IT’S SEAN OF THE DREAD FOR FOES
Welsh buries a frightening finish on boss Billy’s orders
BILLY DODDS hailed Sean Welsh for following orders as his strike lifted Inverness back to the summit for the first time since October.
Always marginally on top in a sometimes broken, messy battle of wills in the Highland capital, the solitary strike nudged them up from third to first as beaten Kilmarnock – with their first away defeat – took the opposite path.
Delighted boss Dodds said: “I said to them at half-time, ‘Would somebody just take the initiative and have a wee pop?’.
“Sean came up with the goods and I’m just glad he listened!
“It was a brilliant goal to win a game. It was a hard-fought three points but a big, brilliant result. It puts us top and I’m happy.”
Raith Rovers, with a test at Arbroath today, can replace Caley Thistle but it was a huge result psychologically for Dodds and his men.
Much of the first half was tense and tentative, with Killie having to defend their box in driving rain during the opening 10 minutes.
In 13 minutes a sweeping home attack ended with Roddy MacGregor’s deft flick into Billy Mckay’s path. The striker’s left foot blast was well blocked by keeper Zach Hemming.
Rory McKenzie, though, forced a full-stretch tip around a post from Mark Ridgers with a strike.
Caley Thistle’s passing and movement was the more positive and in 29 minutes they were agonisingly close to an opener when Sutherland swerved a leftfoot attempt just wide.
The half drew to a close with lively veteran Chris Burke drilling a dangerous ball across the home six-yard box without a taker.
Both managers would have been looking for more quality and attacking bite in the second half and Killie’s Brad Lyons worked hard to instil some with a decent early attempt saved by Ridgers.
It remained scrappy, petty fouls breaking up play all too often.
Killie’s Oli Shaw did get a sniff approaching the hour but skewed his attempt well wide from a decent position.
Winger Tom Walsh was soon introduced at the expense of midfielder Roddy MacGregor.
The vibes of positivity from the home technical area paid off in 69 minutes. Strong running and control from Scott Allardice took the home side up the park before captain Welsh took the ball.
He seemed about to lose control under pressure but shook off the challenge and opened up to swerve a fine finish high into the net from 25 yards.
Rugby Park gaffer Tommy Wright said: “I don’t think our performance was good enough over the 90 minutes. We’ve had that type of performance at home a few times. We have to address it.”