Relegation battlers need better handling insists Inverness boss John Robertson

Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson is looking for his second-top players to show a reaction after losing 2-0 at Alloa when they host second-bottom Queen of the South.
Manager John Robertson was unhappy that his Inverness team ‘never got going’ against Alloa. Picture: SNS.Manager John Robertson was unhappy that his Inverness team ‘never got going’ against Alloa. Picture: SNS.
Manager John Robertson was unhappy that his Inverness team ‘never got going’ against Alloa. Picture: SNS.

Robertson said: “We had gone there looking to benefit from Ayr and Dundee United playing each other but we never got going. Alloa are fighting for their lives and deserved their win. Queens are also fighting for their lives and I want that handled a lot better.”

The Dumfries side sit only three points above bottom side Partick Thistle and manager Allan Johnston has told his players that they are the only team that will help them climb the table.

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“We are not going to rely on any other teams,” he said. “We have to take care of securing wins ourselves.

“We have done well against the top four this season apart from the games against Inverness. We have struggled against their mix of good players and physical attributes but we will look to win this one.”

Dundee manager James McPake will be quite happy for his side to be gritty and determined as opposed to stylish against Ayr United in the second meeting between the sides in three days.

McPake said: “We showed a different side to our game in Saturday’s goalless draw. We were horrible to play against when we needed to be. I want the same in this game but with more pressure put on their defence.”

Ayr player/manager Mark Kerr, who will send his players out to attack, explained: “When you play two games in quick succession against the same opponents it becomes a game of chess as you are both looking to find a new way to gain an advantage. I will tweak things and so will James McPake but our attacking philosophy will not change.

“We attacked on Saturday and created chances but unfortunately, we missed them including a penalty. We will look to get the goal our play deserves this time.”

Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall is hoping that improved cohesion in his recast squad will lead to a first win in ten games when the Firhill club host Dunfermline. He saw enough in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with champions-elect Dundee United to be looking forward to a huge week in which the visit by the Pars is followed by a home contest against Alloa.

“There was a lot of cohesion and we should have scored before Dundee United got their goal,” said McCall. “Their goal was a bit of a giveaway from us but we recovered from that and created a good number of chances. What we have to do starting against Dunfermline is to turn draws into wins by turning chances into goals.”

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Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford said: “We dropped points at the weekend when we drew with Queen of the South. However, we did not lose too much ground. We got plenty of crosses into their box but could not score from them, but we will look to put that right at Firhill.”

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