The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Table-toppers praised by Dodds as he looks to give squad men action
Billy Dodds believes his Championship-topping Caley Jags stars are getting better with every passing week.
And the ICT head coach reckons there’s plenty of room for improvement, including scoring more after a run of four 1-0 wins shot them into first place.
Michael Gardyne’s brilliant finish following a swift counter-attack on Saturday earned the Inverness team a precious victory away to league favourites Kilmarnock.
Dodds was more than satisfied with the performance, but knows the areas in which they must improve.
He said: “They have just grown as a team. You can see the work ethic I am getting from everyone.
“Yes, we are keeping clean sheets, but every position is doing their job properly. We are full of confidence right now.
“We can score more goals if we are a bit more careful with our passing, but since the League Cup when we conceded a few goals, we have really tightened up.
“I thought we were very good in that second half. I asked them to keep the ball better, which they did most of the time. If I am looking for a performance away from home in front of 5,000 fans, then I am delighted with that.”
Dodds praised his side for demonstrating good management within the game as they stood up to their sternest league test yet.
He said: “How many times have we talked about the balance and the experience we have? In the times when teams look as if they might get a wee bit of pressure against you, we gather in and we’re hard to beat.
“We are then open and we express ourselves and that’s down to the players. I can’t praise them enough. They have been brilliant.
“It was a really good, solid performance on Saturday against a top team who have not lost a game for a while.”
A change of competition this weekend takes the leaders into SPFL Trust Trophy action against Buckie Thistle, who sit second in the Highland League.
Dodds insists this will be a tie for some of those players who need matchtime to show what they can do in a competitive setting.
He added: “I’m looking forward to Saturday. There will be a few other boys getting minutes.
“The players have worked hard for me in all four league games. Teams have made it hard for us every time, so we have had to put in a shift. It’s not about 11 players. We have a strong squad champing at the bit to get into the team. That’s the way it should be, but I need to get minutes into them now.”