Who can blame Partick for fancying their chances?

IT WAS not the weekend Caley Thistle wanted. Other results had gone against them even before they kicked a ball and found themselves looking up at everyone else in the SPL.

Amid all the doom and gloom about Inverness going bottom of the table, they started the game against Rangers in a more spirited manner than we have seen for some time.

The team’s first-half performance was very encouraging but their inability to convert chances cost them.

To do anything in this game, Inverness had to take the lead, but it wasn’t to be. This nasty habit they have developed of conceding early after the break reared its ugly head once again.

The home defence couldn’t cope with Rangers when they really turned up the gas and, from the moment Nacho Novo turned Ross Tokely, you could see they were in trouble. Pedro Mendes’s goal was a beauty and came at the worst possible time.

Though Caley Thistle stuck gamely to their task they never really looked like clawing it back before the second and third goals came.

I’m not sure many home supporters expected too much yesterday and the result came as little surprise. They will be expecting more when Partick come calling in the cup.

A day away from the pressures of the SPL will be welcome but it looks anything but a straightforward task.

Partick scored four on their travels at Clyde on Saturday and will come north next week fancying their chances. Who can blame them?

Caley Thistle really need a good cup run this year both for the confidence and the money it would bring.

David Sutherland is the chairman of the Caley Thistle Supporters’ Trust