John Robertson insists there was “no sane reason” for the SPFL to plant the postponed Highland derby on a date opposed by both Caley Thistle and Ross County.
The sixth and final showdown between the two Championship promotion hopefuls, rained off 11 days ago, has been set for Tuesday, April 2.
That means, by the time the televised contest is complete, an already sodden and problematic Caledonian Stadium pitch will have hosted four matches in 10 days.
Saturday’s Irn-Bru Cup final was prelude to three hugely-important home ties for Robertson’s team against Alloa, Falkirk and now County.
Both Caley Thistle and the Staggies favoured a date later in April, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
An unhappy and bemused Robertson said: “Over the next seven days, we’re going to have to manage three tough games – four in 10 days.
“It is challenging. We didn’t feel the Ross County game needed to be put on that date.
“Ross County also felt the game shouldn’t be played on that date. Unfortunately, the SPFL decided it will go ahead on that day.
“There’s no sane reason why it should. If anything, that’s the fixture that will be doubtful as the four game in 10 days – counting Ross County’s cup final – on a very heavy, sodden pitch.
“The disappointing part for both clubs is we have no input before the decision is made. And we have no feedback as to why it goes ahead on that date.”
Caley Thistle are again embedded in the promotion play-off places, two points above resurgent Dunfermline and one behind faltering Ayr United.
Fresh from Friday’s impressive win at Firhill, Caley Thistle face bottom of the table Alloa amid a strong streak of winning form.
The manager, though, will guard against complacency, particularly given his team’s overall poor home record of just three wins and seven draws from 13 games at the Caledonian Stadium.
Robertson said: “Partick was a good three points and important – it takes us back into the play-off spot.
“We’ve just finished three away games on the bounce and now we’ve got three home games on the bounce.
“That’s one thing that’s disappointed us this season – our home form hasn’t matched our away form.
“We’ve now got a real chance to put that right at a really good time of the season to do it.
“We’ve three strikers on fire. Aaron Doran is playing well, Jordan White is playing well and Tom Walsh came back in with his winning goal.
“We want our forwards to score goals and that’s over 30 between the three of them. We also want midfielders to chip in and they’ve done that, but we always want more.
“But our focus is all on Alloa. In this league, we can’t afford to look further forward and we won’t be disrespecting Alloa.
“We haven’t beaten them this season and that’s as big a warning as our players need.”
