Mark Ridgers calls for fresh start at home despite Inverness Caledonian Thistle holding the advantage going into Premiership play-off quarter final against Partick Thistle
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Mark Ridgers says Inverness Caledonian Thistle must be prepared to start again against Partick Thistle tomorrow night despite taking a lead into the second leg of their play-off.
Inverness have the advantage going into their home leg after Shane Sutherland and Austin Samuels each found the net at Firhill to overturn Robbie Crawford’s opener in a 2–1 win.
That puts the Caley Jags in the driving seat to reach at least the play-off semi finals, but Ridgers insists Inverness cannot take anything for granted.
As far as he is concerned, Tuesday night’s result will not matter come kick off, with both sides knowing they will need to get a result in the second leg to advance.
“We just have to take it game by game,” he stressed.
“It’s easy to say, but we’re at that stage where we have to. We have to recover really well, get ourselves back into training and look forward to Friday.
“Fingers crossed we can finish the job and move on to the next stage. We all know the old saying, it’s only half time, but to come back from a goal behind shows the character we have.
“It’s brilliant for us, but we’re going into Friday’s game still with a lot to play for. We have to remain positive and put in another performance like that.
“We didn’t play as well as we could have, but the result was massive, and that’s what matters.”
Much had been made about the condition of the Firhill surface going into Tuesday’s match, but Caley Thistle were still able to get the ball down and pass it around in spells.
It could be argued that was in spite of the pitch in Glasgow, but regardless that is not a problem ICT will encounter at the Caledonian Stadium.
With home advantage, of course, also comes a bigger support for Inverness, and Ridgers is looking for the fans to continue making as much noise as they have in recent games.
“The (Firhill) pitch is actually looking better, I think that Partick’s groundsman has done a great job,” former Partick Thistle and Hearts goalkeeper Ridgers reasoned.
“It looks good, but under the surface it’s still bobbly, some parts are sticky and there’s still not much grass in parts.
“You could see that with people’s passing and touches, so that’s a problem that we won’t have to face again.
“We’ll look forward to a Friday night at home again, and I’ve no doubt we’ll have a big support.
“The away fans were brilliant, and that’s what you need. They help you through, so I’m looking forward to seeing them again on Friday because they’re starting to make a lot of noise.
“They realise as well as the players that if they give us the effort, we’ll give them the effort too. It’s great to have.”
Inverness will most likely have to cope without Tom Walsh for tomorrow night’s game, after the attacking midfielder left Partick Thistle on crutches on Tuesday night.
