Player awards are fine but I’d rather win a team trophy at the end of the season
Tremarco’s only eyeing titles as Caley chase clean sheet record
CARL TREMARCO would happily toss his Player of the Month award in the Moray Firth if it meant a league winners’ medal come May.
Likewise he’ll care little if Inverness fail to set a club clean sheet record today as long as Championship rivals Falkirk don’t sink their Irn-Bru Cup semi-final hopes.
The 32-year-old defender, whose gaffer John Robertson picked up the manager’s prize for October, considers awards and records as nice frills to a season in which the real thrill would be lifting trophies.
Tremarco’s return to the starting XI following cruciate ligament damage came a week before the start of a six-game unbeaten run without a goal being shipped. But their revival could be tested by a Bairns side who won 2-0 at the Caledonian Stadium in a Betfred Cup group game in July.
Tremarco said: “The awards for the gaffer and I are testament to everyone at the club for turning a sticky start around. Anyone in the changing room probably could have won.
“It’s nice but it is only an award – give me a winners’ medal at the end of the season and I’ll be happy. As a team we’re on a good run – especially after the start we had we’ve all dug down deep together and we’re getting the rewards.
“It is good we have something going at the moment and it is working – but winning games is all that matters.
“I couldn’t really care less about clean sheets or records. It’s a cup game and the league has been put to bed for a few weeks.
“It is the same with the award. Any of the back four or goalkeeper deserved it. They probably just pick it out of a hat!
“Winning games and going on a good run is all that matters at the minute.
“Even if we concede early, so long as we win the game I don’t mind missing out on the clean sheet record.”
Caley Thistle would need to hold out for 50 minutes today to break the record of 617 minutes set in 2014 under John Hughes. However, they face a Falkirk side whose boss is spoiled for choice having frontloaded his squad since taking charge.
The arrival of Louis Longridge on an emergency loan from Hamilton Accies has bolstered Paul Hartley’s frontline along with Rory Loy’s return from injury.
But the Bairns boss insists that doesn’t spell the end for Scott Shepherd – despite the 21-year-old last week being sent out on loan to Edinburgh City until January.
He said: “We’ve got seven forwardthinking players on our books so it’s a case of go out, play, get games, confidence and goals – he got one last Saturday.
“We’ll keep our eye on him and hopefully he does well there. The door’s not shut on anyone but it was important for him to go out.”
Hartley is ready to put his faith in youth after a knee injury to keeper David Mitchell, handing the gloves to former Aberdeen academy kid Robbie Mutch, 19, rather than pursue another loan deal.
And he added: “I definitely think he’s one for the future. He has a real chance and has big potential.”
So long as we win the game I don’t mind missing out on the clean sheet record CARL TREMARCO