McCall’s motoring Jags on the rise
PARTICK THISTLE boss
Ian McCall says it is time to start looking up the table after his side recorded a second straight win to take them up to eighth place.
Second-half goals from Alex Jones, Steven Saunders and Dario Zanatta saw the Jags earn a deserved victory against play-off chasing Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
McCall, who watched his side notch their fifth win since he returned to Firhill, said: ‘You’ve got to (start looking up the table) if we keep that run going. It’s not a wee run anymore. It’s substantial.
‘We were terrific today. Inverness are a good side with, for me, the best manager in the division (John Robertson).’
Caley Thistle goalkeeper Mark Ridgers ensured the game was goalless at half-time thanks to a string of fine saves.
But whatever McCall said at the break worked as the Jags went ahead on 48 minutes.
Jones latched on to Reece Cole’s superb through ball and slotted past Ridgers to claim his first goal for the club.
The visitors levelled on 57 minutes courtesy of James Keatings’ mesmerising overhead kick as he connected perfectly with an Aaron Doran corner.
Seven minutes later, the Jags were back in front as Saunders pounced on a loose ball in the box from a Cole cross to fire right-footed into the bottom corner.
Caley Thistle gave it their best efforts to equalise but, in stoppage time, Zanatta rounded Ridgers before slotting in from a tight angle for 3-1 to confirm back-toback wins for McCall’s men.
Inverness boss Robertson, who was shown a yellow card in the first half for arguing with the officials, said: ‘We were not clinical enough in Thistle’s box.’