Inside passionate Duncan Ferguson rally cry as Inverness reign begins with telling demand of stars

Duncan Ferguson cut an almost serene figure on the Gayfield touchline for almost 90 minutes as he made his return to Scottish football after a 29-year exile.

But the second referee Don Robertson peeped his final whistle to confirmed that Inverness had held on for a 3-2 win over Arbroath, the Big Dunc we all know emerged. Animated and passionate, the newly-appointed Inverness boss made a beeline for the 200-strong Caley crowd for some fist-pumping and high-fiving action.

It was their first league win of the season and it came as Caley staved off a late fightback from the hosts. Off the bottom on goal difference and with a fan-base that has taken just 90 minutes to buy onto the Big Dunc era, this was a crucial victory. So too was the wholehearted display from every Caley player at Arbroath. Ex-Rangers, Dundee United and Everton star Ferguson insisted nothing less than 100 per cent would do from his players. And that’s exactly what he got.

Billy McKay, who put Inverness 3-0 up, said: “He demanded we give him 100%. He says he will look after us and give 100% back to us.

“When someone says that, you have to believe them and put in a shift to try and get the rewards. We did that. I am sure we’ll get to know him a lot more and players will build personal relationships with him. Everyone knows he's a legend in the game so it will be good to work with him.”

It’s a cliche to talk about the Gayfield gales and, by Arbroath standards, it was a very calm afternoon in Angus. But Inverness started like a whirlwind and raced into an early lead as Luis Longstaff scrambled just over the line from close range in 10 minutes.

Aaron Doran added the second meeting a low Longstaff cross at the near post to fire in from six yards. And McKay