Gardyne couldn’t handle a sub story
INVERNESS..2 QoS .................. 1
MICHAEL GARDYNE told revealed he pleaded with boss Billy Dodds to keep him on the park before he fired a dramatic winner.
The veteran was back from three weeks out with an ankle injury and had managed only one proper training session.
But Gardyne conjured up a late piece of magic to fire Caley Thistle three points clear of Kilmarnock at the Championship summit as he thundered home from close range.
That came just seven minutes after Queens had levelled through Lee Connelly following a Sean Welsh opener.
Gardyne said: “After an injury lay-off you can blow up after an hour or so.
“I got a second wind and when I saw the manager go to make a substitution, I told him he had better not take me off !
“I just had a good feeling about it because I felt fit and strong and, thankfully, I produced in the end. I’ve come through a tough three weeks with my ankle but I’ve kept my fitness levels high.”
Gardyne recognises that something special is brewing at Caley.
He said: “To show the resilience and character we did to get the winner after losing the goal is fantastic.
“When we scored the winner, everybody came to celebrate and that’s massive. To compete at the top end of the league, you need that team spirit.
“I’ve been part of some great dressing rooms in my time and, coming here, the lads have been brilliant with me”
Queens boss Allan Johnston said: “A bit of magic from Lee Connelly should have been enough to get a point. There are too many occasions when that has happened.”