Caley Thistle 1-0 Kelty Hearts: Manager reaction as Inverness edge past Fifers to stand one win away from clinching League One title

Inverness will win the League One title if they beat East Fife next Saturday – after edging to a 1-0 home victory over basement visitors Kelty Hearts.

With second-placed Stenhousemuir losing 2-0 at Cove Rangers, a result which lifted Paul Hartley’s team to seventh spot – it means the Caley Jags are one win away from an automatic Championship return – two years after being relegated and surviving administration in between times.

Inverness are now four points clear of Stenny, and that’s after starting this season on -5 points, a knock-on punishment for being in administration two seasons ago.

They have also not suffered a league loss since a 2-1 defeat at Montrose in late December, extending their unbeaten league run to 16 games, with eight wins and eight draws.

The big moment arrived when Paul Allan’s corner flew directly into the net amid a crowded penalty box midway through the second half in a contest the Fifers had put plenty into.

The result means Kelty, who are five points adrift of second-bottom Hamilton Academical, cannot finish higher than ninth, the relegation-play-off position.

Cove and East Fife are eight points in front of Kelty, with six points now only available.

Inverness have two games left – away to East Fife on Saturday and then at home to Hamilton on May 2.

Stenny host Alloa Athletic this weekend before rounding off their campaign at Montrose.

Given ICT’s superior goal difference, two draws would almost certainly be enough to become champions, but they will want to ensure they win the league without that factor.

The players ‘dug it out and showed a bit of character. I’m delighted.’

Inverness manager Scott Kellacher heaped praise on his players for keeping calm to emerge victorious from a difficult fixture against opponents they have drawn against twice this term.

He said: “Right from the start, there were nerves. You could feel it.

“It is a hard thing to control. You can try to talk about other things or try and motivate them in other ways to try and take their minds off it, but it is not easy.

“I can understand there will be nervousness from everyone. We are all desperate to get it (the title) and the closer we get then it becomes that little bit harder.

“Kelty are a really good side. I said that to their manager, the way they try to play the game, they are really positive and pass and move it.

“They didn’t play like a team sitting bottom of the league. I have to give them a massive amount of credit.

“They didn’t deserve to win the game, but nor did they deserve to lose it.

“Fortunately for us, we have managed to score from the set-play and get the result when we didn’t play well.

“We have not done that enough lately. Massive credit to the players. They dug it out and showed a bit of character. I am delighted with that.”

Kellacher’s warning over East Fife

Kellacher said he “didn’t care” who got the goal, but praised match-winner Allan for his wonderful set-piece which made the difference.

Dick Campbell’s East Fife lost 2-0 at Alloa Athletic, meaning they are just three points above ninth-placed Hamilton Accies as the prepare to play ICT on Saturday.

Kellacher is warning that teams with a fighting cause – as Cove showed today – are dangerous for any team in the division.

He added: “We are one win away from the title and we have only taken it one game at a time all the way from the start of the season.

“We will let the boys rest on Sunday and focus on East Fife next week.

“It has been a long, hard season. There have been a lot of challenges along the way for every team, not just ourselves.

“East Fife is a really difficult place to go for a result.

“It is in our hands, as it has been since last week.

“Stenhousemuir won’t go away. They have two games left and they know they need to win to put the pressure on us.

“We need to be at our best and go about our business the right way.

“All credit to Stenhousemuir. They have been superb this season.

“You cannot take one thing away from them.

“But you just look at this league. Cove Rangers are fighting to stay in the league and they beat Stenhousemuir 2-0 and that’s what can happen in this league.

“Sometimes games against the teams who are fighting for their lives become a lot harder, as we saw against Kelty here.

“I am really pleased and delighted for the players. They put a lot in after a really hard week. To come away with two wins against Peterhead and Kelty Hearts, we’re absolutely delighted.”

Kelty held their own in first half

The Caley Jags went into this latest crunch clash on the back of their impressive 2-0 midweek win at Peterhead, which moved them back to first place in the division.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kellacher retained the same starting XI to get the job done here.

Cammy Cooper, scorer of a brace for Kelty in their 3-1 win over Montrose last week, was first to have a shot at goal, but his effort from the edge of the box was deflected wide.

Home goalkeeper Ross Munro was then called into action to keep out an Alex Ferguson header and the Maroon Machine were finding their hosts on edge at the back a little too often.

A tame Chanka Zimba shot was the only ICT note in the early stages.

The Fifers were knocking the ball around with confidence and ICT needed just a spell of control to settle the nerves.

A free-kick given away by Jordan Alonge offered Kelty the chance to shoot from 25 yards, and Arran Pettifer flashed his effort around the wall and around the right post.

Zimba was off the mark late in the first half, but it was a largely flat opening 45 minutes, with a spark still to ignite.

The news that Stenhousemuir were a goal down at Cove Rangers was the only real note of cheer for home supporters, who were quiet, a far cry from their noisy contribution at away games.

Allan’s corner makes the difference

Kellacher made two substitutions at the start of the second half, with Oscar MacIntyre going on at right-back for Mitchell Robertson and Luis Longstaff coming into the midfield in place of Alonge.

Inverness were certainly upping the tempo, pressing Kelty back, but they were growing increasingly frustrated by visiting players going to ground with regularity.

While this was going on, Cove had doubled their lead over Stenhousemuir. An Inverness goal would put them on the brink of the title going to East Fife on Saturday.

And just after the hour mark, ICT made the breakthrough when Allan’s in-swinging corner crossed the goal-line after Chanka Zimba and Danny Devine put pressure on the defenders.

It was former Dunfermline midfielder Allan’s sixth goal of the campaign.

It was the moment the PSG Stadium was waiting for and put Caley Thistle on the edge of the title.

Substitute Oscar MacIntyre then headed over from a Bavidge cross, but Kelty were still looking dangerous when they attacked.

However, in the latter stages, Inverness stood strong to ensure there was no wanted late drama.

It’s all eyes on Methil next weekend for a title party should Inverness win.

Caley Thistle v Kelty Hearts ratings

CALEY THISTLE (4-2-3-1): Munro 6, Millen 6, Devine 7, Savage 7, Robertson 5 (MacIntyre 46), Stewart 6 (Mackinnon 55), Allan 7, Bavidge 7 (Mckay 89), Alonge 5 (Longstaff 46), MacLeod 8, Zimba 6 (Wotherspoon 77).

Subs not used: Ross (GK), Chalmers, Brannan, Willox.

KELTY HEARTS (4-1-4-1): Gourley 6, Pettifer 6 (Graham 76), Bryden 6, Corr 6 (Wylie 65), Fisher 6, Ferguson 6, Moore 7, Arnott 7, Cooper 6 (Cunningham 76), McCarvel 6, Davidson 6 (Davidson 64).

Subs not used: Adamson (GK), Thomas, Snoddy, Leitch.

Referee: Colin Steven.

Attendance: 2,405.

Man of the match: Calum MacLeod.

[Source: Press and Journal]