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Inverness CT -V- Hibernian - Preview

Teaser Paragraph:
Back to League business


Inverness get the chance to show the home fans how they are progressing with a game at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium after a one month sabbatical away from the Highland capital.

Free scoring Hibernian are the visitors on Saturday, fresh from banging home five goals against Stranraer in the League Cup on Tuesday night, Liam Craig scoring a hat-tick, the same evening Inverness crept past Dundee in the same competition thanks to a Billy McKay strike and some heroics from Dean Brill.

Hibs are undefeated in six games since losing the Edinburgh derby to Hearts in mid-August, and have clawed their way up to fifth in the Premiership and look a tougher proposition than the team that slumped badly last season. In fact they have knuckled down hard since the humiliating drubbing they suffered at the hands of Malmo in the Europa League qualifiers. Hibs have only scored seven league goals, but their defence is second only to our own miserly lot, conceding five, one more than us.

The long man returns to Inverness after his move to Hibs over the summer in his search for European football. Owain Tudur-Jones has been out for a couple of weeks with a niggling groin injury but will be added to the squad for this clash against his former club. Paul Cairney is on the comeback trail and will get an outing with Hibs u20's at the weekend, but this top team game comes too soon for him. Daniel Handling, Tim Clancy and Alex Harris are also sidelined.

Inverness are hopeful that three mystery players will prove their fitness before kick off. Gary Warren is one obvious choice as the big centre back missed the Dundee game in midweek, Daniel Devine deputising in his absence. Richie Foran is another who might be struggling, looking like he hobbled off in midweek, but he is made of stern stuff is Richie, and it will take a brave man to tell him he is not playing.

Butcher was no a happy bunny after the game at Dens Park, pleased to win the tie, but not impressed with the overall performance. In all honesty, most fans have seen this coming for a couple of weeks now after tentative displays at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen although we have done enough to remain at the top of the division, albeit on goal difference. The long ball seems to have returned at the expense of the passing game with our creative midfielders being passed by and Billy McKay working with scraps once more. Maybe with a return to Inverness, we will see a change of tactic if not personnel. Is it time for big Toby to get a start and give Billy some help up front? James Vincent appears to float in and out of games, maybe still adjusting to the pace of the SPFL, but Andy Shinnie he is not although he promises plenty but does not always deliver.

One man doing his utmost to keep Inverness on top is loan keeper Dean Brill. He has been exemplary between the sticks and his display at Dundee was the difference between the sides as he broke Dundee hearts time and time again. Looks like Ryan Esson will have to wait a while for first team action.

Our overall record up here is good against the Hibees and if we can knuckle down and get back to our blistering start to the season form then we should be able to upset the capital side, and I will stick my neck out and go for a narrow home victory by 2-1.
 
The views from Easter Rd and Inverness
 
  
By tm4tj in Previews 2013-14 ·

Dundee -V- Inverness CT - LC - Report

Teaser Paragraph:
Inverness scrape into Quarter-Finals
 
 
Billy McKay opened the scoring after ten and a half minutes to banish the blues after the defeat at Pittodrie. However, we failed to increase our lead and Dundee clawed their way back into the tie, Dean Brill keeping out the Dark Blues on the stroke of half time as he parried a Craig Beattie effort to safety.

Inverness struck the woodwork in each half through Ross and an acrobatic McKay effort, but were unable to get that extra cushion which gave Dundee the confidence to have a go. Brill made a couple of excellent saves to deny Dundee an equaliser as they pressed hard in the second half, and with Inverness in jitter mode and looking more desperate as the game went on the away fans were made to suffer for the cause.

Heading towards the ninety minutes and Brill once more shows his value with another super stop, which sees Inverness crawl into the next round by the narrowest of margins.

Inverness did what they had to do and avoided the banana skin, but Dundee might feel they deserved another half hour to take the tie to a possible penalty shoot-out, but with Brill in fine form it was not to be their night and it is Inverness that take their place in the hat for the fourth round draw.
 
 
In that hat, Inverness will definitely find St Johnstone, Hibernian and Morton, with another 4 ties being played tomorrow night.
 
Shock of the night was Morton knocking Celtic out of the cup with former Inverness Caledonian Thistle player Dougie Imrie slotting home a penalty in extra-time for the Greenock side, and despite Celtic piling on the pressure the Morton goal just survived for a wonderful victory for the team second bottom of the Championship.
 
