Caley Thistle created history with a victory that moves them a step closer to a cup triumph to accompany their revived Championship form.
In beating Falkirk 1-0 in Saturday’s IRN-BRU Cup quarter-final, Inverness recorded their seventh successive clean sheet for the first time, breaking the record previously set by John Hughes’ side in 2014, with 657 minutes now having passed since they last conceded in September.
It was not always pretty, with this looking like a tie that would always be settled by a solitary goal, if not by virtue of extra time or penalties. In-form Connor Bell was the man who struck the decisive blow with his third goal in four games, ensuring Inverness’ name goes into tomorrow’s last-four draw.
The result continues John Robertson’s record of never having lost a game with the club in the competition – having guided the Highlanders to success 14 years ago when they defeated Airdrie at McDiarmid Park. That provided them with the springboard to go on and achieve promotion to the top flight for the first time. Although it is early yet, with the semi-finals not until February, repeating that double feat would firmly cement Robertson’s place at the height of Caley Thistle folklore.
Robertson had stuck with the same players for the four previous games but he was forced to change the successful formula for the visit of the Bairns. Jake Mulraney was on international duty with Republic of Ireland under-21s, with Alex Cooper brought in to replace him.
Falkirk are still searching for their first victory since Paul Hartley replaced Peter Houston last month, with the Bairns low in confidence having failed to shift from second bottom in the Championship table.
It was a cagey opening with little to trouble either goalkeeper, with long-range strikes from Falkirk’s Myles Hippolyte and Caley Jags’ Joe Chalmers flashing wide.
Falkirk began to increase their pressure, though, with Hippolyte firing over after Mark Ridgers had only partially cut out Alex Harris’ cross, before Brad McKay was forced to thwart another dangerous Harris delivery. It was a slow start from Inverness but they began to show signs of coming alive as the first half wore on, with John Baird eager to net against his former club, seeing a low shot blocked by the feet of Robbie Thomson after being picked out by Cooper, before flashing another effort over following a corner.
The visitors remained a threat, with the lively Hippolyte seeing a low shot hacked off the line by Donaldson, but it was a poor spectacle, with Iain Vigurs going closest to breaking the deadlock in the remaining first-half minutes with a shot from the edge of the box tipped wide by Thomson.
Inverness carried their menace into the start of the second half, with Cooper seeing his header tipped over the bar by Thomson, but their breakthrough did come after 57 minutes. Baird’s persistence guided David Raven’s delivery into the path of Bell, who powered his fifth goal of the season through the legs of Thomson.
The result looked in little doubt thereafter, with Bell denied a second from long range by a save from Thomson. Falkirk piled men forward in an attempt to secure an equaliser but Inverness stood firm to ensure nothing fell the Bairns’ way. It was an evening in which there was little to get excited about, although Caley Jags supporters were given something to savour on 72 minutes when midfielder Aaron Doran entered the field for the first time since February after recovering from a knee injury, replacing Cooper, who was determined to make an impression.
Robertson has competition for places which augurs well if Caley Jags are to sustain a challenge in both league and cup. The improvement in the Highlanders in a few weeks has been vast which prompts the question – on this form who would bet against them?