Foran fumes as side show ‘lack of bottle’
INVERNESS manager Richie Foran eviscerated his players last night after they went down meekly to secondbottom Hamilton at the Superseal Stadium, labelling them “mentally weak” and questioning their bottle for the relegation battle that lies ahead.
Goals from Alex D’Acol, Grant Gillespie and Rakish Bingham moved Hamilton three points clear of the league’s bottom-side, who now face a crucial clash with Dundee on Saturday.
Foran said: “That puts us in a relegation battle. Unfortunately we have a few players hiding. We have a few mentally weak players, who can’t handle it.
“They can’t handle being bottom of the league. I see players taking a step to the left when the ball is going to the right. There are a few lacking a bit of bottle, that’s for sure.
“It is worrying and maybe those players need a rest. You are looking for men now. You are looking for warriors and fighters.
“Am I being too harsh? I’m not so sure. I can’t keep making excuses for them, It is not good enough.
“We did compete but there are few players lacking in confidence and energy. We were second to second-balls and we’ll find out who the men are come Saturday.
“I told them straight and we’ll see who’s bottling it. You can see it, some of them are training players, but the time to do it was out there on match day. I’m sick of hearing apologies for individual mistakes when I go in after the game. I don’t want to hear that any more. They need to keep their mouths shut and go out and perform.
“They need to start fighting harder and believing in themselves more. I can’t keep telling them to have belief, they’ve got to believe it.
“Saturday is now a cup final, it’s massive and players need to show guts and bravery and I’ll find out who has that. The weak will be left behind.”
The measured filleting of his players was well merited, after they turned in a truly woeful performance in what had been billed as a massive match for both sides’ chances of survival.
Hamilton had failed to record a win in their last 12 matches and Inverness were without a victory in their last 11, but it was Accies who claimed the crucial win.
It was clear to see why these teams have been struggling, but the lack of quality on show will matter little to Hamilton.
They hit the front just 10 minutes in with as simple a goal as you will ever see. A corner from Ali Crawford found D’Acol making a near-post run, and the forward nodded home with the visiting defence posted missing.
Inverness had a glorious opportunity to level just before the half hour, as a brilliant cross from Greg Tansey had the Hamilton backline scrambling, leading captain Mikey Devlin to shove Carl Tremarco to the floor and concede a penalty.
Tansey stepped up but telegraphed his effort to the keeper’s right and Gary Woods got down quickly to make a fine save.
Hamilton got their second just after the break, and again Inverness were their own worst enemies, as a low ball across the box from Bingham was missed by Warren as he slipped along with D’Acol.
Accies midfielder Grant Gillespie doesn’t score much, and he showed why as he failed to get a proper connection on his side-foot effort as he arrived late on the scene, but the midfielder was as amazed as anyone as the bouncing ball somehow deceived the flapping Owain Fon-Williams, who could only palm the powder-puff shot into the net.
The game was over as a contest just after the hour as again Inverness contributed to their own downfall, Brad McKay missing the ball in a 50/50 with Bingham in midfield and allowing the striker to run in towards goal.
From there though, nothing can be taken away from the finish, as the striker unleashed a rocket which found the top corner from 20 yards. Unquestionably the highlight of the night.
Accies have found impressively innovative ways to squander leads this season, but there was never any danger of that here as manager Martin Canning enjoyed a rare stress-free evening in the Hamilton dugout.
For Inverness, on this evidence, it is hard to see how anything other than Championship football awaits.