In Wednesday nights games, Aberdeen trounced Falkirk and Dundee United similarly defeated Partick Thistle with Motherwell edging out Livingston. Hearts and Queen of the South went to extra-time and penalties before the Jambos clinched their place in the hat. The game ended 3-3 after 120 minutes with Hearts going through 4-2 on penalties. There were Hat-Tricks for Hibernians Liam Craig, Aberdeens Scott Vernon and David Goodwillie of Dundee United. Who said it was a dull competition?  
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup will take place at Hampden Park this Thursday, September 26, at 3pm. The quarter-final draw is not seeded and games will be played on the midweek of October 29/30.  
 


Date: 24.09.2013   Venue: Dens Park, Dundee    Attendance: 1682
Referee: Stephen Finnie
  
Dundee: 0
Lineup: Letheren, Irvine, Gallacher, Davidson, Lockwood, Riley, McAlister, Rae, Conroy, MacDonald, Beattie (Doris 67)
Subs (not used): Twardzik, Dyer, Monti, Boyle, Scorers: none
Booked: Beattie (16), MacDonald (40), Davidson (82)
Sent Off: none
 
Inverness CT: 1
Lineup: Brill, Raven, Meekings, Devine, Shinnie, Draper, Foran (Agdestein 90), Doran (Polworth 61), Vincent, Ross, McKay
Subs (not used): Esson, Greenhalgh, Tremarco
Scorers: McKay (11)
Booked: Draper (29), Raven (45), Devine (89)
Sent Off: none

By Scotty in Reports 2013-14 ·

Dundee -V- Inverness CT - LC - Preview

Teaser Paragraph:
League Cup Third Round
 
 
It's league cup action on Tuesday night as Inverness travel to Dens Park to take on Dundee in the third round of the tournament.

This will be our third away game in a row, having been to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen since defeating Hearts at home in August. We surrendered our undefeated start to the season losing 1-0 at Pittodrie in a tense meeting with the Dons, but in all honesty it was a bit of a continuation of the dour stuff we witnessed at Kilmarnock. Gone is the fluent defence splitting moves that saw us tear Hearts apart and the long ball has returned, which seems to have sapped the confidence from the team and fans alike.

This game is a potential banana skin with the Dark Blues in indifferent form. They too suffered at the weekend going down 3-1 at Falkirk and their season has been littered with poor results and a sprinkling of decent scores. They were knocked out of the Challenge Cup on penalties by Stenhousemuir, but stuffed Livingston 3-0 in the Championship. In the second round of the League Cup they accounted for the Rangers conquerors Forfar Athletic by 2-1.

This could be an ideal opportunity to let some of the fringe players show what they can do and possibly give Ryan Esson some game time but at the same time Butcher needs to ensure we do enough to continue in the competition, something he would clearly like to accomplish after last seasons disappointment in the semi-final. It's a choice only he can make but Dundee must not be underestimated at any cost so I imagine the changes will be kept to a minimum.

One or two players will need to get back on track and James Vincent is one that is in this category. He started the season impressively but has been conspicuous by his absence in recent games, seemingly disappearing into thin air as games go on, possibly a victim of the long ball as the game by-passes the midfield.

Dundee will be without midfielder Kevin McBride who is suspended after being sent off against Forfar in the last round. Midfielder Jamie Reid and forward Leighton MacIntosh will not be in the squad through injuries although Nicky Riley could come into contention should he prove his fitness. The tricky wide player will be one to watch if he makes a start and he has proven himself against Inverness before, scoring in the league game at Inverness last season.
 
Kirishima has this take on our tussle with Dundee......................enjoy
 
So, for the first time this season, ICT have to come off a defeat in their upcoming match. The excellent reaction of the Inverness fans after the Aberdeen game will have shown the players and management that we are no fair-weather fans. Terry will be looking for a similar reaction from his players, but the third round of the League Cup will no doubt see a few SPFL teams fall by the wayside to supposedly “lesser” opposition. For Inverness, a tricky away tie against Dundee (the last team ever to be relegated from the SPL) is not a break from anything; it is business as usual.

The team sheet for this game will be interesting reading as media reports differ. The BBC expects Terry to rotate his starting XI and there is no better time for a minibus load of fringe players to finally make their mark. The Sun, however, expects an unchanged side and Terry has stressed his team is keen to “bounce back” after “falling off the bar stool” and so a raft of changes would be unlikely on that logic.

