Inverness Caley Thistle goalkeeper Musa Dibaga backed himself to save penalty against Stenhousemuir – but admits League One draws are starting to feel like defeats in Highland capital
Inverness Caledonian Thistle goalkeeper Musa Dibaga insisted he was always going facing up to Matt Yates’ spot kick for Stenhousemuir on Saturday – but admits draws are only increasing the frustration at the club right now.
The Caley Jags looked set to go behind in the first half at the weekend when Danny Devine was judged to have fouled Matthew Aitken inside his own box, giving Stenny a prime opportunity to take the lead.
However, 24-year-old Dibaga produced a brilliant save low to his right to keep the scores level.
While both teams would have further efforts on goal, neither side’s goalkeeper was ever particularly troubled, leading to a stalemate by the time the final whistle was blown.
After a sixth draw in eight league games, Dibaga acknowledges that points have been left on the table, but he is confident that those results will turn into wins sooner rather than later.
“It feels really good to get another clean sheet, but it was another draw,” he explained.
“I have faced a few penalties in the Lowland League, and I saved a lot of them, so it’s something I think I’m good at.
“I was feeling confident, and I wanted to get the fans behind us, so it was a great save to make. It was a big lift in that moment for us, but we unfortunately couldn’t score a goal to win the game.
“It’s frustrating that we can’t get the goal we really want. It’s starting to feel like draws are defeats.
“We would be beating teams by one goal right now, but looking at the table we’re only five points off the top, so that gives us hope that we can keep going and start getting the wins.
“We know it will come, and we still have hope, so we motivate each other to try and get that goal.”
The point against Stenhousemuir was ICT’s third league clean sheet of the season, with Dibaga’s penalty save a big part of the defensive effort.
On a personal note, that moment will only entrench him further as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, ahead of Dundee United loanee Jack Newman.
“The more games I play the more confidence I build, and keeping a clean sheet is always good for me,” Dibaga added.
“I just want to help the team, that’s the main thing, but it’s a good feeling to have the shirt and be the number one goalkeeper.
“Obviously it’s not what I expected when I came in to the club, but that’s what I wanted. Now it seems like I have it.
“Every time we train I feel like I’m getting better and better, so I just have to prove that on the pitch during games.”
