NOW GO ON AND MAKE HISTORY

Dodds is backing Caley to navigate SIX play-off ties

BILLY DODDS has told his Inverness Caley Thistle players it’s time to ‘make history’ against St Johnstone. The Highlanders are wseeking to become the first team to navigate six play-off ties to win a place in the Premiership.

No other team has managed the feat since a play-off system cruelly skewed in favour of the top-flight sides was introduced in 2013.

Having already taken care of Partick Thistle over two legs, Caley Thistle still managed to defeat Arbroath despite being reduced to nine men in the second leg of the semi-final.

But Dodds didn’t need those heroics to convince him his injury-hit squad have the character and strength of mentality to see the job through. A remarkable performance at Gayfield only added to his belief that massive odds can be overcome to see off Callum Davidson’s men.

‘I want the boys to make history,’ said

Dodds. ‘We would be the first team to do it after six play-off games. To get back to the Premiership would be fantastic for the club. We want to be there and we have given ourselves a great opportunity to do it.

‘We have momentum and confidence. We are up against formidable opposition who won the cup double last season and, although they’ve not had a good season, they still have good players. We will have to be at our best.’

Five potential starters are absent for the Highlanders, with Danny Devine and Wallace Duffy both suspended after Willie Collum’s controversial red-card decisions against Arbroath.

Shane Sutherland, Tom Walsh and Roddy MacGregor are also definitely out of the double-header with injuries.

In comparison to Saints, Caley Thistle will have to draw on their group spirit to ease aching legs and make sure they are at their best for tonight’s clash and Monday’s return fixture at McDiarmid Park.

Dodds said: ‘It’s a hard route via the playoffs. No side has done it from third place and I would love us to be the first to do it.

‘My boys are more than capable and they are in a good place. It’s a hard route and a long route but my message is bring it on.’

The Caledonian Stadium support, bolstered by a new young set of fans, has been growing in belief and affection for Dodds’ side and in the bonds they now share with the team after such trials and adversity.

Dodds reckons they can be the 12th man as his team to try to create a working advantage for the second leg trip to Perth.

He said: ‘A large crowd fits the occasion. That’s what comes with the territory when you reach finals. We had 2,200 here and they make a big difference. They are the ones who can help us over the line. They have played a massive part home and away.

‘I would love to take an advantage to Perth and put them under pressure. St Johnstone have more pressure. We want to get them to a place in the tie where they have to think about it. They are the Premiership team, but when we play we are a right good team as well.

‘Callum will be disappointed with where they are, but I’m not focused on St Johnstone. I’m focused on where we are mentally and we’re in a good place.’

Davidson has urged his players to show again how well they can perform under pressure as their battle for top-flight survival reaches a nerve-shredding conclusion.

It is not the sort of end-of-season showpiece St Johnstone wanted to be involved in having won the Scottish Cup at this stage last term to add to their earlier League Cup success.

A season which started with the Perth side getting a Europa League draw against Galatasaray in Istanbul took a major turn for the worse and their cup defences ended during a ten-game losing streak.

But they got off the bottom of the table in the second half of the season and beat Aberdeen last week to secure 11th place.

Now Davidson wants his side to brush off the pressure and utilise their experience of playing on big occasions such as their recent Hampden and European encounters.

‘I think it will do us well, the ones that played, and know the situation,’ he said. ‘The European games are very similar with home and away legs. It’s something that players at our level don’t get too much of. I think that proves they can perform at a high level under pressure.

‘We had to win against Aberdeen and put in a very good performance. I hope the players take that on board and have a bit of belief in themselves.’