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Inverness Caley Thistle is aiming to extinguish flame of hope at Arbroath


By Will Clark

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HEAD coach Billy Dodds says Inverness Caledonian Thistle have to look at extinguishing any flames of hope Arbroath have of another fairytale season in the Championship when they clash at Gayfield tomorrow.

Picture - Ken Macpherson. Inverness CT(1) v Queen’s Park(1). 30.07.22. ICT’s George Oakley and Aaron Doran.
Picture - Ken Macpherson. Inverness CT(1) v Queen’s Park(1). 30.07.22. ICT’s George Oakley and Aaron Doran.

Last season, Arbroath almost pulled off one of the biggest shocks in Scottish football history when they were two games away from winning the Championship as the only part-time team in the division.

However, defeat to Kilmarnock in the penultimate game of the regular campaign, followed by a play-off semi-final defeat to Inverness, ended the Red Lichties' dreams of top flight football.

Arbroath disproved the myth last season that part-time teams could not compete for a title in a division where the majority of clubs are full-time. With Cove Rangers also getting off to a great start last week, Dodds says results prove anyone is capable of beating anyone in the Championship.

However, he is only focused on Inverness having a successful season and wants to make sure they are not chasing Arbroath or anyone else in the race for the title.

“We can’t start looking at what Arbroath are doing and if they go and do the same with a fairytale season,” he said.

“Cove Rangers have shown that already, people think they are a part-time team who are just going to try and stay in this league, that might not be the case with their results against us.

“That is where it started for Arbroath last season, Dick Campbell telling them they are a good team, they get the results, they reinforce it and go on that run.

“We hope to put that flame out and get a good result. If we can win this game, what a good start to the season it has been, getting through the League Cup and four points out of six. I am looking only at my team, but Arbroath will want to have a good season like last season.”

Caley Thistle drew 1–1 with Queen’s Park last week and Dodds says the first weekend always throws up unpredictable results.

“The first week of the season, there is so much adrenaline, it is energy sapping and exciting, over a period of time things settle down and I hope that is the case.

“The first day of the season can be a strange thing.”


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