Dodds applauds fans for their part in Inverness turnaround

Caley Thistle head coach Billy Dodds is urging fans to keep the noise up as the team target promotion to the Premiership this month.

The Inverness players are getting set for their Premiership play-off quarter-final against Partick Thistle, at Firhill tomorrow then at home on Friday.

Supporters lapped up the action on Friday as the regular Championship season closed with a stunning 4-0 victory against Hamilton Accies.

A brace from man of the match Tom Walsh and strikes from Shane Sutherland and Joe Hardy had their opponents down and out in less than half an hour.

A controlled second half didn’t see any further goals, but it was an impressive show, which made it six wins from their last eight matches.

The turnaround since beating runners-up Arbroath 3-0 on March 13 has been stunning and arrived at the perfect time.

That stirring show followed a winless period with six draws and five losses right throughout winter.

Sections of the ICT fan base were more than a little restless, with Dodds and his players under real pressure from the stands and, of course, on social media.

However, the turnstiles of the Caledonian Stadium kept clicking and the emergence of the Section 94 singing section opposite the main stand has been mentioned by the players and staff, as they’ve helped roar the team into promotion contention.

Dodds is thrilled the home supporters have pumped up the volume, as they will be needed on Friday when Partick come calling for the second leg.

He said: “We don’t take big numbers to away games, but they generate some noise. But it really is good to hear our home fans making a noise when we play here. They have been brilliant.

“I’ve had my hard times, but more recently when we’ve given them performances, they have been excellent and roared us on, like in the 2-1 win against Kilmarnock here.

“That was special and they carried that on to Friday’s game. The fans have played their part – home and away.”

Dodds is delighted by their strong run of form and is urging the players to keep it up now it has reached crunch time.

He said: “We have the momentum with our current form – but that’s all it is. I just hope we carry that on. We’re capable and I’ve said that all along.

“When we play, we’re one of the top teams in this league. Our position has shown that this season.

“We lost top players such as Scott Allardice and Michael Gardyne and that hurt us, but we have shown some steel to come back and put in the performances we have.”

The only downside of a great night for Inverness was the calf injury suffered in the first half by defender Wallace Duffy.

Dodds is keeping his fingers crossed the medical assessment shows up in the player’s favour.

He said: “It was a real gutting moment for Wallace.

“He got a calf tweak. I am hoping it is just a tweak and not a tear. We will get him assessed.

“Wallace has been doing brilliantly. We have good cover, but we hope he will be OK for Tuesday.”

Tuesday’s hosts Partick, who finished fourth in the table, ended their campaign on a low note on Friday with a 3-1 defeat at Ayr United, who stayed in the division as a result.

Arbroath finished two points behind champions Kilmarnock thanks to their 3-0 home win against Morton.

Dick Campbell’s parttimers face the winners of Partick/Inverness on May 10 and May 13, with the second leg at Gayfield.

The winner of that semifinal double-header will contest the final against the Premiership’s secondbottom side on May 20 and 23.

Boss Billy Dodds says the supporters have been brilliant.