Inverness CT -V- QotS - Preview

After a pitch inspection at 11AM, Saturday

MATCH POSTPONED

Is it too early to be calling this match a six-pointer? Both Inverness and Queen of the South will feel they can still challenge Dundee for promotion, but neither can afford to drop many points in the race for the first division title.

Back on Boxing Day, this author had lost any hope of a promotion challenge, but a lot can happen in a few weeks! ICT come into Saturday’s clash lying in third in the table, one place and one point better off than QOS. However, the visitors still have a game in hand, as part of a backlog of fixtures to be dealt with after the Christmas freeze. Gordon Chisholm’s side have played only three league matches since the turn of the year, and two of those came in the past week – a 2-1 defeat at home to Morton, followed by a 3-0 drubbing of ten-man Ayr United on Tuesday night. Inverness, in contrast, are seven games unbeaten in the league, and have won their last three, making them the division’s on-form team currently.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Caley’s current unbeaten league run in fact started in Dumfries, with a 1-1 draw on 5th December. Jonny Hayes opened the scoring, but Bob Harris curled in a free kick to equalize in the second half. Richie Foran and Russell Duncan, along with David Lilley of the home side, were sent off. QOS came out on top in the first league match between the sides this year, winning 3-1 in the Highlands thanks to a Derek Holmes hat-trick.

According to soccerbase.com, the sides have met a total of 21 times, with Inverness ahead 9-8 on wins. When the matches are played in Inverness, ICT are on top 7-4 with no draws.

INVERNESS TEAM NEWS

Terry Butcher may be tempted to make a change or two to last weekend’s lineup, as the manner of the victory over Raith did not match the one-sided scoreline. Danni Sanchez will hope to regain his place in the side from Eric Odhiambo, whilst Lee Cox may return from injury. Jamie Duff remains out long-term, and has been joined on the treatment table by Robert Eagle.

Likely lineup: Ryan Esson – Ross Tokely, Nauris Bulvitis, Grant Munro, Stuart Golabek – David Proctor, Russell Duncan – Jonny Hayes, Eric Odhiambo, Richie Foran – Adam Rooney; subs: Kyle Allison, Lionel Djebi-Zadi, Daniel Stratford, Lee Cox, Danni Sanchez

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH TEAM NEWS

Gordon Chisholm put out an attack-minded lineup against Ayr on Tuesday, but may feel that he cannot risk the same strategy away from home – this might see forward David Weatherston drop to the bench and a recall for Stephen McKenna in midfield. Goalkeeper David Hutton returns from suspension but may only make the bench after Scott Fox kept a clean-sheet on his debut. Meanwhile, centre-half David Lilley is very doubtful after limping off in midweek, so Marc McAusland or Marvin Andrews could start in defence. Goalkeeper Ludovic Roy (hip) and defender Craig Barr (knee) are out. 

Likely lineup: Scott Fox – Jordan McMillan, Marc McAusland/David Lilley, Craig Reid, Robert Harris – Paul Burns, Stephen McKenna, Neil Scally, Rocco Quinn – Derek Holmes, Stewart Kean; subs: David Hutton, Marvin Andrews, Anthony McParland, David Weatherston, Leon Knight

PREDICTION

It seems that recently Inverness have finally got the hang of grinding out results. Queen of the South will be no pushovers, but ICT should should be able to scrape a 1-0 win to keep themselves in the promotion hunt.