THERE can be a tipping point in any given season where the sheer negative momentum of a troubled campaign overwhelms a club. Only time will tell, but Inverness Caley Thistle, it seems, may well have reached that deadly, irreversible juncture.
After a late and costly collapse, home manager Richie Foran apologised to the booing home supporters but also questioned whether some of his players understood what relegation would mean.
The man demoted to the second tier with Inverness in 2009 under Terry Butcher certainly does. The Irishman shared blame for the dramatic collapse against St Johnstone that left his team teetering on the brink of Championship football, but also turned fire on the players after a strong showing disintegrated in the face of the first-half opener from Steven MacLean.
After Larnell Cole’s senseless red card with eight minutes left, Liam Craig’s penalty and another from Graham Cummins hoisted
St Johnstone to within three points of Rangers.
“We folded in the last 10 minutes. There was a lack of courage and confidence,” said Foran, still with only one win from 21 league games. “It’s the first time we’ve really let our supporters down with a lack of passion and desire.
“We dominated the first half, put a lot of crosses in the box and had chances to go ahead. St Johnstone had two crosses and scored from one, so we’re not defending well either. There’s no more excuses. It’s not good enough and the main person it’s not good enough from is me. I pick the team, but the players need to stand up and be counted.
“The majority of the supporters’ anger should be at me. I can fully understand them. We looked good in the first half but that’s not enough. Do we believe we can score or keep a clean sheet? I can see a confidence problem.
“I’ve kept it positive for months so maybe I’ll go the other, tell them how bad they’ve been and see if I get a reaction.
“Relegation has been spoken about. We spoke about it yesterday morning – I’ve been part of a team that’s relegated here, seeing office staff crying in the corridor at losing their jobs. Maybe some of the younger players didn’t know what it means to the city of Inverness. But we spoke about it yesterday and obviously didn’t get the reaction we were after.”
Inverness striker Alex Fisher, earning his first start since September, went close after 18 minutes with a thumping eight-yard header from Kevin McNaughton’s cross.
The home momentum seemed to be building towards an opener and Ross Draper split the Saints defence with a fine pass after 32 minutes, but keeper Alan Mannus shut down Billy Mckay.
St Johnstone, though, were ahead after 40 minutes. Home keeper Owain Fon Williams palmed away a Michael Coulson effort but Steven MacLean was sharp to pounce on the loose ball and net despite Gary Warren’s desperate clearance attempt on the line.
It proved a far more sluggish second period but disaster struck the hosts in almost suicidal fashion as the home midfielder Cole, took a senseless red card.
After being fouled himself by Craig, Cole drew a yellow card for dissent and then, as his angry reaction continued, took a second yellow and red.
The next nail in the coffin came after 88 minutes amid Saints pressure as Carl Tremarco tripped Graham Cummins in the box and Craig, marking his 300th game for St Johnstone, sent Owain Fon Williams the wrong way.
Substitute Chris Millar then contrived to create the last hammer-blow for the hosts as he set up Cummins for a thumping finish.
A delighted Tommy Wright hailed it as a “massive win” and praised his milestone man Craig.
He said: “Liam is a great servant to the club and so is Chris Millar. It’s testament that we’ve got Steven Anderson and two other players on 300 appearances.
“We’re three points off third place and, with the way results went, it was massive. The week didn’t start great but it’s been a good three or four days to finish.”
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