Inverness Caley Thistle head coach Scott Kellacher admits side can do better across pitch after League One defeat to Arbroath at Gayfield
Scott Kellacher admitted that yesterday’s game against Arbroath got away from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and insists that his side can “do better all over the pitch”.
The game had appeared to be in the balance early on, but it was the home side who broke the deadlock at Gayfield when Aaron Steele found the net in the 26th minute.
That, according to Kellacher, was a turning point in the match that Inverness never truly recovered from.
Andy Winter would make it 2-0 before half time when he converted from the penalty spot, making it an even bigger mountain to climb.
Caley Thistle responded well after half time, though, coming close to scoring when they hit the post and the bar.
However, with no breakthrough to really put pressure on their hosts, the next goal went to Arbroath as Ryan Dow sealed the victory on a counter attack when ICT had committed bodies forward.
“It’s hard to take, and I’m disappointed and frustrated,” Kellacher told the club’s media channel after the final whistle.
“We started the game really well, we had two good chances in the first 25 minutes and I thought we were comfortable within the game.
“They get a set-play that we have to pick up in the box, but we don’t pick up the second ball, and that changes the game. We have to be better than that.
“That changes the game for 15 minutes where we lost our foothold, and then we gave away a penalty. I don’t know what Remi can do about it to be honest, he’s so close, but every week you see some given and some not.
“We just had to get in at half time and settle down. In the second half we knew we had to have a right go, because at 2-0 the next goal is a big one.
“We tried to go for it, and we had chances – we hit the post and the bar – but we weren’t at our best. Our cutting edge was missing, we didn’t have that extra drive to get over the line.
“We try to get back in the game at 2-0, and they score on a breakaway, which just sometimes happens in football.
“I’m frustrated, because I don’t think they are a better team than us. Credit to them, they took their chances and we didn’t, but I do think we can do better all over the pitch and be sharper.”
With results elsewhere going against Inverness, the gap to safety was extended to four points.
That situation could be made even worse when Montrose play their game in hand against Cove Rangers on Tuesday night, but all ICT can do is focus on the challenge of Stenhousemuir in the Highland capital next Saturday.
“I think we’ve responded really well every time we’ve lost a game,” Kellacher reasoned.
“I said right from the start that we would lose some games and win some games, but I just felt Arbroath got away from us.
“Now it’s just about hard work. We’ll get back on the training ground first thing on Monday and look forward to the game next week, but I’m disappointed because there was a chance for us to beat Arbroath and it wasn’t to be.”
