"We're more frustrated than the fans" - Ross Draper
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ROSS Draper responded to being booed off the park on Saturday by stating the players were more frustrated than the fans with their own shortcomings.
Supporters vented their displeasure at the performance against Hamilton Accies by jeering the side off the park, which Draper could understand but said would not help the team in the long run.
Saturday’s loss was Caley Thistle’s third in five league games and leaves them still searching for their first win, with Dundee, Hearts, Dundee United and Aberdeen to come in the next month.
The injury crisis shows no sign of easing with both Dani Lopez and Greg Tansey taken off on Saturday, leaving the squad thread-bare until at least the international break.
The feel-good factor eminating from the club’s Scottish Cup victory is in danger of dissipating, with only Kilmarnock propping them up at the foot of the Premiership table. Draper wants the entire club to remain united through this difficult spell or further problems could lie ahead.
“The fans pay their money and they’re entitled to vent their frustration. We’re more frustrated than them,” he said. “Booing lads and the team doesn’t help. I understand their frustrations and with the success we had last season, they want us to kick on and go again. Hopefully we can do that when we start playing properly again.
“We’re more frustrated than them and I can only encourage them to get behind the boys. With such a young group of boys and how small the squad is, we need everyone on board. When we’re carrying people, we’re not a good side.
"That goes for everyone — the players, the management and the fans. We all need to be pulling in the same direction. If we don’t then we’re going to have some problems to deal with.”
The panic button will not be pressed by anyone inside the Caledonian Stadium just yet. Draper pointed to his first season at Inverness under Terry Butcher, where the team failed to win any of their first seven league games before going on to lose just one of the next 19.
Draper insists the team is simply not working hard enough to gain results. Contrast that to Hamilton on Saturday, who pressed the Caley Jags from the start and worked well as a unit to keep the home side at bay.
“We’re not working hard enough as a group or as individuals. We’re just not at the races. We’ve only got ourselves to blame and it’s only us that can turn it around,” said Draper.
“We haven’t competed. Maybe we can take a little bit of inspiration from Hamilton; a group of boys who aren’t the best team in the league but they don’t half graft for each other. From the first minute to the last, they put us under pressure.
“It’s not panic stations — it’s not a case of calling a panic meeting in the morning with the boys. It’s just getting back to the training ground, playing with a smile on our faces and working hard for each other.”
The search for a new frontman continues this week, despite having one trialist call off his visit to Inverness on Saturday morning. Despite stating on Thursday that the need for a transfer fee could price Caley Thistle out of a move for Portadown striker Darren Murray, manager John Hughes said the scenario could be revisited.
“He acquitted himself very well and that’s one we might revisit. But he will take three or four months to get up to speed and we need someone to hit the ground running,” he said. “We desperately need someone with a bit of pace to run the channels and we’re working ever so hard to bring someone in. We’ll hopefully have one in place by next week.”
