Robbo’s men bounce back in style to silence the critics
It was a Championship six-pointer. And Inverness Caledonian Thistle emerged six points clear of playoff rivals Dundee after a first half demolition job.
Before kick-off, it had been second against third. But goals from Highland stars Aaron Doran and James Keatings sent the Dark Blues down to fourth by full-time.
The early Caley Jags supremacy was such that dismal, disjointed, dreadful Dundee were lucky they weren’t completely blown away by the break.
Their fans gave gaffer James Mcpake and his misfiring players both barrels at time-up.
But for the Inverness boss John Robertson, it was an afternoon to relish.
“We asked the lads for a reaction from last week, when they were horrendous (in losing to Arbroath),” he said.
“It was important we came down here and made a statement of intent because last week people would have been asking: ‘Have they got what it takes to keep pushing on?’
“I think we answered that today.” Having gone unbeaten through December, Dundee had every right to be hopeful. But from the start their hopes began to dwindle.
Sean Mackie gave away a needless eighth minute corner that sparked panic among the Dark Blue rearguard.
Three minutes later, James Keatings saw a crafty free kick punched clear by Jack Hamilton at his near post.
Dundee were living dangerously
– and Inverness weren’t for letting them off the hook.
Aaron Doran smashed home their opener in the 17th minute after Shaun Rooney sent in an inch-perfect cross, having being picked out in acres of space on the right by Kevin Mchattie. Dundee’s left back, Jordan Marshall, was caught badly out of position. Worse was to come. Caley Jags extended their lead when they broke from a Dundee corner.
With almost the entire Dark Blues side caught upfield, Keatings slipped past one criminally slack challenge, before winning a second and running fully 40 yards to slot past Hamilton from the edge of the box. Dundee were all over the place. After being solid for a full month, they suddenly looked completely devoid of confidence.
John Robertson has built a team of real substance in the Highland capital and, at Dens, they were in the business of proving it.
With a healthy cushion propping them up, they retreated in the second half, and Dundee did manage to test keeper Mark Ridgers.
He did well to push a Marshall 20-yarder past the post, held on to another long range effort from Jordan Mcghee, then tipped a looping Paul Mcgowan header over the bar.
But Dundee ended up with nothing. Having started the season dreaming of the title, they now find themselves 20 points behind leaders, United.
The sad truth is, it should now be of even greater concern to them that they are just four clear of Dunfermline, Queen of the South and Arbroath, who all lurk, eyes cast upwards, beneath them.