SHINTY - Boss says three straight defeats likely to cost Inverness title as he rates Newtonmore as favourites to win North Division One
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COACH Drew McNeil admits Inverness are no longer favourites to win North Division One, despite still being top of the league by one point.
Three straight defeats means Inverness, who have been top of the division for most of the season, are relying on other teams to do them favours as Newtonmore Reserves are now considered favourites to win the league.
Despite Inverness being one point ahead at the top, third place Newtonmore have two games in hand.
Inverness should be favourites to at least stay top on Saturday when they face bottom of the table Caberfeidh Reserves at Bught Park at noon.
Newtonmore also face a tough clash at second place Glengarry, who are also one point behind Inverness.
But McNeil believes the league is now Newtonmore’s to lose.
He blames a drastic loss of form in recent weeks is likely to cost Inverness the title and the chance of promotion back to the National Division next season.
“We have lost our last three games and as a result lost our grip at the top,” he said.
“We have probably lost our focus a wee bit and that is what happens over the course of a long season.
“You can go for weeks when you just lose matches.
“I think that Newtonmore will now win the league due to the games in hand they have on us.
“It is disappointing that we have appeared to let the lead slip.”
Inverness face bottom of the table Caberfeidh on Saturday before completing the season away to Kinlochshiel and at home to Fort William before the end of the month.
McNeil says his team will be determined to finish the season on a high by winning all three games and hopes results elsewhere can help them clinch the title.
“We are looking to win our last three games as that would leave a better taste in our mouths,” he said.
“I’ve said to the boys that a problem when chasing the league is you can’t take notice of anybody else. If we want to justify our position at a higher level, we have to do it on our own merits.”
