Caley Thistle attacker Billy Mckay believes his side has learned the art of patience after they maintained their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Goals from Aaron Doran and Greg Tansey secured a 2-0 win for John Hughes’ side against Kilmarnock, keeping the Highlanders top of the table with 13 points from a possible 15.
The Highlanders were made to work for their win and Mckay has warned his team-mates they will have to get used to waiting for the breakthrough.
He said: “It was a comfortable win for us in the end. A lot of games could be like this for us this season. We pass the ball about and tire teams out and it might be that we have to wait until the last 20 minutes of games to get the goals, as was the case here.
“The game was scrappier than we wanted it to be as Kilmarnock came here looking to hit it long to their big attackers, but we took our time and got the goals.”
The Highlanders set a new club record of 598 minutes without conceding a goal after they secured their fifth consecutive clean sheet and Mckay reckons games cannot come quickly enough.
He said: “Last season we were playing well towards the end of the campaign but not getting results, but we have a good pre-season and it’s showing in our results.
“The games are improving every time and the players come in to work with smiles on their faces, they can’t wait to play.”
The manner of the victory was especially pleasing for Mckay, who will join up with the Northern Ireland team today, and he was pleased to see team-mate Aaron Doran impress in his first start of the campaign.
He said: “Aaron has been unlucky not to play but that’s his second goal of the season now. He was our second-leading scorer last season and he has put himself firmly back in the frame. He is going to make it hard for the manager to leave him out of the team.
“We’ll go and enjoy our break, some of the lads will see their families, and then when we come back we will be ready to go. I’m away on Monday with Northern Ireland as we’re playing in Hungary.
“I started both games in the summer against Uruguay and Chile so hopefully I will be involve. I’ll be ready if the manager wants me.”