Butcher bitter over sending off as Inverness are relegated on goal difference

Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Terry Butcher believed Ross Tokely's sending off was a massive factor behind his side's defeat to Falkirk, which saw them relegated from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The turning point of the match, which ended 1-0 to Falkirk, came after 39 minutes when Tokely was given his marching orders for a last-man challenge on Steve Lovell.

Substitute Michael Higdon came off the bench to score the winner for John Hughes' side, who can now look forward to their Scottish Cup final next week against Rangers.

Butcher did not believe his player deserved a red card for the challenge.

He said: "I have only seen the incident once but I think there was doubt about it being a goalscoring opportunity. But there is no point being bitter. We have had opportunities to get ourselves out of trouble and we only have ourselves to blame."

The Inverness boss said he was very proud of his players, despite finishing bottom of the league on goal difference.

He said: "My players have been fantastic for me and they have given everything for the club. To lose out on goal difference is a really bitter pill to swallow.

"I thought we did really well today and everything looked to be coming to fruition before the red card came along. But the players were tremendous after that and we had chances at the end to get back level.

"We weren't far away and that makes it even more galling and soul destroying. Had we been relegated seven or eight games ago it may have felt different but to have gone so close is very hard to take."

Butcher added that his heart went out to Tokely for his part in the club's defeat.

He said: "Ross is devastated but he shouldn't feel bad as he has been one of the key members of our squad and he has been terrific for us."

Caley keeper Michael Fraser, who made his last appearance for the club before joining Motherwell, said he was hugely disappointed with the result.

He added: "It is very hard to take. I'm sure the club can bounce back if we can manage to hold onto our good players and excellent manager.
"It is a terrible thing to happen to Ross as he is Inverness through and through. But he is a big, strong lad and he will bounce back."

Match-winner Higdon hailed "the most important goal of my career" after keeping Falkirk in the SPL.

He said: "It's definitely the most important goal of my career, without a doubt – unless I score in the cup final next week!"

Man of the match Jackie McNamara said: "Survival was the main objective today and we've managed to do that under a lot of pressure.

"There's no trophy at the end of it but it feels like we've won a trophy today, it's a fantastic feeling. We're disappointed for the Inverness lads but we've got to look after ourselves and our supporters."

Bairns boss John Hughes said: "We got the goal and I'm really pleased for the players and the supporters.

"I feel we won it a bit by default with the sending off, you never want to win a game like that. But a lot has gone against us over the season and we'll gladly take it, though we wish Inverness all the best."