Caley Thistle 4-0 Queen of the South: Manager reaction as Inverness turn on the style to maintain three-point lead at top of League One

Caley Thistle head coach Scott Kellacher hailed his sharp-shooters as a 4-0 rout over Queen of the South kept them in League One’s top spot.

A cracking volley from Livingston loanee winger Liam Sole put Inverness in front early on before Chanka Zimba’s close-range finish ensured a 2-0 interval advantage.

Second half goals from Adam Mackinnon and sub Alfie Bavidge cranked up the scoreline in a strong display, giving nothing away to the visitors.

Stenhousemuir moved above Alloa into second spot earlier in the day after their 4-1 victory at Peterhead, but this sweeping win moved ICT three points clear of them again.

This Tuesday, Inverness head to Alloa for a rescheduled game and can pull further clear to turn the heat on their chasers.

Backed by 10 clean sheets, they have the best shut-out record in the SPFL this season.

Kellacher – ‘Everyone was superb’

Kellacher was delighted with the display from his table-toppers.

He said: “I was delighted with that performance.

“Every single day I ask the players to work as hard as they can.

“We know the quality we have in the dressing room and it is about bringing it all together.

“At home, we have created chances in most games and tonight it was really pleasing we took our chances.

“Everyone was superb. We kept the ball and did all the right things.

“That’s gone now and we have another big game on Tuesday at Alloa.

“We have a run of games where we need to make sure we’re at it.

“We will focus on the next game.”

Worked hard on finishing chances

Kellacher felt it was crucial to see his side put an opponent away, which is all that has been lacking in 1-0 wins over Peterhead, Montrose and Cove Rangers.

He added: “We have been dominant in a lot of our home games.

“We have created a lot of chances and won games 1-0. As long as we keep winning, that’s the most important thing.

“We won’t get carried away, but it was really pleasing to see the players take their chances.

“We have worked hard in training, but the way we worked the ball and took our goals was excellent. I can’t ask for more.”

Chance to pull six points clear at top

Kellacher’s side go to Lowland League side Tranent in the Scottish Cup next weekend and aim to do so by moving six points clear at the top by beating third-placed Alloa Athletic at the Indodrill on Tuesday night.

He added: “That’s the plan if we can do it, but I don’t get carried away or too excited.

“As much as I really enjoyed the performance against Queen of the South, we’ll come back in with our heads down to prepare for Tuesday night.

“We just take each game as it comes, and tick them off one game after the other and hope that takes us through to the end of the season.”

Sole and Zimba goals down Queen’s

This was ICT’s first league fixture since their 1-0 win over Cove Rangers here on November 8 when on-loan Celtic defender Mitchell Robertson netted.

Kellacher kept the same starters as did Peter Murphy whose Queen’s side drew 1-1 at Kelty Hearts last week.

The hosts got off to a positive start, with David Wotherspoon’s shot saved by Ross Stewart as he followed on a cleared attack then Sole chipped an angled drive over the crossbar.

However, the home fans were on their feet on eight minutes after Zimba superbly spun away from Matty Douglas and his cross was smashed home on the volley by Sole for his fifth goal of the season.

It was a goal caked with real quality and just the tonic for the team on top looking to stay there.

The Dumfries team settled into the contest, winning a few free-kicks which needed careful attention from the Inverness back-line.

Queen’s keeper Stewart had to be on guard to get down quickly on 20 minutes to push away a net-bound 30-yard free-kick from midfielder Paul Allan.

However, it became 2-0 on 34 minutes when, from Joe Chalmers’ free-kick near the corner flag, Mackinnon’s headed the ball on and Zimba was on hand to steer the ball home.

This was the Englishman’s 11th goal in all competition of his debut campaign in Scottish football, including his fourth league goal.

Mackinnon scores and assists again

Inverness were turning on the style, with a bit of needle at times making for a few choice words between opponents.

However, there was plenty of patient build-up work from ICT.

They were probing for a third, but Queen of the South were also eyeing a way back, knowing one goal would make it game on.

It was, however, game over on 64 minutes as Inverness added a third when play raged out to the left with on-loan Celtic defender Mitchell Robertson and his cross was buried by Mackinnon’s close-range shot.

And 10 minutes later, number four arrived with a sharp exchange of passing.

Luis Longstaff passed to man of the match Mackinnon and his slide pass found Bavidge, who drove home his ninth of the campaign.

Bavidge and Longstaff had only just come on as substitutes for Zimba and Sole.

This was as convincing as you’ll get, being their biggest league victory of the season to date.

Caley Thistle v Queen of the South ratings

CALEY THISTLE (4-2-3-1): Munro 6, MacLeod 7, Devine 7, Savage 7, Robertson 7 (MacIntyre 78), Allan 7, Chalmers 7 (Thompson 82), Sole 7 (Longstaff 73), Mackinnon 8 (Stewart 78), Wotherspoon 7, Zimba 7 (Bavidge 73).

Subs not used: Ross (GK), Millen, Alonge, Clark.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (4-1-4-1): Stewart 6, MacKenzie 6, Douglas 6, Hannah 6, Dickenson 6 (Johnstone 75), Luissint 6, Smith 5 (Charters 46), Lyon 6, Stott 6, Kennedy 6 (Rogerson 69), Guthrie 6 (Gray 82).

Subs not used: Green (GK), Leslie, Ross.

Referee: Jamie Wilkie.

Attendance: 2,003.

Man of the match: Adam Mackinnon.

[Source: Press and Journal]