Cammy Harper insists Caley Thistle’s players are their biggest critics – and they’re determined to put the sore defeat at Morton firmly behind them this weekend against Arbroath.
The defender-turned-midfielder, 20, says Inverness, who are three points behind Championship leaders Ayr United, felt some of their play in Friday’s 4-0 defeat at Cappielow was crisp, accurate and appealing.
However, not being clinical at the back led to an error-strewn night, with no bite when they were in and around the Morton box spelling disaster.
Players eager to improve on Saturday
With basement side Arbroath heading north this weekend, Harper is confident fans will see a sharp response.
He said: “It might seem mad saying this, given the result at Morton, but we passed the ball the best we have this season at times.
“But we were not good enough in both boxes, which are the key areas of the pitch.
“We know that ourselves, as a squad. The gaffer doesn’t need to tell us, although he will tell us what we’re doing wrong. We all know what needs improved.
“We’re quite a critical group and we’re not scared to say amongst ourselves how we’re feeling.
“Everyone knows Friday wasn’t good enough, so it is about trying to bounce back and hopefully we can get back to winning ways at the weekend.”
No panic after off-night in Greenock
High-flying Ayr are three points clear of Morton, Queen’s Park and Inverness, with Partick Thistle one point further back and Raith Rovers one point poorer.
With the Highlanders, who have eight players sidelined through injury, firmly in contention ahead of fireworks weekend, Harper remains confident they can stay in the chase for the title.
He said: “After Friday, you feel down, like the world’s going to end, but it’s one game.
“No one is ever happy about losing a game of football and, while we know it wasn’t good enough, we’re still right in the mix at the top of the Championship.
“Nothing is won at this stage of the season.
“You look at how tight the league is – Ayr last season were fighting against relegation, and they’re top of the league right now.
“It is a crazy league, as everyone’s been saying. It’s all about keeping yourselves within striking distance. If you can put a couple of wins together, you’re flying again.
“Nothing is won at this stage of the season.”
Part-time opponents shape up well
Saturday’s opponents Arbroath are one of three part-time clubs in the second-tier along with Cove rangers and Queen’s Park.
And Harper acknowledges that players who have jobs as well as football to tackle clearly have pride in being as fit as possible, with Dick Campbell’s Arbroath finishing as runners-up last term, pipped in the play-offs on penalties by ICT.
He added: “Any part-time team I’ve come up against since I started my career always give it 100% – as do the full-time sides.
“Part-time sides are fitter than most people would expect and it’s credit to their players, who have their day jobs, but still are clearly looking after themselves.
“You would never take them lightly, as we’ve seen from Arbroath last season.”
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