Inverness find some ‘bottle’ as they fight back for draw
HAD it not been so fraught and tense an occasion for beleaguered Inverness, an enjoyable sense of nostalgia might have permeated the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday.
Billy Mckay, the most prolific goalscorer in the club’s 23-year existence, was back leading the attack and there was Ryan Esson, the 2015 Scottish Cupwinning goalkeeper, restored to the No.1 jersey after months in the shadows.
Ultimately, though, the blast from the past came in a very different – and no less welcome – form for the home crowd. Caley Thistle’s old never-say-die defiance was back in abundance just four days after manager Richie Foran’s attack had branded them “bottlers” lacking in appetite for the fight.
After three months – and 13 league matches now – without a win, defeat was unthinkable on Saturday for a team already three points adrift at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Having dominated the first half hour and come agonisingly close to opening the scoring, the two sucker-punches Dundee inflicted before the break with headers from Marcus Haber and Darren O’Dea were ominous blows.
Home fans booed their team off the park at the break despite the obvious illfortune. By full-time, though, they were cheering them off after a stirring recovery from two goals down.
For Esson, a veteran of eight-and-ahalf seasons in Inverness, it amounted to a defiant message to the team’s doubters. “We probably deserved three points going on chances, hitting the post and missing a penalty,” the 36-year-old former Aberdeen goalkeeper said. “But it shows we’ve got that fighting spirit and that we are all in it together. We’re still fighting for one another.”
As for his own return, player-coach Esson, has never wished to slip quietly into retirement. He is now challenging Owain Fon Williams, the dropped Wales international, to mount a challenge to him.
He said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve played and I enjoyed it. I always said I’d be there if the manager needed me and he felt like he wanted a little change, which is fine.”
After Dundee’s first-half double Caley Thistle came back fighting. Away goalkeeper Scott Bain was in excellent form in the second half with good stops from Iain Vigurs and Ross Draper as well as a penalty save from Mckay’s second spotkick. The first turned the match after 53 minutes with Mckay clearly held by Julen Etxabeguren in the box. The on-loan Wigan striker tucked it away with ease for Inverness’s first league goal of 2017.
As play stretched, both teams had chances but none better than Mckay after 73 minutes, with Etxabeguren again the villain, fouling Anier as he made for a Vigurs cross. There was agony for the home side as Bain pulled off a brilliant save down low from Mckay’s kick. With 11 minutes left, though, the gritty Highlanders were back level after Greg Tansey sent a wonderful swerving finish inside Bain’s left-hand post from 20 yards.
Darren O’Dea, the Dundee defender, admitted to relief at holding out for a point. “When you’re 2-0 up in a game and comfortable yet don’t come away with three points it feels a bit like a defeat.”