Head coach left shocked by Inverness Caley Thistle performance against Ayr United
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HEAD coach Billy Dodds says he was shocked with how his Inverness Caledonian Thistle team started in their 2-1 defeat to Ayr United which ended their promotion dream for another season.
Josh Mullin put Ayr United in front 10 minutes before half time as the visitors deserved their lead.
Inverness equalised through Nathan Shaw eight minutes from time, but Mark McKenzie scored the winner two minutes from time to consign Caley Thistle to the Championship for another season.
Dodds says he was left shocked with how his team performed in the first half and said in the end, Ayr United deserved their win.
He told his team in the dressing room: "I said to the boys they must realise what is at stake.
"How you start games is vital.
"But we didn't start well and for the first time that shocked me a wee bit - how can they be like this?
"How can you coast it when so much is at stake.
"I was honest with them and Ayr United deserved it because they had the best of the first half but not the second half.
"We had to have a go, change the shape and personnel. I saw things that frustrated me and it was back to where we were before. We have been on an unbelievable run. I cannot praise them enough."
Dodds says it has been a disappointing end to the campaign, but praised his team for getting through a horrendous injury crisis to almost make the play-offs and reach the Scottish Cup final.
"Yes, it is disappointing but I cannot praise the team for reaching the Scottish Cup final and got to within a whisker of the play-offs.
"That's the facts and I don't care what people think or say. The fans were loud again, but we didn't give them enough in the first 45 minutes.
"If we started as we started in the second half when I changed shape then I think we'd have given them a lot better game.
"People always say the league table never lies but I think this time it does. If we don't have that injury list, I have never seen injuries like that.
"People say I shouldn't have that as an excuse, but sometimes you should - the boys have worked ever so hard.
"The fringe players have also worked hard and kept us there or thereabouts.
"If I had my full quota of players there is no danger we're finishing sixth."
