Aerosol Day

It's a week where some olde relics were dug up at Drumnadrochit, and I don't mean Johndo, Johnboy, Scarlet Pimple and Mantis, and it's almost to the day of that famous Scottish Cup win over Celtic that Inverness travel to Glasgow to do battle in the Cup once more. The task this time is just as daunting as we play the team that has turned us over twice already this season. It's Nemesis time as we go to Firhill to take on the Maryhill Magyars.

Maryhill Magyars I hear you youngsters say. That name was attached to the side in the heyday of Ferenc Puskas, the great Hungarian footballer of the fifties and along with the Harry Wraggs is one of the finest nicknames in Scottish Football. It would appear that when they play us, they revert to type and have dished out two Goulashings scoring seven goals and even had the luxury of missing a penalty.

We have played Partick five times in The Cup, two of those being replays, and have only progressed to the next round once, a 3-0 victory in January 2009. In saying that, Partick have only won one of these games over the allotted time when a Scott Paterson goal on a horrendously wet night in March 2002 saw them into the draw for the Semi-Final. Looking more like a member of Oasis, he scored a fantastic free kick from thirty yards to win the game for the Jags and set up a clash with a now reduntant side called Rangers.

Our last outing saw us struggle on the heavy turf at the Caledonian Stadium, adding to the Billy Mckay hangover which resulted in a frustrating draw with Ross County in the Highland derby. Partick fared even worse, going down 1-0 to local rivals St Mirren in an equally scrappy affair at Firhill. That results show Inverness sitting level on points with Aberdeen having played a game more and Partick some twenty two points behind us in ninth place. Recent results in the league will tell us that we have won five of our last six games. Partick have only one win and two draws out of six. The smart money would go on Inverness you would think. However, the form book goes out the window now as the Cup is a whole different ball game as they say.

The transfer window came and went and Inverness were only window shopping it would seem, the only activity being Billy Mckay's outward bound trip to Wigan. Partick were proactive in the market and added Rangers defender Ryan Finnie until the end of the season. Calum Booth the Hibs midfielder was also added to the squad but the big scoop was the re-signing of Lyle Taylor on loan for the season. He scored 7 goals in 20 games for the Harry Wraggs last season and will be a major boost for them. Nathan Ecclestone has left the Firhill building by mutual consent.

Inverness' Dean Brill is unlikely to be risked after his knee injury and Ryan Esson will continue in goal. the back four will be the same, but it's in midfield and attack where we have many options, depending on the strategy employed by Yogi. Marley Watkins looks likeliest to continue in the strikers role, and the fans would like to see Ryan Christie as his assistant. Danny Williams put in a good shift last weekend and should retain his starting berth. Tansey and Draper will provide the steel, and the rest is up for debate, with Ross, Doran and Vincent in the running for the providers position.

Partick are keeping team selections close to their chest, but they do have the knack of beating us, so maybe they won't change much from the start. However, Lyle Taylor could get a game, which is more than the injured Sean Welsh or the suspended Jordan McMillan.

So, an entertaining cup game to look forward to as Inverness continue with life after Billy. But wait, there's a downside to all this. Willie Collum is back after his break from refereeing proper games. He was stood down for a few weeks due to his incompetence, but will be in charge tomorrow. I believe they are also introducing the invisible white aerosol spray used in the world cup. I wonder if he sprays himself would he disappear. Just a thought.

tm4tj prediction:- Strange as it may sound, but I'm taking Inverness to get into the next round, maybe with the aid of a replay up North. If we can cope with Partick's high pressing game and feed Watkins, then it's possible to get a result. A word of warning though. This is just my opinion, so don't rush down to the bookies and put loads of money on an away win.