Caley Thistle midfielder Sean Welsh knows a Championship promotion play-off place is there for the taking after Inverness moved five points clear in fourth spot.
Inverness’ 1-0 victory over Morton on Saturday saw John Robertson’s men pull clear of nearest challengers Dunfermline, with Ton and Queen of the South a point further behind the Pars.
Welsh is pleased his side took advantage of other results going Caley Jags’ way, but the former Partick Thistle midfielder insists his side must maintain consistency in the remaining nine league matches in order to secure a top-four spot.
Welsh said: “It was a massive game and we knew that before. We had to try to get the three points and try to put a bit of a gap between ourselves and Morton and thankfully we got a gap away from Queen of the South as well, with a result going our way.”
Late setbacks have proven costly for Caley Jags in recent weeks but Welsh hopes his side’s latest victory shows they are on the right track, with the 28-year-old adding: “We have lost late goals that have killed us, but we know that now and I think we are getting better at shutting up shop and seeing games out.
“We were solid as a unit against Morton. We sat in at the right times and limited them to very little chances. We said at half time it was all about keeping a clean sheet.
“A second goal would have killed the game but it’s all about keeping the clean sheet and I think we did that comfortably.”
Inverness face Dundee United tomorrow in the first instalment of a league and Scottish Cup double header at Tannadice this week, and Welsh says the Caley Jags squad must continue to give their all throughout the packed schedule.
He added: “I think the manager is just trying to use the squad. We have had quite a lot of games and the Ross County game went to 120 minutes, so the manager is just trying to keep everyone as fresh as he can – and it is tough.
“That’s what you have got a squad for and people have got to be honest and tell the manager how they are feeling. Obviously everyone was OK – in the last 20 minutes boys were tired but we held out well.”