MY FORAN POLICY IS WORKING
Gaffer’s upbeat as Caley climb off bottom of table
Alex Schalk earned Ross County a point they barely deserved as Caley Thistle clambered off bottom spot.
And Inverness boss Richie Foran is sure a surge in fortunes lies just around the corner for his men.
The Highland derby hosts had looked to be hurtling to a massive victory in the survival fight after Greg Tansey’s opener.
But County hit them with a sucker-punch from Schalk’s boot with just a few minutes left.
Foran said: “I tried to get more passion out of the players and I got that. More commitment, more pressing, more energy.
“We’ve seen a lot of it over the last six or seven games. I’m a positive guy and it’s coming. We’ll go put three or four wins together – we’ve got the firepower.”
The hosts were strengthened by the timely return of Ross Draper and Carl Tremarco from suspension, with Brad McKay and Liam Polworth dropping to the bench.
Draper quickly put his mark on the midfield area, answering Foran’s call for ‘a bit of nastiness’ with a couple of thumping challenges.
Ross County also made two changes, with Andrew Davies replacing the injured Paul Quinn in defence and Frenchman Chris Routis in for Martin Woods in midfield. The Dingwall side faced an early scare after only five minutes when Iain Vigurs’ dipping strike from just outside the area clipped the top of Aaron McCarey’s bar. And the hosts went close again as Vigurs’ long free-kick found Draper stretching to win a far post header that nestled on to the roof of the net. County responded with their best move of the half. Liam Boyce strung the ball wide to Jason Naismith on the right. The ex- St Mirren wing back’s low, hard cross veered dangerously across the six-yard box and only just evaded the reach of striker Schalk. Penalty claims from County after 40 minutes came to nothing after David Raven clashed with Schalk in the home penalty box. Ref Crawford Allan was quick to wave the appeals away. Just three minutes into the second half, the hosts were ahead. Christopher Routis was careless with a mis-hit clearance in his own area and Billy Mckay linked with Liam Polworth before the latter’s lay-off drew a thunderbolt strike from Tansey.
The 20-yard effort deflected off County defender Marcus Fraser to wrong-foot keeper McCarey on its way into the net.
The visitors passed up a glorious chance just before the hour.
Naismith’s cross from the right picked out Craig Curran free at the back post but the Liverpudlian striker made the poorest of contacts with the goal gaping.
Moments later Caley Thistle stormed into the County box again with Henri Anier’s cut-back met by the outstretched leg of Mckay but the striker’s shot spun off the crossbar to safety.
Then, to the amazement of most in the ground, never- say- die County levelled with just four minutes left.
A Kenny van der Weg throw-in from the left was flicked on by sub Ryan Dow. Schalk, controlling neatly with back to goal, evaded a challenge and swivelled to strike the net brilliantly from eight yards.
County even had a couple of late sniffs but anything more than a point would have been daylight robbery. The point kept both clubs’ hopes of survival alive.