Pressley hails ‘never-say-die’ Celtic
The Hoops were 90 seconds away from a third cup defeat by the Highlanders this decade following Graham Bayne’s first-half goal. But Pressley’s 89th-minute header brought Gordon Strachan’s men level and Kenny Miller grabbed a brilliant injury-time winner from 20 yards.
Pressley said: “Fantastic. That sums us up as a team. We show terrific spirit and a never-say-die attitude.”
The Scotland defender admitted he feared losing the quarter-final as the clock ticked by.
“You always have those thoughts in the back of your mind but at this club we don’t believe in losing football matches,” he said.
“I thought we played some terrific football today but just couldn’t carve out the all-important equaliser. Normally teams would settle for a draw after being behind for 88 minutes – we didn’t. We went for the winner and Kenny mustered up a fantastic finish and thoroughly deserved goal for his all-round contribution.”
Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was happy with his side’s display and even happier with their attitude. “Since I have been here it’s the fourth time we have been up here, and that’s the best we have played in terms of moving the ball around and making sure they weren’t a danger.
“Our final ball was poor but our build-up play was excellent. I’ve got to say at 1-1 I thought ‘that will do us’. But the players have said ‘that’s not enough for us, we want to score a winner’. I’m glad they are on my side.”
Miller was delighted with his late goal, only his second since October. He said: “It means we’re in the semi-final of the cup but personally it’s good to be back on the goal sheet. I’m a forward, I’ve not scored as many goals as I would have liked this year. Hopefully there’s a few goals left in me this season.”
Inverness boss Charlie Christie said: “I can’t believe what has happened. It’s a real sore one. The players are near to tears having put so much into the game. We defended really well, the goalkeeper had very little to do. You can’t legislate for one great leap and one great header and a tremendous finish from Miller to win the game.
“But we deserved more than that. A replay would have been bad enough but to be out the cup is a real, real sore one.”
Fraser, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (McAllister 86), Black (McSwegan 77), Duncan, Rankin, McBain (Hart 45), Bayne.
Boruc, Wilson (Sheridan 73), Pressley, McManus, Naylor, Hartley, Lennon, Sno (Gravesen 78), Nakamura, Jarosik (McGeady 65), Miller.
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