Canny Caley on top as they imitate Leicester

TITLE winners normally stamp themselves as better than all the rest with wide-margin victories.

But when even Sir Alex Ferguson sang the praises of Leicester’s string of 1-0 wins on their way to a shock Premier League title in 2016, maybe Inverness are on to something.

Billy Dodds and his men have kicked off the campaign with four such slender victories, including on Saturday at the home of title favourites Killie.

And ‘one-nil to the Caley Jags’ is now the cry after they moved three points clear of the Rugby Park side and Partick Thistle.

Michael Gardyne, scorer of their early winner, knows a few of the ingredients critical to creating a second tier title-winning squad.

He helped Ross County to the Championship title in 2012 and 2019 and is going for a hat-trick with their Highland rivals.

Gardyne likes what he sees from a disciplined Inverness group who have a physical edge and a ferocious work ethic.

But the 35-year-old is cautious about claiming they’ve set their stall out for a title challenge.

‘I’ve won this league a couple of times and you can’t look too far ahead,’ he said. ‘It’s too early to be talking about league titles.

‘For us in the dressing room, it’s just a good start.

‘But I felt we were brilliant on the day. We had a great shape. Killie are a good team and had a great start, too. It’d be nice to get a couple more goals but we defended brilliantly and that gets you clean sheets. We’ve a good mixture of youth and experience.’

Tommy Wright will respond to Killie’s first league setback of the season by signing at least two new players by the deadline tomorrow.

He’ll also hope for good news on the injury that forced Scott Robinson off after 30 minutes.

Midfielder Blair Alston believes they must respond immediately when his former club Falkirk visit for a SPFL Trust Trophy tie on Saturday.

‘We’re a much better team than we showed,’ he said. ‘Too many individuals were off it, probably myself more than anybody.

‘But it’s early days so nothing is won or lost yet apart from a wee bit of form going into the next game.

‘Another competition can be a good distraction and chance to put a disappointment behind us as quickly as possible.’