Inverness Caledonian Thistle goalkeeper Mark Ridgers expecting hostile second leg against Arbroath
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GOALKEEPER Mark Ridgers says he is expecting a hostile Premiership play-off second leg when Inverness Caledonian Thistle travel to Arbroath tomorrow night.
The two teams will head to Gayfield goalless after the 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Caledonian Stadium on Tuesday night.
It was a physical encounter between the two teams, where Inverness had a number of chances to break the deadlock in the second half but couldn’t find the net.
Ridgers expects Gayfield to be packed tomorrow night for what is the biggest game of the season.
He says Inverness will need to handle the occasion to progress to the final against either Dundee or St Johnstone to play for a place in the Premiership next season.
“A lot of fans have started going to their games and the way they play it will be quite hostile,” said Ridgers.
“We still have to go there, and their record at home is brilliant, we beat them and everyone keeps talking about that.
“But that was the beginning of the season so it is a different outcome.
“We are there and remain positive and if we create the chances we did tonight we will take one or two of them and we will see how it goes down there.”
Inverness finished the regular season in third place in the Championship, six points behind Arbroath in second place.
But during the regular season, Inverness took seven points off Arbroath.
They are also undefeated at Gayfield this season, with a 1-0 win on the opening day of the season thanks to a Shane Sutherland strike and a 0-0 draw in January.
Inverness were the only team to beat Arbroath in the Championship this season with Premiership outfit Hibernian in the Scottish Cup the only other visiting team to win there.
The last time Inverness were in the play-offs in 2019, they exited at the semi-final stage to Dundee United after beating Ayr United at the quarter final stage.
After a 1-0 defeat at the Caledonian Stadium, they then lost 3-0 at Tannadice to remain in the Championship.
Despite failing to grab a victory in the first leg on Tuesday night, Ridgers says the team are still in a good position to progress and keep the Premiership dream alive.
“It is tough and we have been here before with Dundee United,” he said.
“That previous experience where we are behind and chasing in the second leg it can be difficult.
“We are just as much in the tie as they are, and everyone will recover well and fingers crossed we get the result we need.”
