Inverness manager Billy Dodds admits he is “wary” about his team’s first exposure to VAR in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Falkirk at Hampden.
There have been numerous controversies since the technology was introduced by cinch Premiership clubs last autumn, but Caley Thistle are not subject to the system in the Championship and neither are the League One Bairns.
Both teams have had briefings from officials ahead of their first VAR experience, but Dodds admits he is not entirely comfortable about it and hopes its involvement does not overshadow his team’s showpiece match.
“You’re wary of it, let’s just say that,” he said. “It was good of (head of referees) Crawford Allan to come up and explain how it’s going to work because it is new to us.
“I worry about it after I see some of the things I’ve seen this season. I just hope we can avoid having to use it too much and that we just go and win the game.
“Hopefully it doesn’t have a big impact on the game. As a former player and a manager, and as a guy looking after my team, you can’t help but worry about it. Let’s just hope it runs nice and smoothly.”
Dodds is hoping his side’s strong league form – they have surged to third in the Championship after winning six and drawing one of their last seven games – can help them get past their League One opponents and book a final showdown against Celtic or Rangers.
“We’ve got to realise how great an opportunity it is but Falkirk will be saying the same thing,” said the Caley Thistle boss.
“I think this game has given our league form an edge because this game’s waiting for them and they all want to be in the team but the league form also gives us momentum going into this game.
“We couldn’t be in better form going there, and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Inverness won the Scottish Cup in 2015 and Dodds hopes pictures of that occasion adorning the walls of the Caledonian Stadium have inspired his players.
“Our past success is a big part of it,” he said. “I think that’s why most clubs who have had success in their history stick it up on the walls because the new generation of player will be able to see that and aspire to it.
“I think that’s why it’s on the walls downstairs and it will be on the walls at other clubs.
“It’s human nature as you walk past things like that to say ‘I want a piece of that’, and I’m hoping the players have looked at that and realised what can be achieved and how special a day they could have.”
