The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Clinging on to hope
Caley Thistle
Their hopes may be hanging by a thread, but John Robertson is refusing to give up hope of his Caley Thistle team making the Championship play-offs this season.
Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Dunfermline means Inverness must beat Livingston tonight and Morton on Saturday and hope that second-bottom Dumbarton can win against the Pars in Fife to qualify for this year’s top four.
It’s an unlikely sequence but experienced campaigner Robertson believes he’s seen far more unexpected turnarounds in his career.
His view is simple: miracles can, and do, happen.
“It was a blow, absolutely no doubt about that,” Robertson said. “But if people think we’re giving up they have another thing coming. We’ve got to go to Livingston and win the game.
“Then yes, we need a favour. The ball is in Dunfermline’s court, we know that. But we cannot give up and we won’t. We’ll look to finish the season unbeaten and see where it takes us. It may be enough – two wins and you never know.”
Inverness looked to be set for a crucial three points on Saturday against Dunfermline before Nicky Clark’s 95th-minute header spoiled their celebrations.
It extended their unbeaten run to 10 games but maintained the Pars fivepoint advantage in fourth.
Robertson knows the chances are slim but pointed to losing the title as a player with Hearts in 1986 as proof that you should never count your chickens.
Going into their final league match at Dundee, Hearts were unbeaten in 27 games and only needed to avoid defeat at Dens Park to win the club’s first title since 1960. Two late Albert Kidd goals gave Dundee a 2-0 win and handed the title to Celtic on goal difference. Robertson said: “1986 took a long time to get over. But you move on and toughen yourself up.”
Livingston’s second spot and place in the playoffs is already assured but Robertson is not expecting any let up from them tonight.
He said: “David Hopkin has the luxury of 10 days before they tackle the winners of Dundee United and either ourselves or Dunfermline.
“But we can’t get involved in that – we just need to go down and win the match.”