Classy Caley header steals the points... in the Nik of time
INVERNESS CT 1 Todorov (69) ARBROATH 0
Neil McCann is confident Scott Allan’s capture from Hibs until the end of the season will boost Caley Thistle’s promotion push.
The temporary Caley Thistle manager hailed the renewed hunger evident from the midfield loanee, who has batted back from a five-month absence after being diagnosed with the heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Allan was unveiled on the morning of the match and came off the bench in the second half.
Nikolay Todorov’s crucial header gave Allan a winning start in the Highlands and lifted the club into the top four ahead of last night’s Dundee against Dunfermline clash.
McCann, who worked with Allan at Dens Park, said: “I spoke to Jack Ross to see if I could get Scott, but Hibs were maybe a wee bit reluctant before one or two injury concerns.
“Having worked with him before, we have a bit of a prior relationship. I just encouraged him that this was the place to come and get some games.
“You can see he’s not quite 100%, but his influence on the game, I thought, was important.
“I’m really pleased for the boy because the medical condition he has had to deal with has knocked him back quite a bit.
“It can be quite a scary thing, but, given the all-clear, he’s just a boy who wants to play football.
“Maybe he realises that the little fright and being allowed now to come back in and compete, he’s hopefully got a renewed hunger. “He was so up for coming here.” The Inverness men toiled at times to create chances against the gritty part-timers but the Bulgarian Todorov’s touch of class after 69 minutes – his sixth goal of the season – proved decisive.
Left-back Cameron Harper started for the home side after missing four games through injury.
Daniel MacKay shook off a hamstring concern to play.
Just inside 16 minutes, though, Arbroath threatened first on the break.
A through-pass from midfield sent Dale Hillson tearing through but he fired just wide of Mark Ridgers’ right-hand post from the edge of the area.
Just past the midway point in the half, David Carson knocked the ball into the net close-in but the offside flag cut short home celebrations.
Roddy MacGregor also pulled a low, left-foot attempt from 20 yards just wide of the keeper’s left-hand post on the half hour.
Caley Thistle could easily have fallen behind right on half-time when Colin Hamilton’s free header from a corner hurtled towards the top corner of the net.
With keeper Mark Ridgers struggling to make it, Sean Welsh managed to leap to head to safety.
Dick Campbell’s side made the stronger start to the second period and it wasn’t long before McCann had Allan warming up to make his debut after 54 minutes.
The game changed on one set-piece after 69 minutes.
MacKay won a free-kick on the right, 35 yards out. Cameron Harper floated a long ball into the danger area and Todorov threw himself at it to angle a fine header past Derek Gaston from six or seven yards.
Soon after the restart, substitute Storey let rip from 22 yards but saw Gaston leap superbly to his right to turn it around the post.
Caley Thistle faced several corners in the latter stages but managed to comfortably absorb the Arbroath pressure.
Arbroath manager Dick Campbell said: “I thought Christmas came early for Inverness. We were by far the better team in the whole game.
“Credit to Todorov for the goal, but they had nothing else.”