caledonian Thistle's players believe they have already earned something that cannot be taken away.
According to their goalkeeper Mark Brown it comes down to one word - respect.
"Last year, I definitely think teams started to view us differently. We were given a lot more respect. Nobody was thinking 'well, it's Inverness, so that's three easy points'. We've had two great seasons in the SPL and I think we are starting to be seen as an established top-flight club, " he said.
It is a belief which is reflected in the aspirations at the Caledonian Stadium, which will today play host to Celtic, the league champions. It is a daunting test which will be followed by a trip to Tynecastle on Saturday - not the ideal run of fixtures for a team looking for their first victory of the new season.
"It's not the easiest run of games but we've managed to get decent results against Celtic and Hearts before so I don't see any reason to go into these games with any fear. We're all confident of pulling off a shock and getting a good couple of results, " said Brown.
"In the last two years we have finished eighth and seventh in the SPL so progressing would mean getting into the top six - I think you have to aim high. There is no point saying 'let's just avoid relegation' because inevitably when you do that you end up finishing 10th or 11th."
The Highlanders' success in making the transition from the First Division to life in Scotland's top flight has been built on firm foundations. When Craig Gordon picked up his player of the year award last season, the Hearts man was keen to point out that the goalkeeper with the best statistical record in the league was actually the one between the posts for Inverness.
Brown had 15 clean sheets last season to follow up on the 11 he managed in all competitions following the club's promotion and, while the 25-year-old is justifiably proud of such feats, he is quick to point out the impressive defence record has been a team effort.
"The last two years have shown how strong the back four and goalkeeper have been at this club and it has definitely helped that the back four has been pretty much the same personnel week-in, week-out, " he said.
That solidity could yet be undermined should centre-half Darren Dods leave the club before the transfer window shuts and in such circumstances it is no wonder that manager Charlie Christie is keen to get his goalkeeper to commit to a new long-term deal.
Brown, like Dods, will be out of contract next summer and, while there have been preliminary discussions, the player has made it clear he wants to focus on his football rather than his future at this point in the season. "I said to Charlie that I really want to concentrate on helping to put points on the board in the first few weeks of the season and he understands that.
Over the next couple of months I will talk to the club, but what matters is what happens on the park."
Christie has come to expect nothing but the highest standards from his goalkeeper and his admiration for Brown is clear. "I was still playing when Mark first came to Inverness and he is one of the best signings we have made at this club, " said the manager.
"He has been a revelation and I was more than delighted for him last year when he got a shout for the Scotland futures squad, because it was no more than he deserved, " said Christie.
Brown has certainly experienced the ups and downs of professional football, leaving Rangers after four years with only a handful of first team appearances only to find his tenure at Motherwell cut short by the administration which prompted a cull of players.
"Leaving Rangers was not such a bad thing because I learned such a lot working with Stefan Klos and Andy Goram, who was one of my heroes, " he said. "The problem was when you looked at someone like Klos you realised you weren't going to make the breakthrough and you'd have to go somewhere else. Although the way it all turned out at Motherwell was disappointing, I wasn't concerned because I believed in my own abilities and I just needed a chance to play somewhere else to show how good I was."
Brown's story will have particular resonance to Graeme Smith and Allan McGregor, the two young goalkeepers he trained alongside at Rangers. Smith ultimately left Ibrox to join Motherwell, while McGregor appears on the verge of a move to Dundee United in search of regular first team football.
"If Allan does move, it means there willbethreeofusplayingintheSPL regularly which shows the strength in depth among the young goalkeepers at Rangers at that time."
It is a fair point Rangers fans may well ponder, particularly given the money invested in the likes of Jesper Christiansen. But Brown isn't one to dwell on the past. Not now he and Caley are making their mark in the SPL.
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