Caley Jags’ Friday feeling despite exit

Scott Kellacher shrugged off Caley Thistle’s Trust Trophy exit – insisting the team is ready for tomorrow’s Championship showdown with Kilmarnock in Inverness.

Assistant manager Kellacher saw his side held 0-0 by Raith Rovers at the Caledonian Stadium on Tuesday, with Raith winning 5-4 on penalties after Shane Sutherland’s spot-kick was saved.

Killie and Raith are top of the table, but the third-placed Caley Jags will move into pole position should they win.

Inverness keeper Mark Ridgers, wide midfielder Aaron Doran and forward Sutherland all began Tuesday night on the bench, with main striker Billy Mckay coming off for Sutherland at the break.

Kellacher said it was a balancing act as the side sought to reach a semi-final but also with an eye on tomorrow’s league clash with the Ayrshire team.

He said: “We were trying to shuffle the pack a wee bit to keep boys fresh and to get boys game time as well.

“We managed it very well on Tuesday night. We obviously wanted to win the game and we’re gutted to be out of the competition as we felt we deserved to win it.

“But we were trying to keep boys fresh as well because it is a hard period with so many games coming up.”

Inverness have won just one of their last eight games, but they’ve done enough to give themselves a chance to take top spot in the Championship before the weekend.

Kellacher knows the significance of hosting pacesetters Killie is not lost on anyone at the Caledonian Stadium.

He said: “To get the points on the board on a Friday night ahead of the other fixtures would be fantastic. We just try to get three points on the board every week and then keep focusing on the next game.”

Raith boss John McGlynn felt Caley Thistle deserved to win the last-eight tie in midweek and only a fine stop by goalkeeper Robbie Thomson prevented Lewis Jamieson from sealing a 1-0 victory.

Under-18 talents Kenny MacInnes, Ben Barron, Jamie Carnihan and Duncan Proudfoot were all named as subs and MacInnes and Carnihan came on for their senior debuts in the second half.

Coach Ryan Esson leads the under-18s and they’ve just made it through to round four of the SFA Scottish Youth Cup with a 1-0 win at Morton after Proudfoot struck the only goal at Cappielow on Friday night.

Kellacher said giving the young players a taste of the big-game experience was a positive to take from Tuesday’s encounter.

He said: “It’s brilliant we’ve always had good young boys coming through the system.

“They took their chance against Raith and we were delighted with them.

“There’s a very good crop in the under-18s. It is exciting times. The youth are brilliant, with a lot of good players. A lot of the teams are doing very well.

“It is great to see them coming through and even better when you see a couple getting their chance in the cup.”

Inverness will hope they can get three points against Killie before other main rivals Arbroath and Raith go head-to-head at Gayfield on Saturday.

Next Tuesday, Caley Thistle are at Morton for their Scottish Cup replay, with Premiership Motherwell awaiting the winners at Fir Park on January 22.

Inverness return to Cappielow in the league four days later.

BLOODING THE YOUNG GUNS: Caley Thistle’s Cameron Harper is on the Trust Trophy attack against Raith Rovers.