Foran content as his ill Highlanders hold firm for point
INVERNESS manager Richie Foran praised his players after they overcame illness to salvage a point from an uninspiring encounter that produced a total of just six shots on target.
According to Foran, skipper Gary Warren and midfielder Greg Tansey were up all night with a sickness bug and should not have played in the clash of the Thistles.
He also insisted that a draw was a positive result for the Premiership’s bottom side, despite Inverness not having won a league match for three months — more especially as their nearest rivals, Hamilton, shipped three goals in defeat in Perth.
‘Gary and Greg had injections before the game just to be able to play,’ said Foran. ‘And Ross Draper had one training session in two weeks.
‘David Raven has been out for six or seven weeks, while Henri Anier hasn’t played since November, so these lads put their bodies on the line and that’s why it’s a positive result.’
Foran insisted that he had no regrets about saying beforehand that this was a ‘must-win’ match for Inverness, given that this was their 11th consecutive Premiership fixture without a victory.
And with Hamilton, who remain above Inverness on goal difference, lying in wait at New Douglas Park in midweek, he claimed: ‘We can’t wait for Tuesday now. There’s a bit of pressure on Hamilton now that we’re level on points and they are at home.
‘Every game is a must win, but I can’t say enough about the bravery and character of my players.
‘Yes, I would have liked a bit more quality, but under the circumstances it’s a good point and our focus has not changed.
‘We’re six points away from the top six and it’s too early to be talking about staying up. I believe we’ll be in the top half come the end of the season.’
Foran changed the shape of his team after just 38 minutes when he sent on Iain Vigurs for Lonsana Doumbouya, reverting to five in the middle with one striker.
But the switch made no appreciable difference after Owain Fon Williams had made three crucial saves to keep his team in the hunt.
The Inverness goalkeeper’s block on Ade Azeez from point-blank range was truly outstanding, albeit one suspects that he could not have known much about it.
Fon Williams also frustrated Ryan Edwards’ and Chris Erskine’s best efforts to fire Thistle ahead, while Carl Tremarco’s early header went close for the hosts.
Visiting keeper Tomas Cerny had to save with his feet after Draper released Liam Polworth in the 43rd minute, just before Vigurs hit a halfchance wide of the target.
The second half produced even fewer openings, but home substitute Aaron Doran engineered an opening in the 83rd minute that should have given Inverness their first top-flight victory since a 3-0 win at Motherwell on October 26.
While the build-up was impressive, the finish was dire. Foran defended the Irishman, pointing out: ‘He is lacking a bit of sharpness as he didn’t have a pre-season under his belt.’
Partick will feel that they should have had a victory to accompany their move into the top six.
Manager Alan Archibald spared his players criticism, saying: ‘I’m a bit disappointed not to have taken all three points but this is a tough place to come and we had a great spell in the first half when we caused problems.
‘You have to take your chances when you’re on top but the save from Ade, which I think was the best chance in the game, was remarkable.’