Caley Thistle manager John Robertson feels his players deserve more credit for their 24-game unbeaten run.
Inverness ended a run of seven consecutive stalemates by defeating Partick Thistle 1-0 at Firhill on Saturday, with Tom Walsh’s stunning second half strike proving the difference, while Caley Jags goalkeeper Mark Ridgers also saved a late penalty from Jags midfielder Blair Spittal.
Caley Jags’ run of league matches without defeat stretches back to March, with the Highlanders already having broken the 22-match record set by Steve Paterson’s side during the 1996-97 Third Division campaign.
Robertson feels recent frustration at being unable to turn draws into victories has deflected attention away from the scale of Inverness’ achievement, and he said: “I’m relieved for the players because that’s 24 games unbeaten, and I don’t think they have got the credit they deserve because of the draws.
“Everybody has seen it, and everybody has commented on it, and it has been really frustrating.
“Of the seven games, in two of them we were lucky to get a point if I’m brutally honest, but in the others we had chances to win. Last week against Dunfermline and Ross County, we were looking at them thinking that could have been three points.
“To eventually stop that with a win, maybe now the players will get the credit they deserve for achieving what they have done, and the club record of 24 games will get the credit it deserves.”
Robertson was thrilled by the performance from all areas of his side against Thistle, with the result moving Caley Jags up to fourth in the table.
He added: “Thistle were the livelier team in the first half, they are desperate to get that first win under their new manager. They had good breaks from Miles Storey, Aidan Fitzpatrick out wide and Jai Quitongo and Kris Doolan in the middle.
“We never quite got our passing game going but we had a wee tactical tweak on the midfield at half time. We talked about being brave and I thought our midfield players in particular – Sean Welsh, Charlie Trafford and Liam Polworth – were magnificent.
“They started to really feed the forwards and when they lost it the back four were solid as a rock. Joe Chalmers and Brad Mckay were out of position but they didn’t look like it.
“It shouldn’t go without mentioning that Mark Ridgers’ double save for the penalty was outstanding. He has been absolutely unbelievable for us for over a year now. He rightly deserves the acclaim he’s going to get from the Caley Thistle fans.”
