Richie Foran is urging disgruntled supporters to get right behind Caley Thistle in times of trouble.
The Irish manager stressed he understood why some behind him in the main stand had voiced frustration during Saturday’s scoreless draw at home to Partick Thistle.
It was the team’s 11th league match without a victory, a run dating back three months to late October when they beat Motherwell at Fir Park.
But Foran, still convinced Caley Jags can book a Premiership top-six place this season, is urging supporters to keep the faith and rally behind the players.
Addressing the issue of disgruntlement in the stands, he said: “It’s understandable. They’ve been great. I sensed a bit of frustration on Saturday with Thistle playing the better football in the first half, until we changed the shape.
“It is understandable the supporters getting a bit nervous but the message is don’t panic. Stay calm, stay cool and we’ll get it right.”
There would be no better time to do that than tonight at New Douglas Park where the bottom two teams in the Premiership go head-to-head.
Hamilton, after their heavy defeat away to St Johnstone at the weekend, sit a single goal above Inverness with the two sides tied on 17 points.
Foran’s selection headaches have been considerable at times because of injuries, exacerbated by a sickness bug sweeping through the camp.
Gary Warren and Greg Tansey, two of the Highlanders’ most consistent performers, had to take injections to play in the Partick Thistle match after a night and morning spent vomiting.
Carl Tremarco, the left back, was excused training yesterday with a similar bout of illness.
Josh Meekings and Lewis Horner have both been lost to Foran’s defence for another month through injury, while Billy King also misses out again. Individuals like David Raven, Henri Anier and Ross Draper are woefully short of match sharpness but were rushed into the first team through necessity.
Foran, though, insists Tremarco and his under the weather team-mates will play against Hamilton.
He said: “Yes, you want to be winning your home games but, with the problems we had, we’d always take that point.”