Caley Thistle have more to give despite Dundee delights, says Jake Mulraney
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CALEY Thistle have still got several gears to go up, despite their convincing win over Dundee.
That is the view of winger Jake Mulraney, who was recalled to the starting line-up for the Caley Jags’ fourth game in a row unbeaten.
The home side rarely looked troubled against their Premiership opponents and while Richie Foran was understandably delighted with how his side played, Mulraney felt they could kick on further and really put teams to the sword.
Mulraney was one of those guilty of missing a glorious chance, hitting his effort straight at Scott Bain when Liam Polworth teed him up in front of goal.
Thankfully for Inverness it was not required as goals from Lonsana Doumbouya, Greg Tansey and Polworth put them well clear, before Nicky Low’s late consolation.
An away game against Hamilton Accies next week, a side destined to be fighting against relegation this season, beckons for Caley Thistle before the international break, with Mulraney wanting more from his team-mates.
“It was good to get the three points, but in terms of our standard, we could have gone up another two or three gears. We have to take the positives,” he said.
“In the last two games, I don’t know whether people expected us to pick up the points. The confidence has gone up then against Dundee we went up again, so hopefully we can take it up again.
“Everyone was a bit shocked with the start we made. We started the season poorly but we’ve picked it up and been a lot better in the last four games.”
Saturday’s game was the third start of the season for Mulraney, who had found himself on the bench for three games after the 5-1 drubbing against Hearts.
He started the season in impressive fashion alongside fellow new recruit Billy King, starring in Caley Thistle’s progression from the League Cup group stage.
However, inconsistent performances saw Mulraney sacrificed after the Hearts game Inverness picked up their first three points the following weekend against St Johnstone.
His return to the side against a below-par Dundee, at the expense of Iain Vigurs, surprised a few given the latter’s impressive start to the season, but he hopes to have convinced Foran he deserves to keep his place at New Douglas Park on Saturday.
“It’s never nice to be sitting on the bench, but you have to do something when you come on, to be in the back of the gaffer’s mind. You have to stay positive and hopefully get your chance,” said Mulraney.
“Hopefully I can keep my place but I have to keep doing well in training.
“I demand better from myself and I’d rather by harder on myself than not – that chance will annoy me for a week or two!
“Luckily we didn’t need that goal, so that took a bit of the sting out of it.I tried to whack it before the keeper got back in and he’s saved it, so I was a bit gutted.”
One thing Mulraney has had to get acclimated to is the rough treatment he has received from opposing defenders.
“Given his quickness and direct style of play, Irish winger Mulraney has become a target for those wanting to slow him down, even prompting Foran to call for extra protection from referees for his summer recruit early in the season.
The rough justice meted out on him has not phased the former Queens Park Rangers man, who believed it was worse during the League Cup games.
“It’s eased off slightly in the last few games but I got a bit of a dead leg after Dundee.
“You have to take it as a compliment, at least that’s the way I see it,” he said. “We’ve got set-piece takers in the team so the more free-kicks the better.
“I’m enjoying it a lot, though. I’ve played in League Two but it’s a step up from that. There were nearly 20,000 at Hearts, which was mad. Aaron (Doran) is from my area so I knew him before I came here, so that helped me settle.
“There’s no big-time Charlies and there’ll all nice lads who help you a lot.”
