Supporters take heart
Published:
THE runners and riders in the 2008-09 SPL have lined up and now most of them have started the race.
The next nine months will separate the thoroughbreds from those fit for the knacker’s yard and it seems Caley Thistle might not be the ones turned into glue.
Let’s get the monkey-off-the-back nonsense out of the way first of all. A first win against Aberdeen is great and I was as delighted as any other Inverness supporter at full time.
There have been several very near things over the years and I’ve got a funny feeling now we’ve started beating the Dons we might forget how to stop doing it.
What pleases me more is simply Inverness are off to a winning start for just the second time in their five SPL seasons.
On the only other occasion they managed three points on opening day they went on to have perhaps their best season in the top flight to date.
So, I hope the players take great heart and confidence from this result.
A clean sheet is hugely encouraging and a first goal for Andy Barrowman was exactly what he needed.
I thought he did well in the pre-season games and was not surprised to see him have an impact at Pittodrie. He could be a very good signing. Old stager Roy McBain killing the game off on his 300th appearance for the Caley Jags capped things off perfectly.
The supporters will also feel a bit more optimistic as few, if any, had been relishing the prospect of the new season.
Perhaps, though, events at Pittodrie might have whetted their appetite for things to come.
Like myself, though, I believe they will think a couple of signings need to be made before the end of August.
A couple of home games follow and give Inverness a good opportunity to build on this fine start.
Football is played with the mind as much as the feet, and if Caley Jags can get to the end of August confident they can pick up points at home and on the road, then the winter may not be as long, dark and cold as many had feared.
David Sutherland is the vice-president of the Caley Thistle Supporters’ Trust
