AUSTIN FINDS FORM AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME

Striker Nathan Austin says Caley Thistle have showed they are determined to take their play-off bid to the wire following Saturday’s 5-1 Championship win against Dumbarton.

Inverness hit back from behind after Grant Gallacher’s opener for the Sons, with Austin’s hat-trick and goals from Aaron Doran and Iain Vigurs ensuring a comfortable afternoon for the Highlanders. Although John Robertson’s men remain eight points adrift of the play-off spot, their games in hand mean they will guarantee a top-four finish by winning their four remaining games, starting with another match away to Dumbarton tomorrow.

Austin is eager to ramp up the pressure on the teams above them and said: “It’s in our own hands – if we win our games we will get the play-off spot. But it’s a massive ask for us, we have done well just to get ourselves in this position after a lot of wins we’ve had. We are putting pressure on ourselves to try and win the games. There are no easy games left.

“We believe we can make it otherwise we wouldn’t put that kind of effort in and it wouldn’t mean that much to us after each win.”

Englishman Austin’s first Championship hat-trick took him to four goals for Caley Jags since joining from Falkirk in January, having opened his account against Queen of the South the previous weekend.

The 24-year-old hopes he has found form at a crucial stage of the season, adding: “Before the game the most important thing was getting the win and hunting down the play-off spot. But, personally, I’m delighted to get the hat-trick. I have scored a few for East Fife – I think I scored four. But that’s my first in the Championship.”

HAVING A BALL: Nathan Austin has the match ball in his possession after his fine goalscoring performance against Dumbarton. MATCH FOCUS, PAGES 6 AND 7