Ryan Esson desperately needs game time and, with Brill so far only signed up until January, he must be frontrunner to start. Torbjørn "Toby" Agdestein, with six appearances from the bench, could replace either James Vincent or Billy McKay. Danny Williams has also been used consistently as a substitute for Vincent and could potentially feature from the off. In all, there are at least 10 first-team players yet to start a game for ICT but who have the pedigree to start in a cup tie against lower league opposition. This, then, will be the most eagerly anticipated team sheet for some time.

Terry will be reunited with old* Rangers pal and defensive team mate John Brown. Famed for his impassioned speeches of love for Rangers, Brown has no less than seven ex-Celtic players in his squad (and two Rangers players to bring balance to the force). Dundee are eight points off the lead in the Scottish Championship and have slipped to fourth position following some mediocre performances. One man has been brought in to change all that: Craig Beattie. Beattie spent four years with Celtic before moving on to West Brom for £1.25m in 2007 and then Swansea, Hearts, St Johnstone, Barnet before Dundee signed him up. Brown is a fan of out-of-favour Beattie, "A fit Craig Beattie will cause havoc for our opponents all season." The 29-year-old, 6ft striker, could make his debut against Inverness with a point to prove. Peter Macdonald, with six goals this season, is no less of a threat. Luckily for ICT's physio, hatchet-man defensive midfielder Kevin McBride (32) is suspended and old faithful Gavin Rae (35) might not be helped out by a sought-after sprightly Nicky Riley as the latter struggles with an injury.

There are still scores to settle. Despite ICT having by far the better head-to-head record, it was just four years ago that Dundee broke Invernessian hearts in the Alba cup final in Perth. Only two players, Esson and Foran, will remember that day, but for the fans, cup games against Dundee have another edge to them. Will this be the year ICT lift a major cup? If they do, it all started here.

*N.B. This sentence refers to Messrs. Butcher & Brown as former, ex-, alumni, parted-but-not-forgotten pals, and is not an attempt at subterfuge regarding the status of the aforementioned colleagues’ previous employer in any way shape or form and these views are my own and not necessarily those of CTO or any other platform in which this sentence may be viewed. Any such inference to the status of said club is purely accidental and shall not, will not, and cannot be construed as anything other than for the purpose of highlighting Auld Lang Syne-esque camaraderie.
 
    

By tm4tj in Previews 2013-14 ·

Aberdeen -V- Inverness CT - Report

Teaser Paragraph:
Sub sinks Inverness with late strike
 
 
Inverness relinquished their unbeaten start to the season going down to a late Scott Vernon strike at Pittodrie. The second half substitution paid dividends as Vernon scored a superb goal, chesting down, swivelling, and rifling a shot beyond the outstretched arms of Dean Brill for what proved to be the winner in a tough encounter at the seaside.
 
Neither side dominated the game although Inverness had plenty of the ball in the second half, but one goal line clearance was not enough to earn Inverness a share of the points and the Dons just edged it in a game that had 0-0 written all over it.
 
AJS will have a full match report for us when he gets back down to earth...................
 
Reporting back to earth.....................
 
Once the full time went for the first time in a long time I was eager to leave. Not because I needed to pee (which I did), not because I needed a drink (I'd had plenty already). It was because I tussled with reality and had to accept that my beloved team were not unbeatable and are human just like everyone else. When you go on a run like ICT have you almost forget what its like to lose but when it finally hits you its not something you like. But the real test is shaking it off and moving on. 
 
I'm not going to deny it. This was a poor game but Aberdeen just about deserved the 3 points and were probably the more hungry out of the two sides. ICT will be frustrated that they could not play the style of football that has been on show in recent weeks and were made to pay thanks to a shrewd move from Derek McInnes. Scott Vernon may not be the most classy of strikers in general but there was nothing average about his goal. It was a fabulous strike.
 
As said the game itself was far from a classic. Both sides failed to flow and lacked the quality that could have been shown, considering the names on the team sheets. It was clear from kick off that Aberdeen were the side in the early ascendancy with Hayes and Wylde stretching the play and Zola's towering presence keeping Meekings and Warren on their toes...and in the air. Chances from open play were few and it was mostly set pieces were the danger lay. The first chance of note fell to Joe Shaughessy who saw his downward header from a Hayes corner strike off his own team mate in Zola who was lurking next to Dean Brill. There was a brief scramble before Foran hooked the ball away. Peter Pawlett was next to have a go. He latched onto a stray Meekings header but saw his low effort go wide of goal. 
 
