Caley Thistle forward Connor Bell reckons the upturn in form and results shows that John Robertson’s squad is finally starting to click.
Bell scored the goal as Inverness defeated Dunfermline 1-0 on Saturday to record their first home league victory of the campaign, moving them up to seventh in the table.
Following a poor start in which they took just four points from the opening seven matches, Caley Jags have shown a marked improvement, with Saturday’s victory ensuring they went through October undefeated and without conceding a goal.
Bell is one of 13 signings made by Robertson in the summer and the Englishman felt it was always going to take time to gel.
He said: “It was about bedding in the new players. I’m one of them myself. It was just about trying to find out how each other plays.
“We’ve been working on the training ground and it’s completely different from the last time we played Dunfermline – when we lost 5-1 down there in August. You wouldn’t recognise the same team that played.
“The manager said before the game the 11 players needed to keep their shirts because we’ve got a few players coming back from injury now, it’s nearly a full squad.”
Bell, formerly of Wrexham and Rhyl, was a late addition by Robertson towards the end of pre-season after the 21-year-old had spent the previous campaign with Swiss outfit Servette.
Bell’s goal on Saturday is his fourth goal of the campaign and the Newcastle-born forward feels he is getting up to speed with Scottish football – despite also coming in for some unwelcome attention.
He added: “I did miss a bit of pre-season and it took me a while to get going.
“Now I feel fully fit and I’m showing out on the pitch, so I’m happy with that.
“I had to get used to getting a few knocks fairly quickly because I’ve had it in a few games. It’s part and parcel of the game. I don’t mind that side of it.
“I’m only small so I get kicked around a bit, but I’ve got to deal with that. I’m in the gym every day trying to get stronger.”
Fellow attacker John Baird has so far scored just once in the league so far but Bell is quick to acknowledge the role he has played, and is convinced the goals will come for the former Falkirk player.
Bell added: “John is leading the line very well. He starts from the front, if he doesn’t press then the team behind doesn’t press.
“He’s leading from the front and everyone is following behind him.
“Even the goal last week against Dundee United – he pulled the centre half out so I could get in and score at the far post.
“He’s making runs and I’m sure his goals will come soon, because he’s been working harder than anyone.”
