Caley Thistle’s Alfie Stewart looks to bounce back from Challenge Cup final nightmare
On-loan Aberdeen player Alfie Stewart scored a long-range free-kick in Sunday's final, but two mistakes were costly as Raith Rovers ran out 4-1 victors at Firhill.
Alfie Stewart aims to bounce back from a nightmare Challenge Cup defeat for Inverness by winning Saturday’s crunch League One clash at Stenhousemuir.
The 19-year-old Aberdeen loanee had a day to forget at Firhill as two poor moments led to goals for Championship opponents Raith Rovers, who ran out 4-1 winners.
A heavy touch let in Innes Cameron for the opening goal in the first half and a misplaced pass was pounced upon by Dylan Easton in the second half, with both Rovers players scoring two apiece at Firhill.
Stewart had hauled Inverness into the contest when he made up for his first mistake with a 25-yard free-kick, which gave goalkeeper Josh Rae no chance.
Going in 1-1 at the break after a strong ending to the first half, Inverness were confident, but Rovers swept ICT away, helped by a free-kick conceded by Chanka Zimba and another misjudged moment from defender Mitchell Robertson.
This weekend, they travel to new League One leaders Stenhousemuir, whose 3-0 weekend win against Hamilton put them top by two points, having played one match more than ICT.
Free-kick leveller ‘gave us a boost’
Stewart, who is being released by Aberdeen next month, believes the disappointment can drive the Highland side on for their final five games.
He said: “That was my first taste of being a runner-up as a professional in a cup final.
“It wasn’t nice, so hopefully I won’t get any more of those.
“It was my mistake for the first goal. I take full responsibility.
“We got the goal, which then gave us a boost coming into half-time.
“In those last 15 minutes of the first half we were good, but in the second half we started slowly and again, for the third goal, it was my mistake and I take full responsibility for that.
“We need to be better, like we were in those last 15 minutes of the first half. It should have been us getting the second goal, but it wasn’t to be.”
‘We want to make a statement’
Sunday’s defeat was the first Inverness loss since late December, with seven draws in 13 unbeaten league games allowing Stenhousemuir to overtake them.
Stewart says Inverness will be going all out for the win to get back to first place before next Tuesday’s game in hand at Peterhead, which will be their fourth-last fixture this season.
He added: “Saturday is massive. We need to bounce back in training to put in a big performance at Stenhousemuir.
“We will have a good week’s training and get right behind one another and hopefully we can get a big performance from us all.
“Everyone’s eyes are on winning at Stenhousemuir. We know what we need to do.
“We have the game in hand, but we want three points on Saturday. We want to make a statement, with a big performance to get us back on track going into those final four games.
“Sunday’s final has gone. The league is all we’ve got, but we’re right in the mix.”
[Source: Press and Journal]
