Blast from the past as Caley mark greatest win by taking another major scalp
Super Caley chose the 20th anniversary of one of our game’s greatest shocks to re- enforce their formidable Scottish Cup reputation with an impressive win.
Last year’s semi-finalists and the 2015 winners greeted top- f light Livi with the feeling of nostalgia over their famous February 8, 2000 victory against John Barnes’ Celtic hanging in the air.
Yesterday’s success wasn’t quite as incendiary as that earth-shattering Celtic Park one but 24 hours after an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered near the stadium, the hosts went ballistic again.
Sean Welsh sealed their passage to the last eight with a fantastic free-kick strike on the hour.
Proud manager John Robertson said: “We looked at Livi and decided to go with an extra man in midfield. I felt it worked. We got the tactics spot-on and matched them all over the pitch. We had to stand up to them.
“I can’t recal l Mark Ridgers having a save to make and it was a really good strike from Sean.
“It was 20 years ago the club got the result that put them on the map. It’s nice the team has responded on a day like this but we have a proud tradition in this Cup, started by that result.
“It was nice to build on our Scottish Cup pedigree with another big scalp – people forget Livingston are a top six Premiership team.”
Caley, kicking off into the powerful breeze, were without injured winger Aaron Doran, while James Vincent dropped to the bench.
In came Welsh and David Carson to bulk up a three- man midfield also featuring Canadian Charlie Trafford.
The hosts had the luxury of being able to check out Livingston’s style of play along the road in Dingwall on Wednesday, with Ross County ending the Almondvale side’s five-game winning run.
But with five changes, this Livi side had a different look to it.
Craig Sibbald, Scott Robinson, Jack McMillan and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair all dropped to the bench while keeper Robby McCrorie, on- loan from Rangers, was cup-tied.
In came Ryan Scofield in goal along with Ricki Lamie, Keaghan Jacobs, Aymen Souda and Steve Lawson.
Against County, Livingston had favoured big, high balls forward but that would have been pretty counter-productive with Storm Ciara beginning to batter the Highlands.
They seemed intent on keeping it down as they started with some determined attacking forays.
It was scrappy, though, and it took 19 minutes for he hosts to properly threaten.
A tremendous burst and cross by Shaun Rooney caused a bit of pinball in the box before Miles Storey’s shot was cleared off line by Jon Guthrie.
At the other end, Caley twice had to hack the ball of their goal-line, with Kevin McHattie and Carl
Tremarco saving the day from Ciaron Brown and Ricki Lamie efforts.
With the wind behind them for the second half, Inverness began to get on top, with a Storey cross from the left setting up Welsh for a lashed attempt just wide in 52 minutes.
The breakthrough came just before the hour.
Storey was tripped at full f light by Lawson right on edge of area and Welsh speared a superb low right-foot strike into the corner of the net from 22 yards.
Below-par Livingston mustered little in reply, with one Lyndon Dykes at tempt f rom d istance wel l smothered by keeper Mark Ridgers. They pressed for a way back but never really looked like salvaging a place in the quarter-finals.
Caley ’ s 20th anniversary celebrations were sure to be hearty last night. That mood contrasted sharply to that of Livi’s Gary Holt.
The boss said: “I don’t think the conditions make it a game of football for either team. We talked at half-time about not making mistakes and it’s a mistake that cost us, simple as that.
“I f the lads think that was pass marks to go and win games and stay in the team, it’s not. They got an opportunity to play and I don’t think enough of them took it.”