ICT were trying to respond but were often found lacking in the final third, misplaced here, overhit there. Poor Billy was mostly looking for scraps and was often being out muscled by Reynolds and Hector. Aberdeen continued to press and Dean Brill was soon called into action. Pawlett's long pass was well controlled by Zola who laid it back to Cammy Smith, his powerful drive was parried away by Brill at his near post and from the resulting corner Considines swerving header drifted wide. Brill was again in the thick of it as he made a fabulous, fingertip save to deny Hector from another corner. 
 
The first half was a rigid display but was not helped by a picky Craig Thomson who did not hesitate to call back play on what looked like several dubious calls for both sides.
 
HT: Aberdeen 0-0 ICT
 
The 2nd half saw ICT gather a bit more of the play and Billy McKay get their first real shot of goal. He picked up the ball out wide and cut inside but on his weaker left foot he could only strike straight at Langfield who gathered the shot with ease.
 
With the game going stale Derek McInnes was the first to turn to his substitutes, bringing on Josh Magennis and Scott Vernon as Aberdeen looked to gain the lead. Magennis  soon came close as he charged towards the area. It took a firm challenge from Warren to stop him in his track. Warren himself then had ICT's best chance of the game. He did extremely well to get his head on Graeme Shinnie's corner. It took a big deflection off Reynolds to divert it away from Langfield and looked rather close to the goal side of the line but was hooked clear by Cammy Smith. Whether it was in or not is open to interpretation.
 
Billy McKay grabbed another chance to break the deadlock. Ross Draper attempted to carve an opening for himself. The ball fell to Aaron Doran whos shot was deflected out to Nick Ross. His knockdown found ICT's menacing number 7 who controlled the ball well on his chest but his acrobatic effort went high and wide. 
 
Soon after and with only 9 minutes remaining Derek McInnes' personnel shuffle paid off when Nicky Low's high ball was flicked on by Pawlett. Vernon took it on his chest about 12 yards from goal and despite having defenders close by he showed good control and even better finishing as he turned and hammered it into the bottom right hand corner of Brill's net. Vernon had played less than an hour's football this season prior to coming on but with a finish like that he will have given his manager something to ponder. 
 
With ICT chasing a result the efforts got more and more desperate. Toby Agdestein was brought on for a hardworking but ineffective James Vincent as high balls were fired up in search of ICT heads. It was Aberdeen who looked more likely to double the lead as Jonny Hayes marauded towards goal and found his effort with the outside of his left foot fall just wide of Brills far post. 
 
ICT's late surge for a draw in the closing stages and with seconds remaining won a corner. Both sides were packed in Langfield's box and Doran's searching corner found Foran who's knock down found Warren lingering with intent once again. He was inches away from connection for what would have been a great chance of stealing a point but it went wide and with that the game was brought to a close.
 
FT: Aberdeen 1-0 ICT
 
  To summarise:- It was a disappointing display from both teams. Too rigid, too cagey and with the players that both sides had on the pitch it certainly was not a game played at full rate. Craig Thomson did not help. I don't like criticizing referees as I appreciate they have one of the most difficult and thankless jobs in sport. But given that he is held in such high regard he did not impress me at all. Both sides were called out on soft fouls and this did not help to the lack of flow already clearly evident in the game. There were a number of challenges that merited a booking that went unpunished and ones that didn't that saw players unnecessarily booked...and this was for both sides. I'm not saying he lost us the game, not at all but it certainly did not help it as a spectacle.
 
In terms of what ICT need to do its maybe time to give some of the lads on the bench a run out. Aberdeen seemed to close down the space we were looking for too easily. Maybe time to shuffle things about tactically, its not like we are lacking options. One thing is for sure is that Billy needs much more support when he is on the ball. Too many times he was found isolated up top with big brutes like Hector knocking him off the ball. We were bound to lose sometime so now we have to show our metal, bounce back and build on the great foundation we have set with our early form. Starting at Dens on Tuesday. 
 
