Playoffs pain too strong for coach

Caley Thistle first-team coach Barry Wilson admits the pain of missing out on the promotion playoffs is so fresh that he’s not even watching Partick Thistle push towards the Premiership.

ICT are preparing for a mouth-watering Scottish Cup final against treble-chasing Celtic on June 3.

They won a friendly fixture 3-1 away to Northern Irish side Dungannon Swifts on Saturday.

They have a closed-door bounce game tomorrow and an in-house session on Saturday to sharpen up physically and tactically for facing the Hoops.

At the start of the month, ICT’s late surge of form took them to within one victory of finishing in the top four in the Championship.

However, a final-night 2-1 defeat against Ayr United saw them miss out and finish sixth in the division.

Since then, Partick thumped Queen’s Park 8-3 on aggregate and have a 3-0 advantage going into this Friday’s semi-final second leg at Ayr United.

Former Ross County star Brian Graham is a key figure, chipping in with four goals in three games for Kris Doolan’s rampant Jags.

Wilson feels reaching the Hampden semis, as great as it was to beat Falkirk 3-0, cost the team dearly for that must-win crunch clash with Ayr on May 5.

He said: “Partick Thistle have done the business against Queen’s Park and have a good advantage against Ayr ahead of Friday.

“But I actually haven’t watched the playoff games because I know how I would be feeling if I did watch them. I’m staying away from them.

“We gave ourselves too much to do and everything caught up with us in terms of injuries.

“We were always playing catch-up.

“With seven or eight games to go, we probably knew we could not afford a defeat. We nearly got there.

“I am still convinced had we not had the Scottish Cup semi-final against Falkirk, we’d probably have beaten Ayr.

“There was still a wee hangover from the efforts put into the semi-final. It maybe shouldn’t happen, but sometimes it does.”

Wilson was happy to report no injuries came from the game in Dungannon as the entire squad got minutes in their legs as they shape up behind the scenes this week.

He said: “The benefit was all in the game itself in Northern Ireland, because it was a quick stopover.

“We flew out on Friday night, and we were back Saturday night. It was all business, and the important thing was all the boys got game-time.

“Apart from one challenge with a stud on Nathan Shaw’s foot, we came through it with no injuries. It was a different opposition, and the game served its purpose.

“It has logistically been a nightmare to get games in May. You can tell the dates are designed for Premiership teams, which we accept. Nine times out of 10 that’s what happens. But when it falls like it has for us, it’s really tricky.”

“It didn’t help that we missed out on the playoffs. It happened to Falkirk in 2015 before their cup final against Caley Thistle.

“We have dealt with it. We’ll have a closed-door game on Wednesday night.

“On Saturday, although it will be a training session, it will have a practicematch theme where we will look at certain tactics and certain positions and try to implement that to get our strategy in place for the final the following week. That will help get that into the players’ minds.”

Since clinching a second successive Premiership title, Celtic have changed their team and had a few defensive issues, including missing influential centre half Cameron Carter-Vickers

The champions lost 3-0 to Rangers then battled back twice to draw 2-2 with St Mirren at Celtic Park on Saturday.

But Wilson is sure Ange Postecoglou’s men, targeting a world-record eighth domestic treble, will be back to their best for the cup final.

“There are little things we can look at, but in truth it is so hard, because Celtic are such a strong side, you don’t expect any poor form to continue.

“I have been in that position where you win the league, and you still have three or four games to play. As much as you try not to, the adrenalin goes, that’s human nature.

“I have no doubt that will be back with a vengeance for Celtic in time for the final.”

● Leighton McIntosh knows all about Arbroath as the former Cove Rangers striker prepares for his third spell with the Gayfield side.

And with Arbroath fans seeking a new goalscoring hero, McIntosh is confident he can deliver.

He has rejoined nine years after his first spell as a loan star from Dundee. After penning a two-year deal at Gayfield, McIntosh wants to get the strikes Arbroath need to push for the promotion playoffs next season.

“I’d like to score as many goals as I can,” he said. “I was just one away from double figures with Cove last year.

“I felt I could have got more and I’m sure every striker thinks like that.

“Wherever I am, then I back myself to get goals.

“It’s one of my main attributes, whether that’s coming off the bench or starting and I feel like I’m a better player than the one Arbroath had before.

“I’m really quick, strong, good in the air and I work hard to keep myself in good condition.

“Scoring double figures could help solidify Arbroath’s place in the Championship. Every season is different. Arbroath, Cove and Hamilton were fighting at the bottom last season.

“But there’s no reason why Arbroath can’t push for playoffs again.

“A lot can change in one season so hopefully I can help Arbroath push on by adding goals.”

Barry Wilson said ICT will be working on strategy.