Three takeaways from the SPFL Trust Trophy match between Inverness Caley Thistle and Brechin City in the Highland capital, including post-match reaction from ICT coach Barry Wilson and defender Max Ram
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle are into the round of 16 in the SPFL Trust Trophy – but their passage through was not as easy as many may have thought.
Despite being 3–1 behind thanks to George Oakley's double and Nathan Shaw's strike, the Highland League leaders turned the game on its head to force a penalty shoot-out.
Caley Thistle found a way through, but spirits were not exactly high despite progressing. With that in mind, here are three things to take away from the cup tie.
Valuable minutes
It was no secret that Inverness Caledonian Thistle were going to make changes to their line up for the visit of Brechin, and it was easier to name the players who remained in the team than list off all the one being brought in.
Of the less familiar faces in ICT's side, arguably the most notably were Cameron Mackay, Calum MacKay (making his first senior start for Inverness) and Max Ram.
Ram got his first minutes since picking up an injury 14 minutes into the opening Premier Sports Cup group game of the campaign against Kelty Hearts.
It may only have been an hour, but that still marked 60 minutes of progress for the 21-year-old defender, and now he will look to push on and compete with the likes of Danny Devine and Robbie Deas for a starting spot.
Max Ram's thoughts: "It was just nice to get back involved and be with the lads again. My last competitive game was Kelty, and that was short lived, only 10 minutes really.
"Since then I've been working hard to get back fit, so it was nice just to be back out there and get some minutes in my legs.
"The sharpness will come another time, but I felt good, fit and strong, so hopefully I can kick on now."
Inviting Brechin to attack
There were times when Caley Thistle looked in complete control against a team who play three tiers below them.
However, there were also times when Brechin posed plenty of problems.
Possibly the most concerning aspect from an Inverness point of view was that it was too easy for the likes of Kevin McHattie, Grady McGrath and Euan Spark to find the net for the visitors.
I can only put it down to complacency, whether because of the level of opposition or the scoreline, as if ICT gave opponents the same kind of opportunities against Championship teams they would be expecting to be punished.
Max Ram's thoughts: "I don't really know too much about them, but we've watched videos and they surprised me out there.
"We knew it wasn't going to be a stroll in the park, but the guys who needed minutes helped each other through the game.
"It was a bit tricky towards the end, but we managed to get through on penalties."
Nerves of steel
After a back-and-forth 90 minutes, it was only appropriate that the penalty shoot-out went the same way.
When the first spot kick was missed by Jamie Bain, Inverness fans could have been forgiven for thinking it could become a procession.
George Oakley, who had earlier converted a penalty in normal time, hit the crossbar though, putting things back in the balance.
Caley Thistle have shown a penchant for making life difficult for themselves but still finding a way through over recent seasons, and this was no different as Cameron Mackay's save earned their spot in the next round.
Yes, it was disappointing a shoot-out was needed in the first place, but you have to give Inverness some credit for finding a way through it when morale and belief can't have been at it's peak.
Barry Wilson's thoughts: "We're pleased to be through. At 3–1 the boys have probably taken their eyes off the prize a wee bit and dropped their guard, and when you do that it's hard to get going again.
"Their second goal was out of the blue to be honest, I thought we were totally dominant, but we couldn't then go up a gear again.
"We're through, it wasn't pretty but we got some boys some game time."
