BOGEYMAN IS HAUNTED
Foran: We let ropey Dons off the hook
Richie Foran blasted his shot-shy attackers and claimed they were “bang average” for failing to kill off Aberdeen.
Inverness made it four points from their last two league matches to move off the bottom of the table – but Thistle boss Foran reckons it was two points dropped. Caley are proving Aberdeen’s bogey team – the Dons failed to beat them in the league last season – and Derek McInnes was left frustrated again when Ia in Vigurs pounced to cancel out Niall McGinn’s second-half opening goal. And after Inverness piled on the pressure in search of the winner Foran said: “Aberdeen were there for the taking. We were magnif icent at the back but, attacking wise, we created a lot of chances and that’s the poorest we’ve been in the final third. “I didn’t see a goal coming. We had no imagination in the final third and were bang average.
“Before the game you would have taken a point but we should have sensed Aberdeen were there for the taking.
“Maybe I’ll think differently on Monday but we created chances and there was a lot of space. We should have capitalised on those chances but weren’t switched on enough to take them. “So I know what we’ ll be working on this week.” Foran praised ref Crawford Allan for taking him into the dressing-room at half-time and explaining his decisions. Foran said: “Credit to the ref – we had a chat so I respect him for that.
“It would have been easy for him to push me away, some other refs might have done that. Maybe he knew he’d made a mistake.
“I just want refs to be fair to us. You need consistency. We had three players booked in the first half yet there were chal lenges f rom Aberdeen that went unpunished.”
McInnes welcomed back Jonny Hayes after a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for six weeks.
It was the Irishman’s first league start of the season for the Reds.
New Dons signing James Maddison, on loan from Norwich, had to be content with a place on the bench.
Foran handed a debut to former Hearts and St Johnstone defender Brad McKay.
Inverness could have opened the scoring in 13 minutes but Liam Polworth skied his effort from Billy King’s cross.
For Dons, Hayes sent a dangerous inswinging free-kick just past the post in 21 minutes.
Moments later Graeme Shinnie went down needing treatment but was able to continue.
Hayes then raced clear of the Inverness defence but was forced wide and his attempted cross was deflected on to the roof of the net.
However, Shinnie’s recovery didn’t last long and he had to limp off after 34 minutes to be replaced by Maddison.
Ross Draper almost gave Inverness the lead seconds after the restart when his half-volley was diverted inches wide by Anthony O’Connor.
The breakthrough finally arrived in 52 minutes when McGinn cut in from the left.
His cros s - shot evaded everybody and nestled into the bottom corner of Owain Fon Williams’ net.
The Highlanders claimed Wes Burns had tripped Polworth in the lead-up to the opener.
Seconds later Burns darted clear and curled his shot well wide of target when a cutback may have been the better option.
Fon Williams saved well from Adam Rooney and Maddison as the Reds went in search of a killer second goal.
But in 67 minutes Aberdeen struggled to clear their lines and Vigurs stunned the home crowd with a superb 20-yard curling shot that went in off the bar.
Maddison curled another drive inches wide as the Reds sought a late winner.
They came closer still in injury time when Jayden Stockley’s shot was booted off the line by Josh Meekings. But the Highlanders could have snatched victory at the end when Draper sent an effort sailing over the top.