Dodds calls for calm in Hampden storm

Caley Thistle manager Billy Dodds believes only calm heads must prevail if his side is to have a chance at creating a Scottish Cup final shock for the ages on Saturday.

The Highlanders, who missed out on the playoffs in the Championship on the final day of the season, are huge underdogs as they face a Celtic side looking to secure a domestic treble.

The odds may be stacked against them but Dodds has plenty of biggame experience from his own career to know what pitfall his players must avoid at Hampden.

He said: “A thing that I will pass over to the players is that there has to be a calmness.

“There can’t be a madness. I’ve seen it in dressing rooms, yeah you bump everyone up, give a few high fives, chest bumps, wish everyone all the best, but there can’t be an insanity, running about like a madman.

“It can’t be like that, there has got to be a focus and a calmness. When we perform, that’s our best chance against Celtic.

“We need the most focused, determined performance that we’ve had for a long time.

“I said to the players before the semi-final against Falkirk, ‘Have your nerves, have your adrenaline, but don’t let it overwhelm you.

“‘If it doesn’t, you can go out there and perform’. It will be similar this time, but we will have to step it up a notch.

“I know what’s required and it’s going to have to be a humongous performance.”

The biggest obstacle facing Caley Jags – other than the treble-chasing Hoops themselves – is the lack of match practice.

The need to keep the players ticking over and match-fit for the final has also been challenging logistically.

Dodds said: “We’ve had two bounce games. I’d have liked more but it’s been so hard to get opposition. I gave them nine days off at the start because I knew they needed a rest.”

Billy Dodds.