What did Duncan Ferguson say as Caley Thistle face the play-offs next week?
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Manager Duncan Ferguson says Inverness Caledonian Thistle now have to look forward to winning the play-offs to stay in the Championship.
A 3-1 win over Greenock Morton was cancelled out with Queen’s Park beating Airdrie 2-0 tonight as Inverness finished in ninth place.
Inverness now travel to Montrose in the Championship play-off first leg semi final on Tuesday with the second leg at the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday, May 11.
The winner will face either Alloa Athletic and Hamilton Academical in the play-off final on Wednesday, May 15 and Saturday, May 18. The loser will be guaranteed to be playing in League One next season.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle finished on 42 points, the highest total for a team that finished second bottom since Airdrie achieved the same total 16 years ago.
They also had a goal difference of +1 and finished with the second best defensive record, apart from champions Dundee United.
Ferguson says it was hard to believe their points total and goal difference wasn’t enough to keep them out of the relegation play-off this season.
He said: “42 points is not enough, it is only the second time that 42 points has put you in the play-offs. Only happened once before with Airdrie in 2008. We have a positive goal difference and we’re only three points in the fifth”.
“The one game i’m most upset about is the Raith Rovers game, we were outstanding that night and those three points would have put us safe.
“Our goal difference is the better than the rest. We were nervy and Morton pressed us hard, pushed us hard, red card puts the game in our favour.
“They started better than us, had a few shots, we were nervy, but we have accumulated 42 points in 36 games. We kept going and got back in the game, we were worthy winners but the red card was a big moment for Morton. We kept an eye on the Queen’s Park game and Airdrie couldn’t keep up with them.
“But we will take confidence in the performance and the win and go into the next game against Montrose.”
