SCRAM DUNC
Fergie sent off but boss lauds ICT romp in stand
Duncan Ferguson felt he was harshly treated by Craig Napier as he was sent off on his return to Hampden.
But the Inverness boss insists nothing could spoil his day as his players produced a dominant performance which spelled the end of Robin Veldman’s tenure at Queen’s Park.
Big Dunc was back at the Nat iona l St ad i um on competitive duty for the first time since he appeared as a sub for Rangers in the 1994 Scottish Cup Final defeat to Dundee United.
He was forced to watch the second half from a seat high in the stand after ref Napier showed him two yellow cards for his touchline protests.
But it was a happy day for Ferguson as goals from Max Anderson, Nikola Ujdur, David Wotherspoon and Billy Mckay saw the Highlanders romp to victory after falling behind to Jack Turner’s early strike.
“I thought my two yellow cards were a bit unfair but I’m in a good mood because of the football we played which was fantastic,” said Ferguson.
“I certainly never swore at the referee. He said I was gesturing a lot on the sidelines and moving my arms.
“It was great to be back at Hampden after such a long time but unfortunately my two yellows made a red. It was a wee bit of an over-reaction from the ref but there you go.”
Ferguson was given an initial verbal warning in the 25th minute as he complained Inverness should have received a penalty for handball.
The ref reached for his card 11 minutes later when he felt Ferguson was too vocal in his reaction to Mckay having a close-range header ruled out.
But Ferguson let rip when his team had another penalty claim turned down on the stroke of half-time.
Napier raced across to the technical area once more to produce second yellow.
Big Dunc said: “We should have had a penalty and Billy’s goal looked onside. One or two things went against us in the first half but we dominated in the second, created chances and took them. The boys were absolutely excellent.
“We were unfortunate to go behind. That was a massive three points for us today.”
Queen’s took a 10th-minute lead when Turner fired home but Inverness struck 11 minutes later when Anderson slid home his first goal for the club.
They went in front in the 59th minute when Ujdur headed home Cameron Harper’s corner and stretched their lead when the outstanding Wotherspoon bagged his fourth goal in seven appearances in the 75th minute.
Five minutes later Mckay converted a penalty awarded for Cameron Bruce’s foul on Wotherspoon.
An 11th league game without a win for the Spiders spelled the end for Veldman.