Inverness CT -V- St Johnstone - SPFL

Pay What You Can



It's innovation time at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium this Tuesday night as the club introduce a Pay What You Can strategy as the January purse strings tighten on us all. This is the first time a Premiership club has tried this and credit to the Caley Jags board for recognising the plight of the football fan in trying times for fans and clubs alike. See the full story on the official sight right here at http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/1456-pay-what-you-can-v-st-johnstone



It's the turn of Scottish Cup holders St Johnstone to visit the Highland capital having already defeated us 1-0 in a typically dour encounter in Perth when the fall guy Brian Graham tricked Willie Collum into awarding a penalty. The same player scored from the spot and has since been handed a two game ban for his cheating and the bungling Mr Collum demoted through the ranks for a couple of weeks for his misinterpretation of the laws, not just for this game, but a series of game changing blunders.

The last six encounters have resulted in four wins for Inverness and two for Perth. Both defences have conceded 21 goals, but it's in attack where Inverness hold the advantage with 30 goals against St Johnstone's 19. That is the main reason we hold a nine point advantage over the Perth men. However, the recent reverse at McDiarmid Park in December was in the middle of a three game losing streak which we seem to have rectified by winning our last three games. Since beating us, St Johnstone have beaten Dundee United before losing to Aberdeen and Hamilton and then triumphing over our Nemesis, Partick Thistle on Saturday. Captain Dave Mackay and Steven Anderson were the scorers

David Raven and Greg Tansey are both suspended for this one with Raven being unable to carry out his punishment at the weekend due to the Tannadice game being off. Bringing Devine in at centre back and moving Meekings to right back is an option as that is where Josh originally plied his trade. This should open the door for a fit Marley Watkins and James Vincent to return with young Ryan Christie raring to go as well. Plenty of options for Hughes.

St Johnstone are without injured midfielders Chris Millar and Murray Davidson and former Scotland international James McFadden is suspended but Lee Croft and Brian Easton are available.

tm4tj prediction:- with a full strength squad I would have had no hesitation in promoting a home win as the safest bet. However regular first choice defender David Raven and midfielder Greg Tansey are under disciplinary suspensions which will weaken the side, although Hughes has plenty of options for replacements. Danny Devine has deputised with seamless ease previously and he could fill the void. I still believe Inverness have enough at their disposal to take all three points, but St Johnstone always seem to make it difficult for teams to break them down. Marley Watkins extra pace has been missed recently and he could return to add a bit of width to our attack. Michael O'Halloran is a threat for the visitors and could unsettle a makeshift defence, but it's a home win for me, however be prepared for a tense struggle.