INVERNESS CT 1

Walsh (53)

AYR UNITED 0

Billy Dodds will take 1-0 every week – but isn’t sure the old legs will.

The Caley Thistle manager saw his team make it nine points from nine with a Tom Walsh winner against Ayr United sealing the Highlanders’ third single goal win.

Ayr, still chasing a first win in Inverness since 2003, competed well and had their chances but succumbed to a bizarre winner.

The home victory set up a cracker away to joint top Kilmarnock next weekend.

Dodds said: “Every part of our team was impressive.

“I had a word with the boys and in the second half they carried out what I wanted.

“They were much better and had a couple of chances to kill off the game.

“I will take 1-0s every week because our defence looked solid again and the midfield helped them and the strikers are doing their part.

“I would love to score three or four goals then I could sit down for a wee bit.

“We all get frustrated at times, but, my word their, professionalism and their work ethic is second to none.”

Ayr had lost four potential starters to Covid-19 before the match after goalkeeper Aidan Mcadams tested positive on Wednesday.

That sent Paddy Reading into isolation after close contact, with Nick Mcallister and James Maxwell then testing positive on Friday.

The game’s only goal came nine minutes into the second half.

Shane Sutherland sent Manny Duku surging down the left before the big striker delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal.

Ayr skipper Sean Mcginty got to the ball just ahead of Walsh near the sixyard line, but somehow his clearance attempt clattered against the Caley Thistle winger and past keeper Charlie Albinson.

The Honest Men are still chasing their first point of the campaign but manager David Hopkin said: “It was a game we should have got something out of. My keeper’s not had a save to make.

“From the reaction of Inverness after the game, they knew they’d been in a game and our fans were terrific.

“Them cheering us after losing says it all about how we played.”