Samuels leads Caley in Highland fling
Premiership play-off quarter-final. 2nd leg
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Partick Thistle 0 Inverness win 3-1 on aggregate ALASDAIR FRASER
AUSTIN SAMUELS was the Highland hero all over again as Caley Thistle booked a Premiership play-off semifinal against Arbroath – as Billy Dodds admitshis Inverness side rode their luck at times as they sank Partick Thistle from the play-offs.
Dodds felt his team weren’t quite at their best, but showed grit to keep the clean sheet.
The ICT manager said: “We’re through and that’s the main thing.
“We managed it and put bodies on the line. We had to defend properly and I felt our defenders were great.
“Thistle asked a lot of us and kept going at us, showing a lot of energy. I can’t say they had outstanding chances, but they were a credit to Ian McCall.
“They never gave up and believed if they nicked one they would put us under pressure. I felt my experienced players managed it really well.
“I would have liked us to have at times passed the ball a bit better. I don’t want to be downbeat because they were a credit to themselves.”
Opposite number Ian McCall felt his side were desperately unlucky. McCall said: “I thought we were the better team for the vast majority of the game and missed some decent chances.
“Kevin Holt has been one of the best centre halves in the league, but tonight the goal we gave away came from his mistake. I was really proud of them. They gave everything with a lot of great play.
“One thing I’ll say is I have a very clear picture of what is needed for next season.
“For the size of our club, we’ve got to finish top three and we only finished fourth this year.”
After eight wins from their last 10 games, momentum is with Caley Jags, now in their fifth season outside the topflight and second play-offs tilt.
The visitors had their moments and Brian Graham struck the crossbar soon after the opener. Certainly, the tie was live at 2-1 in the Highlanders’ favour.
The first threat came after five minutes with Richard Foster’s slack ball forward striking Dundee United loanee Logan Chalmers.
Chalmers raced forward but scooped his attempt way over the bar. Partick always looked dangerous when playing balls into the home box and Scott Tiffoney’s delivery forward after 10 minutes ended with Robbie Crawford volleying over the bar.
Slackness from Kirk
Broadfoot also gave Brian Graham a sniff of a chance at the edge of the 18-yard line, but the big striker shot high and wide.
There was a tension crackling in the evening air, but the first piece of calm, measured play produced a fine opener. A loose pass from Partick’s Kevin Holt sparked danger, and the two men who combined for Caley Jags’ Firhill winner did the rest. Shane Sutherland punished the slackness, threading a through pass perfectly into the path of pacy Samuels.
About 10 yards out, the ex-Wolves and Aberdeen man smashed his angled shot hard and high, beating keeper Jamie Sneddon in the middle of his net where the keeper seemed to have shaped for a low drive. Partick’s luck was out four minutes later. Steven
Hendrie’s corner created havoc in the home penalty area and, after a couple of rapid-fire blocks, Graham’s snapshot rattled against the crossbar and away to safety.
Graham hadn’t netted in 12 games since striking a hattrick at this very ground in early February’s 3-3 draw.
He was foiled again out again six minutes from the break as he met Foster’s delivery from deep right with a glancing header which held not enough power to evade Mark Ridgers’ grasp.
It became even tenser, more heated and scrappy as the second half progressed, Partick desperately trying to find a spark, Caley Thistle hellbent on dousing it.
A stunning save from Senddon denied Sutherland at the death. For Caley Thistle, it’s on to Arbroath.