AJS's MotM :- Dean Brill - No clean sheet for Deano but he had no chance with Vernon's goal and the score could have been more if it wasnt for some of his saves. His stop from Hector's header was terrific. I'm glad to hear the club are looking to extend his stay beyond January.
 
 


Date: 21.09.2013   Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen    Attendance: 11251
Referee: Craig Thomson
  
Aberdeen: 1
Lineup: Langfield, Shaughnessy, Hector, Reynolds, Considine, Jack, Smith (Vernon 78), Wylde (Low 58), Pawlett, Zola (Magennis 67), Hayes
Subs (not used): Weaver, Murray, Robertson, Storie
Scorers: Vernon (81)
Booked: Smith (30), Jack (59), Hector (76), Vernon (90)
Sent Off: none
 
Inverness CT: 0
Lineup: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Draper, Foran, Ross, Vincent (Agdestein 81), Doran, McKay (Polworth 88)
Subs (not used): Esson, Devine, Greenhalgh, Tremarco, Williams
Scorers: none
Booked: Draper (48), Shinnie (76), Raven (79)
Sent Off: none
By Scotty in Reports 2013-14 ·

Aberdeen -V- Inverness CT - Preview

Teaser Paragraph:
The once famous versus the famous for once
 
Inverness are heading East to face the once famous Aberdeen football club in a game where both clubs are coming off the back of excellent away wins last weekend. Aberdeen trounced Partick Thistle and Inverness ground out a result at Kilmarnock to set the scene for this weekends showdown at Pittodrie.

Aberdeen have deployed a new tactic pre-kick off which looks suspiciously like the Celtic huddle although some of their players are trying to justify it's existence by renaming it the "Aberdeen Bosey". Aye well, I don't think the fans like it whatever they call it, best left alone methinks. Maybe that's why they call him Clangers.  

Derek McInnes has been quick to quell any thoughts about his resurgent team heading for second best in the SPFL but with Jonny Hayes and Gregg Wylde hitting form then it would be foolish to dismiss the threat that this Aberdeen side pose and they should provide our sternest examination yet, with our undefeated start to the season under threat. Any team with a player named Zola has to be taken seriously, even if it's not the real thing, but he did score his first goal for the club last week and extra training has sharpened him up mentally and physically.
 
AJS has taken time off preparing for another gig with The Caspians and has this preview ahead of tomorrow's game. Enjoy.
 
 
 
The alternative Derby 
 
Some might say Aberdeen was the nearest ICT had to a derby in the top flight before the introduction of Ross County. Now its just like any other away day but with the excuse of having a slightly longer lie in bed before hitting the road for another away day. Terry and the boys head down the A96 for what should be yet another tight and well fought affair against the Dons who are under new management with appointment of Derek McInnes over the summer. I must admit it was slightly surprising to hear he was returning North of the border to take over from Craig Brown. It seemed he was dealt a rather raw deal down at Bristol City who were already going into a rapid decline.
 
Though not in fear of relegation an 8th place finish was far from satisfactory and the appointment of an ambitious young manager such as McInnes gives them a platform to build on. Typically the exit door at Pittodrie was well used over the summer market with 9 players departing including the likes of Stephen Hughes, Rob Milsom, and Rory Fallon all of whom promised so much yet flattered to deceive latterly. McInnes has recruited well however. Players such as Barry Robson and Willo Flood provide a wealth of experience and quality. Nicky Weaver is no stranger to Scotland as he had a brief but impressive stint at Dundee United in 2009 and anyone who follows The Football League would have seen Calvin Zola's impressive display for Burton Albion in last seasons League 2 play offs. The club also fended of interest over the border in top scorer Niall McGinn, a real statement of intent. 
 
One thing McInnes would like to correct during his tenure is Aberdeen's recent history against ICT. The tables have turned in form between the two sides. The Dons failed to win during all 3 encounters between the sides last season. They scrambled a late point at the beginning of last season in a frantic 1-1 draw that saw both sides go down to 10 men for separate but debatable incidents. A thrilling 3-2 encounter saw ICT come out on top at Pittodrie, a bullet header in typical fashion from Gary Warren either side of 2 strikes from Wee Billy sent ICT home happy that night, they were made to work as Josh Magennis hit a well taken double for The Dons to keep the score close. The Caley jags then ran riot with a resounding 3-0 win at home with Billy getting yet another double and Andrew Shinnie also getting on the scoreline.
 
