Dodds wants Thistle to rekindle the mentality they took to Morton

Billy Dodds only needs to cast his mind back to October to remind himself how dangerous Hamilton can be.

The Inverness head coach saw his earlyseason Championship leaders lose their first league game 2-1 at New Douglas Park in a curious match where ICT played for an hour against 10 men, but trailed 2-0 early on.

ICT have been up, down and up again within the top four and three straight league wins have shot them back to the summit.

Speaking ahead of reaching the halfway stage of the league season, Dodds wants his team to take the best of what they did when they flattened Morton 6-1 a week ago.

He said: “Hamilton were the first team to beat us this season, so we have to make sure we give our opponents the utmost respect.

“Their results have improved and they have got themselves up to sixth, even although it might only be by three or four points. They will be a tough nut to crack.

“We have got to have the same mentality and approach to the game as we had against Morton.”

Dodds reckons when you’re the team in first place, it’s an incentive for opponents. That was the case last time these sides met.

He added: “We have done well and it’s nice to be top, but last time against Hamilton we were also up there to be shot at.

“We were top of the league and they were desperate to beat us. They will come here with the same mindset and will want to turn us over. They are capable, but our boys are in a good place.

“I was delighted with the overall performance last Saturday and that’s why we got such an emphatic victory. It was still only another three points and I’m sure they recognise that.

“They have to have the same physical presence, same mentality and approach to the game as last week. That’s what we will ask of them against Hamilton.”

After hosting Hamilton today, ICT remain at home for the game against Partick Thistle on Boxing Day.

Dodds insists his team must not offer any glimmer of hope to their chasing rivals.

He added: “It’s good because we have been on our travels. We go into it on the back of our most resounding victory of the season. Now we have to reinforce it.”

On-loan Norwich midfielder Reece McAlear, 19, scored his first senior goal and it was a cracker in the rout of Morton.

Dodds said: “Reece has been brilliant. He is a really good player. He’s 19 and realises the things he has to learn through experience.

“I am giving him that platform and he has grasped it.”

Billy Dodds celebrates the Morton hammering.