Manager Billy Dodds says striker is emerging as key man for Inverness Caley Thistle
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BILLY Dodds hailed the growing influence of Billy Mckay on Caley Thistle’s season after the experienced striker’s hugely-important winner against Partick.
It was the Northern Ireland international’s 86th goal for the Inverness club – second only to Dennis Wyness’s 101 – but, more importantly, Mckay’s third in the four Championship victories.
Mackay tends to be unstoppable during these rich seams of goalscoring form and manager Dodds is also challenging him, and the team, to keep the momentum building after drawing level at the league summit.
Reflecting on the 1–0 triumph, Dodds said: “It was a brilliant run from Dan MacKay, who was excellent, and a great finish from Billy.
“There were a few bodies for Billy to get past with his shot, but he just took it superbly. He kept his cool, but that’s why he has scored as many goals as he has for this club and throughout his whole career.
“Billy has that natural composure and is just clinical in this kind of form. It couldn’t have dropped to a better guy. Billy is doing a real turn for me, now.
Partick manager Ian McCall made – and then retracted, apologetically – some harsh criticism of debut referee Scott Lambie.
Lambie was accused of being out of his depth at this level, with McCall claiming a stonewall penalty award for the Maryhill side had been missed.
He also questioned Lambie’s decision to red card Kyle Turner for catching Roddy MacGregor high and late in a 50-50 challenge, but then issued a statement apologising for “borderline bullying” towards the young ref.
Dodds had no doubt Lambie got both calls right – and that Caley Jags deserved the three points.
“We deserved the win. When Thistle got the better of us at Firhill in that 4-1 defeat in August, they out-fought us and won the battles. This time around I made sure, and the players made sure, they were right up for it.
“We’ve beaten four big clubs in succession. We’re a team who can put a run together. We have shown real unity.
“We know how well Partick are playing. They are scoring goals and they still created a couple of chances. I knew they would, with Brian Graham and Steven Lawless. Patience was key.
“There was talk of a penalty when Cammy Harper had his knee up and, for the red card, Turner is not that kind of player (usually), but I watched it back and the ref called it right.”
