Caley Thistle manager John Robertson has backed deputy goalkeeper Cammy Mackay to bounce back following his error in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Falkirk.
Mackay stepped in to replace Mark Ridgers who missed out with a back spasm and Owain Fon Williams having been struggling with a groin injury, with the 22-year-old at fault for Ian McShane’s equalising goal direct from a corner.
Although Ridgers is expected to return for tonight’s Championship trip to Ayr United but should he fall short, Robertson insists he will have no qualms about handing 22-year-old Mackay, who spent the first half of this season on loan with Rothes, another opportunity.
Robertson said: “Mark has trained, so all things going well he should be back between the sticks.
“If he’s not, Cammy Mackay will play again – there is no problem with Cammy. He was nervous on Saturday, and that’s absolutely understandable. It was his first game for a couple of years.
“He had a nervous start and he obviously knows he should have done better at the goal.
“You’ve got to feel for that position though. You could play a depute at centre half who could miss a couple of headers, but it’s not necessarily going to cost you a goal.
“If a midfielder who gives the ball away, or a striker missing chances is not going to cost you a goal.
“When a goalkeeper makes a mistake though, it tends to be crucial and that’s what happened on Saturday. He just got caught under the flight of the ball.
“It’s now how he reacts to it. He was fantastic in training on Monday. He’s not the first goalkeeper to make a little mistake, and he won’t be the last. We’ve got no fears about the way he’s going to recover from it.”
Tonight’s rescheduled match against second placed Ayr at Somerset Park is followed by Saturday’s home game against Partick Thistle, and Robertson is aiming to ramp up the pressure on Dundee United, who are six points ahead of the Highlanders in third.
Robertson added: “If we can win our next two matches that puts us right on the tail of Dundee United and looking up, but if we don’t we will be looking at the last play-off spot.
“The next two matches against Ayr and Partick will determine not only where we are going, but also Ayr United.
“We want to do what we did a few weeks ago and dent their title challenge, because I feel that’s where they will be, fighting it out with Ross County for the title.”
