Inverness on the up – but Dundee deflated
INVERNESS CT 3 Doumbouya (8), Tansey (17pen), Polworth (51)
DUNDEE 1 Low (84)
DUNDEE’S litany of dismal results against hoodoo club Inverness continued in the Highlands yesterday with a 16th consecutive meeting without victory – and ninth unsatisfying visit to the Caledonian Stadium.
But while his own team’s transformation in fortunes continued, Richie Foran was still demanding better last night from Inverness.
A well-deserved victory over Dundee lifted the Highlanders from 11th to eighth in the Premiership table at a ground where the Dark Blues have never won.
A Lonsana Doumbouya header, Greg Tansey penalty and neat Liam Polworth finish put Paul Hartley’s men to the sword again.
Nicky Low’s fine free- kick only slightly tainted the afternoon’s work for the hosts but Foran, wary of many more testing times ahead, is keen for further improvement after drawing with Aberdeen and champions Celtic.
Foran said: “We can pass the ball a bit better and there’s a lot more to come from us, but it’s pleasing.
“We scored goals at the right time, early in the first and second halves.
“We’ve taken three of five or six chances, which was brilliant.”
Foran also heaped praise on his defensive line for keeping the visitors at bay.
“The back four, along with Owain Fon Williams, were colossal,” said the former Motherwell star.
“We’re going in the right direction. Hopefully our bad spell is out the way.
“There was no panic after the poor start. It never affected us mentally and we’ve got the results recently.”
Inverness are now looking up the table, Foran adding: “We’re trying to catch the team in front of us.
“We’ve got another tough game next weekend away to Hamilton Accies, but it’s pleasing at the moment.”
Early Inverness offensive forays set the tone – and the breakthrough came after eight minutes.
Brad McKay’s superb angled cross from deep on the right held a decent amount of pace and Doumbouya lifted a guiding header high past keeper Scott Bain from 12 yards for his first goal for the club.
There was then confusion as Inverness doubled their lead from the penalty spot after 17 minutes. Former Real Sociedad prospect Julen Etxabeguren seemed to knock Billy King to the ground inside the penalty box, but there were no real home appeals.
Greg Tansey then brought some clarity to the incident by rocketing a brilliant spot-kick high past Bain.
From there, Dundee edged back into the contest for a spell with home keeper Fon Williams pulling off good saves from Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Cammy Kerr.
But hopes of a Dundee recovery blew up in their faces after 51 minutes, with Caley Thistle grasping the vital third.
The ball squirmed out following Ross Draper’s midfield challenge on Paul McGowan and spun into the path of Brad McKay, who drove forward and then slipped a perfect pass into Polworth’s path.
With great calmness, Polworth prodded the ball past Bain into the corner of the net from 10 yards.
Strong saves from keeper Bain stopped this becoming a rout before Dundee’ s consolation.
Low’s 25-yard free-kick with six minutes left was a stunning strike hut a mere consolation for well-beaten Dundee.
A dejected Paul Hartley, fresh from slating critical pundits and social media, admitted his team deserved the flak last night.
The Dens boss said: “The performance wasn’t good enough and I’ll accept criticism in terms of this.
“Too many of them had a bad day at the office.
While confusion reigned at the award of what proved to be a crucial penalty, Hartley had little complaint.
He stressed: “I don’t think we have to make the challenge in the first place, although I didn’t think it was a bad one.
“But we have to do better in the defending side.
“Was it a penalty? I’m not quite sure.”