Dodds is desperate for Caley to ease the pain

THE Championship title race hots up today as several contenders go head-to-head in the league’s first fixtures of the new year. But one of the clubs who were expected to be right up there in the heat of battle are struggling at the wrong end of the table. And Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss Billy Dodds admits he has never experienced the kind of hurt he does right now ahead of today’s visit of Cove Rangers. Seventh in the table, 11 points off the title pace at the season’s halfway mark, the Highland side’s last win in the league was against this afternoon’s opponents on October 15. Major injury issues continue to plague the Caley Jags, who have recalled a batch of youngsters from Highland League loans. But their recent 5-1 defeat to Partick Thistle was the low point in a woeful season to date, with Dodds questioning if some of the players are good enough. He is looking for a huge reaction today after captain Sean Welsh branded that loss ‘unacceptable, to a man’. ‘It’s nice the boys realise, for the first time, they let themselves and the club down,’ said Dodds. ‘Although we’ve lost in other games, it was the manner of the defeat which was different. ‘The boys realise that, but I’ve got to do my bit as well. We’ve been working on it all week. ‘We’ve been hurting and it’s all about what we do from here on in. That’s what my focus is on. ‘It’s about how they respond to that. They know they let themselves, the club and myself down. ‘In the last few training sessions, they have responded — but they have to show it on the pitch against Cove. ‘This is the most I’ve been hurt since I’ve been the manager. ‘But I’m dogged and I hope my players are as well. I can see it in them.’ Dodds pits his wits against old friend Jim McIntyre, who he worked with at Ross County, adding: ‘I don’t think it’s about who you’re playing now. It’s about what we do against whoever we play. It’s about how you get ready for this game as an individual then as a collective unit and go out and show people we’ll never chuck it and we’ve got that fighting spirit.’ Leaders Dundee will be desperate to avoid any slip-ups against Arbroath at Dens Park, while there are two crackers in store at Ochilview, where second-placed Queen’s Park host Partick Thistle at their temporary home, and Cappielow in Greenock, where fourth-placed Morton welcome third-placed Ayr United.