Dodds: You better believe Caley Jags are a good side
Broadfoot (51), Sutherland (68), Doran (71)
PARTICK TH. 1 Tiffoney (17) Billy Dodds asked for greater belief from his Caley Thistle side at the break – then saw them deliver on his demands.
Three superb goals from Kirk Broadfoot, Shane Sutherland and Aaron Doran dramatically turned this top of the table clash on its head.
Partick, who led through Scott Tiffoney’s brilliant opener, were left ruing missed opportunities – including a Brian Graham sitter – as they slipped to fourth.
Caley Thistle, though, stride on with five wins from five, despite losing their immaculate clean sheet record.
Manager Dodds said: “In the first half, we were lucky we never went 2-0 down. I said at half-time, you have to believe how good a team you are and be a bit more ruthless.
“Do it with a bit more authority, up the intensity, and we’ll get something from this game.
“I said I knew they were a good team and told them to go out and show me.
“They have to realise how good a team they are. I knew if they could step up the intensity in that final third they could score goals. That’s what they did.
“It is five wins now and we’ve grown – we’ve seen the belief setting in.”
The hosts brought in Aaron Doran for injured Michael Gardyne in the only change from league action.
Zak Rudden and Shea Gordon dropped to the bench for Partick, with Lewis Mayo and Cammy Smith restored.
After 16 minutes of home pressure,
the Glasgow side grasped the lead. Scott Tiffoney took a short Stuart Bannigan pass and showed nimble feet to dart past a couple of challenges and struck low and powerfully past Mark Ridgers from 12 yards.
It was the first crack in the home side’s defences in seven hours and 45 minutes of football.
The hosts almost hit back three minutes later as Manny Duku’s long, looping header hit the bar.
Soon after, Brian Graham bent an attempt just wide from the edge of the box before his howler eight minutes before the break.
Graham, twisting free in front of goal, did everything right before the finish, eight yards out, although he was denied by a wonderful Ridgers save.
Cammy Smith also flashed a header just wide on half-time.
Those were missed chances they would come to regret in the second 45.
Just as the home crowd was beginning to voice frustration, Caley Thistle drew level through veteran defender Kirk Broadfoot. He found space opening up to send a superb low shot into the far left corner of the net.
Caley Jags were buzzing as a long diagonal was launched forward after 68 minutes, and keeper Jamie Sneddon was caught in no-man’s land to the right of his box.
Shane Sutherland, seizing his chance, cut a tremendous finish into the empty net from a tight angle.
Two minutes later, David Carson powered in a low ball from the right, dummied by Duku, and Doran, square on goal 20 yards out, rocketed a first time shot into the top of the net.
Away manager Mccall admitted: “We really should have been, if not out of sight, two goals ahead by the break.
“But I thought Inverness played really well in the second half.”