Inverness Caledonian Thistle can compete against the best in league says Roddy MacGregor
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RODDY MacGregor says Caley Thistle have shown they can compete with the best teams in the Championship, but need the results to go with it.
Inverness conceded a last-minute goal in the 3–3 League Cup encounter against Raith Rovers before losing a penalty shoot-out 3-2.
Three days previously, Inverness were edged 2-1 by Hearts at Tynecastle.
Both results against teams flying high in the Championship gives MacGregor confidence Caley Thistle can turn their season around.
But he also knows they must do more at both ends of the pitch to achieve positive results.
“Raith Rovers are a good side but in the second half we showed we can play and match them,” he said.
“It gives us confidence when we take them on next week in the league as that is what our focus is on now.
“We just need to take our second-half performance into the game against them next week.”
MacGregor came on as a substitute at Stark’s Park after James Vincent suffered an injury in the first half.
The attacking midfielder has been enjoying a run in the first team in the first few games of the campaign and is looking to maintain his place in the squad as players return from injury.
He said: “I’ve been playing a lot of games so I’ve been happy.
“I didn’t start against Raith Rovers so I had to just try my best. I got a goal and assist so I am happy with that.”
MacGregor scored at Kirkcaldy to put Inverness 3–2 in front only for Raith to score in injury time and win the game on penalties. He said it was a disappointing outcome after coming from behind twice.
He said it was a hard lesson to learn for the team.
But a lesson they need to learn quickly when they return to Championship action next weekend.
“The first half wasn’t great but in the second half we played a lot better,” he said.
“We turned the game on its head.
“In the dressing room at half time, the manager said we needed to up it and press a lot more.
“We needed to be more brave on the ball and I thought that we done that in the second half.
“We knocked it about better and our movement was a lot better. Things were a lot better second half, it was just unfortunate not to get the win in the end.
“They obviously threw bodies in the box to get the equaliser. We need to learn from it and do it better next time in that situation.”
