Caley Thistle’s Calum MacLeod sets sights on perfect finish to edge out League One rivals Stenhousemuir

Calum MacLeod insists Inverness won’t allow the controversial penalty decision at Stenhousemuir to derail their League One title push.

The 19-year-old’s first half goal had Caley Thistle on course for victory against league leaders Stenhousemuir at Ochilview on Saturday.

However, referee Cameron Stirling awarded a penalty against Danny Devine with 10 minutes to go, from which Matty Aitken scored to seal a 1-1 draw.

The Inverness skipper was said to have taken Michael Anderson down in the box, but it was a decision which left ICT manager Scott Kellacher, his staff and players furious and he is expecting an apology from the match official. 

It means the Warriors maintained their two-point advantage at the top of the division.

Inverness have one game in hand – away to Peterhead on Tuesday – against a fifth-placed Blue Toon team needing to win to keep alive their slim chances of securing a play-off spot, with Queen of the South seven points clear in fourth position.

Inverness have just four games remaining to try and win the title, with Gary Naysmith’s front-runners having three fixtures remaining.

‘We deserved more than our 1-0 lead’

Academy graduate MacLeod, who only came on as a substitute in last Sunday’s 4-1 Challenge Cup final defeat against Raith Rovers, said he didn’t see the controversial moment at Ochilview, but admits his team-mates are sure it was the wrong call.

He said: “Stenhousemuir had a purple patch at the end of the game when they got on top of us.

“I didn’t see the penalty incident, so I can’t comment on it, but from what I’ve heard it was quite soft. We just have to move on to Tuesday.

“We were positive from the start. The manager told us to get on to the second balls and don’t give them any time to think. We did that.

“We were definitely the better team in the first half and probably deserved more than the 1-0 lead.

“On Tuesday, we have to play Peterhead with the same mindset from the start. We’re looking to win to go top with three games to go.

“We’d like to play a bit more football. Saturday was a wee bit frantic at times, but it’s always tough at Peterhead, like everywhere is.

“But if we go there with the right attitude then I don’t see why we can’t get the result.

“Even though we’ve not beaten Stenhousemuir in the league this season, we’re still right up there going for the title and that’s despite starting on -5 points (a deduction for being in administration in 2024-25).

“We have four games to go. If we win all of them, we win the league and that’s the aim now.”

‘Incredible’ celebrations after scoring

And MacLeod said the large travelling support made for a great atmosphere on Saturday which helped the team as they set out to try and defeat their rivals.

He said: “We had a great support again. I can’t thank them enough. They are our 12th man.

“When they’re loud like that, it really helps us on the pitch. The celebrations after scoring were incredible.”

[Source: Press and Journal]