Terry Butcher claimed he had a gut feeling Nick Ross was the ideal choice to replace suspended Richie Foran for Saturday’s crucial Division 1 game with Morton.
It proved a mostly grim 90 minutes in the Highland capital but one the Caley Thistle manager felt was well worth enduring for the thrill of seeing his youthful charge steal the limelight.
Inverness manager But-cher could have turned to veteran Roy McBain, summer signing Robert Eagle or recently out-of-favour Dani Sanchez for experienced cover in the absence of the team’s talisman.
Instead, he plumped for an 18-year-old who hadn’t featured since September and was making only his third start at senior level.
Ross, though, more than held his own in a messy game and had the audacity to emerge as the 64th minute match-winner.
However, the locally born midfielder’s reward for halving Dundee’s lead in the table was to be ordered to sweep the dressing-room floors.
All under 19s are given match-day duties – and, even in the circumstances, But-cher was in no mood to offer preferential treatment.
He said: “There’s a touch of romance about a local boy scoring the winner for Inver-ness Caley Thistle. But I certainly didn’t let him off the duties – he’s through there sweeping up now.
“He’s still learning his trade and hasn’t played a game in a long while, so it’s incredible.
“He was substitute last week and I just had a wee feeling about him today. You get these little gut feelings. Sometimes it’s a curry, sometimes it’s something else.
“It’s incredible for the club that someone has come through the system and scored the winner for the first team.”
Butcher cared little that the spectacle was disappointing – win at any cost is the mantra now.
He said: “That is the game where we’ve possibly made the least chances all season.
“With nine men strung across the pitch in front of us, it was hard at times.
“I was really concerned about this game and suspected we were going to struggle because the tank was empty in a few cases. We’d had a tough week at Dundee and against Queen of the South and you could see that.
“When you get tired, your decisions, movement and anticipation isn’t as sharp.
“Morton had a free week and hadn’t faced the sort of pressure games we had.
“I could see it coming. I gave the lads a lot of Ps before the game – pride, passion, persistence and patience.
“The latter two were vital in the end.”