Belief has returned to Caley Thistle squad ahead of Celtic game - Gary Warren
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FOUR points from their last two games has reignited the belief in the Caley Thistle squad.
A dogged and resolute display earned a point against Aberdeen on Saturday, in a game that the visitors could well have taken all three points.
Skipper Gary Warren sees it as a great lift ahead of the visit of champions Celtic next weekend, even if there was a tinge of disappointment at not emerging from Pittodrie with a win.
After a start of three consecutive defeats in the league, coupled with a disappointing exit from the BetFred Cup to Alloa, question marks were being raised about where Caley Thistle’s first win was going to come from. Games against St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Celtic were to follow and it looked a huge ask for Inverness to climb away from the bottom.
However, four points from their last two games has lifted them off the foot of the table and given an injection of belief ahead of the Celtic game on Sunday.
“We’ve picked up four points in the last two and we’re full of belief again,” said Warren. “Celtic find it tough coming to our place and we’ll put on a performance that we have done in the last few games. I think we need to add that bit of quality in the final third now. We’re not far off.
“We’re a club up here with a small squad. We have to stick together. We’re a gang and we have to be tough to beat. Fish has come off absolutely shattered because he’s worked so hard. The rest of the boys set the tone going forward. We’ve had a good couple of results but we can’t sit here and say we’re having a good season because we’re a bit off where we want to be.
“It was a good point in the end. We’re sat disappointed afterwards though; it’s a game we felt we should have won. Over the course of the game we were the better team. Saying that, we’ll take a point. It’s a tough place to come.”
Warren reserved praise for midfielders Greg Tansey and Iain Vigurs following the 1-1 draw, adding they did an “outstanding” job in offering protection to the back four from Aberdeen’s midfielders.
The Caley Jags shut Aberdeen down in the first half, denying them space to create openings and holding them at arms length.
Vigurs was the best player on the pitch and was justly rewarded with his goal. Tansey, who alongside Josh Meekings was revealed last week to be holding off on contract talks, looked more like himself, delivering an industrious performance alongside Vigurs.
Plaudits were deservedly given by Warren, who wants more from Vigurs and hopes Meekings and Tansey continue to put their off-field situations to one side.
“The hard work they put in makes it easier for us at the back,” he said. “The gameplan since the first three games was to tighten up, because we were shipping far too many. Greg and Iain were outstanding for us – giving that extra protection in front of the back four is sometimes a thankless job.
“Although he’s protected us, Iain’s come up with a marvellous goal. He’s had a great game but for him, it’s something he needs to carry on – he’s set his standards and now he needs to carry on in to the next few games.
“It’s all Greg and Josh can do – they’re good professionals. Things outside of the football club won’t put them off their performances. They work hard every day and they were rewarded with two very good performances.
“They’ve been two big players over the last few years and we’d be delighted to keep them both. But that’s in their hands. They can only concentrate on their football and each game every week.”
There was some justifiable dissention in the Caley Thistle ranks at the refereeing display of Crawford Allan, who made a number of questionable calls in the Granite City.
The visitors felt that in the build-up to Niall McGinn’s goal, Liam Polworth was fouled in the centre circle by Wes Burns and a free-kick should been awarded. However, Allan waved play on and the Dons scored, which saw Warren booked for protesting the decision.
Earlier in the first half, Anthony O’Connor was also allowed to get away with a dangerous tackle on Vigurs, something which clearly angered the Inverness man as he went to remonstrate with Allan.
Manager Richie Foran called for fairness from the officials after the game, with Warren backing his boss’s outlook.
“We’re very frustrated and there’s things I’d like to say but can’t,” he said. “There’s a lot of decisions that didn’t go our way, a few in either half, but I’ll leave it at that.”
