It points to a team with lots of guts
Billy’s proud as ICT twice battle back
Billy Dodds saluted Caley Thistle’s “guts” as they twice came from behind to stretch their unbeaten run against Raith to 31 games.
Jay Henderson cancelled out Lewis Vaughan’s bri l l iant first-half strike and Billy Mckay levelled late on after Aidan Connolly had edged Rovers back in front.
Dodds, whose side have not lost in 2023, said: “It was hard work at times but one thing we’ve got in abundance is guts and we had to show it.
“Raith were the better team in the f irst half but in the second half we have scored two good goals.
“We dug in there and I know that’s in my team. The technical side’s there too but we didn’t show it today and it could be an important point for where we want to go at the end of the season. It keeps the run going.”
Raith were on top from the start and almost took an early lead but Jamie Gullan’s header crashed back off the bar, with Vaughan blocking team-mate Dylan Easton’s net- bound effort from the rebound.
Vaughan made amends in the 29th minute when his stunning 30-yard strike dipped beyond Caley keeper Mark Ridgers for the opener.
Dodds’ half-time talk had an almost instant impact.
Just three minutes after the break Henderson played a one- two with Mckay before drilling home an angled drive. Raith regained the lead just after the hour when Vaughan played in Connolly to curl a shot past Ridgers.
But Caley Thistle kept going and Mckay earned a point seven minutes from time.
It was all too simple as Sean Welsh’s chipped free- kick picked out the run of Mckay who f lashed his header beyond Jamie MacDonald.
Raith boss Ian Murray said: “We’re disappointed because we have led in the game t w ice and deservedly so.
“But we’ve just got that wee bit in us at the moment where we switch off and we conceded again.”