Caley Jags in with league shout thanks to their key run in cup

Inverness: Robertson feels trophy hunt can put shine on title bid

Caley Thistle manager John Robertson believes his side’s IRN-BRU Cup run has had a key part to play in his team’s revived Championship form.

The Highlanders have progressed to the semifinals of the competition, thanks to victories against Aberdeen under-20s, Peterhead and Falkirk.

Caley Jags’ reward is a last-four tie at home to Northern Irish outfit Crusaders in February.

Saturday’s 1-0 victory against Falkirk was a clubrecord seventh successive match without defeat or conceding a goal in a run that has helped the Highlanders move up to seventh in the league table.

Robertson feels momentum generated by the IRN-BRU Cup run has vindicated his decision to play a full-strength team throughout the competition.

He said: “Teams should give every competition they go in for the respect it deserves. People put money into the game, so why would we not give it that respect?

“That’s the way I see it. We want to go as far as we can.

“This cup has been good for us because it has given us momentum.

“We beat Brechin City in the league and put in a team the following week to play Aberdeen under-20s and keep that momentum going.

“We did the same when we beat Peterhead after our first clean sheet against Queen of the South the week before and we built on that.

“It has kept us going, so we will never disregard any competition. We are not big enough a club or salubrious enough a club to treat any competition with disdain.”

Robertson, who is in his second spell as manager of Caley Thistle, guided the club to success in the Challenge Cup during his previous stint with a 2-0 final victory against Airdrie at McDiarmid Park in 2003.

The 53-year-old would love to repeat that feat but his prime focus is on continuing Caley Jags’ promotion push in their next two league games at home to Brechin City and St Mirren.

Robertson added: “We were there the last time and we won it - it’s a tremendous day out for the supporters.

“We’ve now given ourselves an opportunity because there are only four teams that can win it and we’re one of them.

“That’s it tucked away

“This cup has been good for us because it has given us momentum”

now, though. It’s frustrating in one way because we want it to be the next round very quickly – the last time the Challenge Cup was over by this time.

“It gave us such a lift to go on and prove we could really go on and compete.

“We have to put it to bed now. The guys have had a few days off and we’ve now got two massive home league games.

“If we can results there we can haul ourselves back into the race for promotion.”

CALLING THE SHOTS: John Robertson already has a semi-final date