Caley Thistle cannot squander their late chance after putting their Championship survival hopes back in their own hands.
The campaign started with so much hope and expectation following last season’s run to the Scottish Cup final.
But that hope has been replaced by a flirtation with League One which has gone on far too long for anyone at Caledonian Stadium’s liking.
Saturday’s 2-1 win against bottom club Arbroath all but consigned the Red Lichties to relegation.
Jim McIntyre’s side are 12 points behind with four games remaining, but their goal difference is inferior by a whopping 37 goals.
Farewell Lichties – maybe we’ll see you fight your way back next season.
Fight to avoid the play-offs is intensifying
Alex Samuel’s goal 10 minutes from time was crucial on three fronts for Caley Thistle.
It gave Inverness their first home win in the league in almost five months and ensured the lingering doubt of automatic relegation was extinguished in the process.
But most importantly, league leaders Dundee United helped Caley Jags put their Championship fate back in their own hands with a 5-0 win at Queen’s Park.
The gap between ninth-place Inverness, who occupy the play-off spot, and the eighth-placed Spiders is now down to one point with four games remaining.
Queen’s Park can still point to the fact their destiny is in their own hands, too – but make no mistake, this weekend’s meeting of the two at Hampden Park is going to be the biggest game of the season for Duncan Ferguson’s side.
Unlike League One-bound Arbroath, Caley Thistle’s goal difference is favourable against their two nearest rivals.
They are 11 goals better off than the Spiders and seventh-placed Ayr United, who are three points clear of Duncan Ferguson’s side.
Scott Brown’s Ayr side have the advantage of having a game in hand, which they will play on Tuesday against sixth-placed Greenock Morton.
A win for the Honest Men in that one will ensure they leapfrog the Ton.
That’s how tight it is in the race to avoid the play-off spot in ninth – five points separating four teams.
Run-in promises to be fraught for Caley Thistle
But eighth will do for the Highlanders and a win for Caley Thistle in Glasgow this weekend would be huge psychologically.
If they can pick up three points on the road, which has been easier to do than in front of their home support in the Highlands, they will be in the driving seat.
But the path to Championship survival remains fraught with danger.
Following this weekend’s game, Inverness will host title-challengers Raith Rovers, travel to East End Park to face promotion play-off contenders Dunfermline, before a potential final day of drama on Friday, May 3, when they welcome Morton to Caledonian Stadium.
Adding to the degree of difficulty for Caley Jags is the knowledge all three of the teams above them – Ayr, Queen’s Park and Morton – have all still to play the relegated Red Lichties in the run-in.
Perhaps the pressure will be off Arbroath, and they can take points from teams above them – Inverness will certainly be hoping so.
But whatever happens, Caley Thistle are the team with it all to do in the final four games of the season.
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