Dramatic circumstances of Inverness Caledonian Thistle's play-off win over Arbroath will only help Highlanders going into final against St Johnstone, claims Billy Mckay
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Billy Mckay believes Inverness Caledonian Thistle's dramatic win in the Premiership play-off semi final will only add to their momentum going into the final.
St Johnstone await in the final, with the first leg in the Highland capital on Friday evening, but first the Caley Jags had to see off Arbroath at Gayfield last week.
For a long time, it looked as though Inverness were up against it. At one stage due to red cards and injuries, they were playing with eight men, but they held on and eventually prevailed in a penalty shoot-out.
That, Mckay says, has the dressing room in high spirits, which can only bode well going into the final this weekend.
"The changing room was good yesterday," Mckay revealed.
"We were all speaking about the match (at Arbroath) and what happened.
"It was obviously a bit of a war. We were down and short on bodies, so not many people were training.
"It's surreal. Obviously I played in the semi final against Hearts a good few years ago now, I think it was 2014, when we had nine men as well.
"To be honest, in the game I felt quite comfortable even with nine men that we were going to take it to penalties.
"Obviously from there it's a bit of a lottery, but it gives us a bit of momentum and we're preparing now for the game on Friday."
Experienced heads
It was perhaps notable that some of Caley Thistle's key performers last Friday night were some of the more experienced players in the camp.
Mark Ridgers made a crucial save in the shoot-out before Kirk Broadfoot dispatched the winning spot kick, after Mckay had played out of position in left midfield for a large portion of the game to get there.
That composure could prove crucial again in a match with such high stakes as the play-off final, and Mckay certainly sees value in it – although he says having the right balance is vital.
"I think the other day you could see that it was important," the 33-year-old explained.
"Kirk Broadfoot at the back was nice and calm, he's probably been in situations like that in the past.
"Myself, playing out of position, and people like Danny Devine and Shane Sutherland before they went off, and Aaron and Sean Welsh, who stepped up in the penalty shoot-out as well.
"We've got real experience there, and I think that could definitely help along the way.
"The other night it definitely helped having that experience, but also having the young guys there running around and helping us.
"We all need to be in it together. We all need the young guys, we need the experienced boys, we need everyone to be together at this point, and we are."
Helping younger players
Those experienced heads may feel like they should not be fazed by the occasion on Friday night, but there is an argument to be made that it will be the biggest game of some Inverness players' careers to date.
That would be the case for someone like Lewis Hyde, who has only broken into the ICT first team squad this season, but equally it could apply to the likes of Cameron Harper, Robbie Deas, Reece McAlear and David Carson too.
If any of them go to Mckay for advice, then, they will be met with a straightforward answer.
"They just have to treat it like another game," Mckay stressed.
"I know it's not, but these are the games you want to be playing in as a player.
"For them, they want to be playing in the Premiership, so I would just tell them to play their normal game and not let the occasion get to them.
"If they do that, I'm sure they will be fine. They have been fine all season, and I think if they can treat it like that we'll be okay and hopefully come out the other end of it a Premiership team."
