“IT was probably a game where everybody expected the opposition to win,” said Annan Athletic manager Wullie Gibson as he reflected on last Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Inverness.
He added: “They’re one of the in-form teams in the league and without their points deduction they would be right up there.
“I just felt that we got everything spot on. I thought the boys worked their socks off and deserved the win.”
Paul Smith’s third minute strike proved to be the winner at the Caledonian Stadium.
And it means Annan, who remain ninth in League One, in the relegation play-off spot, are now only two points behind Caley Thistle and three points behind Montrose — this Saturday’s opponents.
Victory was a whole squad effort, with three of the Annan coaching staff appearing on the pitch.
Club legend, and current performance coach, Peter Watson laced up his boots and managed 80 minutes after being registered as a trialist on Friday night. And assistant manager Steven Bell appeared late on to shore up the defence.
They both joined player/manager Gibson on the field. He added: “I spoke to Pete on Thursday night. (And when) we were on the way up the road and I had a chat with him on the bus. I just said – look, you’re playing today.
“I had the iPad out, I had my team on it, what I thought Inverness’ team was and I told him what I was looking for.
“I think he thought I was joking until I actually turned the tactics board round in the dressing room!
“I think he was a bit nervous, but he’s an honest boy and loves the club. So, I think the nervousness was just in case he made a mistake because he hadn’t played in so long. He was a massive part of how we came away with three points.
“When Steven came on we went to a back three to see the game out. It just shows you everyone’s in it together.”
At full time great appreciation was shown by the team to the small band of away fans who had made the journey, despite there being no supporters’ bus.
Gibson said: “There wasn’t a bus on Saturday and a lot of the regulars couldn’t make it.
“We had some tickets from Inverness and we passed them on. I gave a couple of the supporters high-fives and cuddles at the end just to thank them for going that far and supporting the boys.”
This Saturday Annan face another massive game in their quest for safety in the third tier as they travel to Montrose.
A win for Gibson’s squad would move them level on points with the Gable Endies, but it will be no easy task.
The manager said: “Montrose will be aggressive and they’ll be looking at the game thinking if they win they can bury us.
“It’s a big game for us. We need to keep calm heads and make sure we start properly.”
