Dunc fears relegated Lichties have ‘downed tools’ as season ends

CALEY Thistle boss Duncan Ferguson reckons relegated Championship side Arbroath have “downed tools” before facing ICT’s drop-zone rivals.

Ahead of his team’s home showdown with second-top Raith Rovers tomorrow, Ferguson believes his men need at least two more wins from their last three games to avoid finishing in ninth spot, the relegation playoff position.

He’s revised his own team’s previous target due to what he’s seeing from Arbroath.

Successive league victories for the first time this season – against Arbroath and Queen’s Park – lifted Inverness above Queen’s by two points.

They are now only three points adrift of free-falling Morton.

While the Caley Jags were beating the Spiders 1-0 at Hampden, Arbroath’s fate was sealed with a 5-0 loss at Ayr United.

With just 23 points so far, they are returning to League One after five successive years in the second-tier.

Jim McIntyre’s Angus team lost 2-1 at Inverness the week before, which was the result which as good as sent them down.

Ferguson is worried about the impact relegation has had on Arbroath, who face Morton on Saturday then Queen’s seven days later.

He said: “We are certainly in a good place after two successful wins. We need to continue that.

“I did say recently we needed three wins (to stay up). I’d say we probably still need two out of three because Arbroath are in the pot.

“Arbroath are getting turned over now, which is a big problem for us. We have Morton, who are just above us, playing Arbroath this Saturday, while Queen’s Park have also still to play Arbroath.

“We have to put that down as three points for Morton and Queen’s Park, but I hope I am wrong.

“We see Arbroath basically of having downed tools on their club and their manager.

“You can see by Arbroath’s result last week against Ayr United where their heads are at, or not trying for their club or manager. Hopefully I am wrong on that.”

When asked to expand on his words about Arbroath, he said: “That edge has gone now.

“I didn’t watch the whole of their game against Ayr, but when you see the result – 5-0 – I’m thinking it is just our luck, isn’t it?

“We had Arbroath up here when they were fighting for their lives. We probably relegated them.

“The next week, it’s just the way it has gone. Teams around about us are playing Arbroath and we’re putting three points on those teams’ tally because we don’t think Arbroath are going to try a leg from now until the end of the season. I hope I’m wrong.”

An Inverness win against Raith would all but confirm Dundee United as the league champions.

They are already six points and 36 goals better than Ian Murray’s Rovers, so it would spell party time at Tannadice when United face Ayr on Saturday.

Former United striker Ferguson said: “I always felt Dundee United would win the league.

“I think they have won the league – it’s done, because of their points and goal difference.

“I had good times at Dundee United and they will win the league, if not this Saturday, then they will win it the week after.”

Duncan Ferguson is sure United will win the league.