GIVING IT SAM
Austin caps ICT fightback to leave Partick up against it
SUB Austin Samuels completed the comeback as Inverness plundered the play-off advantage.
In a pulsating second half Robbie Crawford’s first goal in over four years saw Partick pressure pay off.
But, with Samuels on after 60 minutes for firsthalf sub Lewis Hyde, Billy Dodds’ men rallied in style.
Keeper Jamie Sneddon parried a Billy Mckay shot straight out to Shane Sutherland and he lashed in an Inverness leveller.
Then Wolves loanee Samuels, who was at Aberdeen earlier in the season, inched his team closer to a Premiership place eight minutes from time.
Caley Thistle boss Dodds said: “We had spells but so did Thistle. We perhaps shaded the second half and were the team looking the most likely to win but it was an even, hard-fought game.
“Thistle will come and have a go. I would in the same situation. Hopefully we can catch them and get the tie killed off.”
The infamous Firhill pitch played a part, the bobbling ball a nightmare for players. The away side had the best of it early on but their bright start was disrupted by the 19th-minute exit of the injured Tom Walsh.
The best Inverness chance of the first half fell to Robbie Deas but he lashed his effort wide, failing to register his first goal since December 2020.
Ian McCall had shown the importance of Scott Tiffoney and Brian Graham to the Maryhill men’s promotion hopes by resting them at Ayr last weekend.
Graham charged down a risky Mark Ridgers kickout but the ball spun in Caley Thistle’s favour, much to the keeper’s relief.
But the home side did break the deadlock thanks to veteran striker Graham’s superb hold-up play and clever reverse pass that released Crawford. You’d never have thought it was 1488 days since his last strike as the midfielder lashed a terrific right-foot finish home.
As Inverness fought back, Sutherland blazed over when teed up by Logan Chalmers but came back for more on 71 minutes.
Mckay’s 25-yard drive was coughed up by Sneddon and Sutherland seized on the spillage to bury his 12th of the campaign.
Late sub Juan Alegria had a golden chance to be the home hero after David Carson’s slip. But Thistle’s Colombian striker ballooned over when clean through on goal and was left to severely rue that miss.
Dodds introduced more fresh legs with Cameron Harper and Joe Hardy then a devastating counterattack won the game. Sutherland progressed down the right and swung over a stunning cross.
Samuels swooped on the slide to smash home the second goal of his loan spell.
Jags boss McCall said: “There’s big moments in the game and in matches of this magnitude you’ve got to take advantage of them.
“Snedds has been great this season but he’s really got to catch that. Then Juan misses a snip that he’s got to score.
“I’m a bit gutted but the tie is absolutely not over. We’ve got to go there and score first.”