Richie: I watched staff cry after relegation cost them their job .. my men need to grasp that
Richie Foran said sorry to the suffering Caley Thistle support – then questioned whether some of his squad appreciate how crushing relegation would be.
The Irishman shared the blame for a collapse against St Johnstone that left his team teetering on the brink of Championship football.
But Foran was in no mood to let his players off the hook after a strong first-half show disintegrated in the wake of Steven MacLean’s opener five minutes before the break.
Larnell Cole’s senseless red card eight minutes from time left Caley Thistle a man down as Liam Craig’s penalty and another from Graham Cummins guaranteed the home side finished the afternoon four points adrift at the foot of the table.
And their misery was compounded after the final whistle when skipper Gary Warren was shown a red in the tunnel, understood to be for a blast at ref Stephen Finnie.
Inverness boss Foran said: “We folded in the last 10 minutes. There was a lack of courage and confidence – that’s a worry. It’s the first time we’ve really let our supporters down with a lack of passion and desire.
“We dominated the first half, put a lot of crosses in the box and had chances to go ahead. St Johnstone had two crosses and scored from one so we’re not defending well either.
“There are no more excuses. It’s not good enough and the main person it’s not good enough from is me. I pick the team and the shape but the players need to stand up and be counted. The majority of the supporters’ anger should be at me. I can fully understand them.
“I apologise to them as it’s the first time I feel we’ve really let them down.
“I need to pick a team next week where I know getting off the bottom means a lot to them.
“I’ve kept it positive for months so maybe I’ll go the other way and tell them how bad they’ve been.
“Relegation has been spoken about – we spoke about it yesterday morning. I’ve been part of a team that was relegated here, seeing office staff crying in the corridor at losing their jobs. “Maybe some of the younger
players didn’t know what it means to the city of Inverness.
“But we spoke about it yesterday and obviously didn’t get the reaction we were after.”
Outwith McDiarmid Park nobody had been hit harder by the Richard Foster/ Danny Swanson spat in Saints’ 1- 0 loss to Hamilton last Saturday than Inverness.
Accies’ scrambled victory, aided greatly by the double sending off, proved to be a costly setback for the Highlanders’ survival hopes.
One of only four Caley Thistle wins this season had come at home to Saints in August and they looked odds on to repeat it thanks to a dominant first-half display. Alex Fisher went close 18 minutes into his first start since September with a thumping eight-yard header.
Ross Draper split the defence with a fine pass in 32 minutes but as Billy Mckay steered the ball into the box he was left overstretching with Saints keeper Alan Mannus storming out to shut him down.
The away side were in front eight minutes later when Inverness goalie Owain Fon Williams palmed away a Michael Coulson effort with MacLean circling. The 34-year-old pounced on the loose ball for his 11th of the season despite Warren’s attempt to clear on the line. The second period started sluggishly with Inverness failing to seriously threaten until the 67th minute when Greg Tansey’s drive forced Mannus into a superb diving save.
Disaster struck in 82 minutes when Cole, after being fouled by Craig, drew a yellow card for dissent then a second for his angry reaction.
Saints made sure they’d finish the day three points off thirdplaced Rangers two minutes from time when Craig marked his 300th appearance by sending Fon Williams the wrong way after Carl Tremarco tripped Cummins in the box. And sub Chris Millar created a final hammer blow as he set up Cummins for a finish close in. Saints boss Tommy Wright said: “Liam is a great servant to the club and so is Chris Millar. It’s testament that we have Steven Anderson and two other players on 300 appearances.
“It shows they want to stay and they’re good mates. There are friendships they’ll keep long after they’ve finished with us.
“We’re three points off third place and with the way results went it was massive. Hearts winning and Partick winning meant it was a good day.
“The week didn’t start great but it has been a good three or four days to finish the week.”