I must admit I felt the International break would kill our momentum with a lengthy journey down to Rugby Park last week. It wasn't pretty but the 3 points came back home on the bus via the chippy. Despite the lack of fluency on show it was reassuring to know that we don't have to play good football to win, and that can only make us stronger going into games knowing that grinding out results isn't a necessity but it is an option. Aberdeen have had an indifferent start to the season but last weeks result at Partick will have given them plenty of confidence as well so this will have both sides going into the game with plenty optimism. 
 
I'm trying to stay realistic here despite our lofty position. I really thought we had peaked last season but so far we are getting result after result and Terry and Mo seem to be putting everything into keeping the boys focused, and with another 3 points and more leverage over everyone above us (yes, literally everyone) up for grabs I'm hoping for more of what I've seen all season so far. McInnes will be looking to get Aberdeen back in contention, if not for Europe then at least a Top Six place so his side will not be pushovers in the slightest. I'm predicting that the game will be as scrappy at times as last weeks match at Kilmarnock but I'm just hoping that our form and togetherness will just about see us over the finish line. We also have boys like Curtis Allen and Marley Watkins ready for action now so with competition for places as high as its been in a long time that will also be extra incentive to keep everyone on their toes.
 

 
AJS's Prediction :- As I said I get a feeling it wont be pretty tomorrow but I think we will just about edge it. I'm going for a 2-1 win and for Wild Bill to get another double.
Inverness have no fresh injuries and should remain along the same lines, but Aberdeen will be without Russell Anderson, Chris Clark and Willo Flood, with Barry Robson and Niall McGinn looking to get back into the action if they can pass late fitness tests.
By tm4tj in Previews 2013-14 ·

Kilmarnock -V- Inverness CT - Report

Inverness extend their stay at the top
 
Inverness failed to set the heather on fire but did enough to earn their chips at Auchterarder as they beat SPFL strugglers Kilmarnock by the odd goal in three. Richie Foran, the SPFL player of the month, and N Ireland international striker Billy McKay scored for the visitors with Barry Nicholson getting the last touch in a bizarre goal for Killie. This was an error strewn match but manager of the month Terry Butcher's side always had the edge over a disappointing Kilmarnock who looked more like a pub side than a team playing in the top division in Scotland.
 
Immortal Howden Ender took a break from ghost duties to write this report for us.....................
Well I suppose that the old cliche says that it takes a good team to take three points away from home when they are not performing at their best. That was a rather uninspiring performance but we were still streets ahead in regard to quality and endeavour - and if we had scored a second early doors we could have cruised home in comfort. As it was we were happy to hear the final whistle although we never looked like or deserved to be losing two points.

Lets liken it to the Bazooka Joe experience - or probably Hubba Bubba to the yoof - I can recall blowing this massive bubble until it popped and stuck to ma face. It would then take ages to peel the debris off and ages to get the energy to blow another fecker up. But I still have this big bubble in front of me and it ain't going to burst easily. And I suspect that if it does I will comfortably peel the debris off, unwrap a new chewy and start blowing it up again.

This ICT side really do have the togetherness factor and are simply not going to implode. They may stutter but they could explode again.

We decided not to stir up the spirits in the Hunting Lodge but drank some spirits in the Portmann Hotel - which is recommended for future Killie trips. There was a rather subdued support today and averaged in the 40+ years and that is why we didn't bounce to the Ultra ditty until just on full time !!

As fer the game - not one to write home for - but Foran netted again after 5 minutes. If he had been found the first time he would have been offside but by the time the second attack came round he was in the perfect position.

If we had got a second soon after - and we clearly went fer it - we could have feckin hammered them. We were by far the better team in the first 45 and perhaps Doran could have netted one of his two chances. But we went more and more on the back foot and allowed Killie to pass the ball although they never did anything in the last third.

Their equaliser evidently came as a shock and Nicholson benefited from a lucky ricochet off a Shinnie clearance which left Brill with no chance. It did kick us back into life and McKay lobbed home a beauty to take the lead again. But instead of capitalising we seemed to sit back and look to score on the break. To me that was tactically wrong and let Killie more in to the game and us resorting more and more to the hoof. I would have to say that I was actually disgusted by the tactics employed when we got a corner with 4 minutes to go. We put ONE feckin player in the box and went to time waste. Sure, that may have gained us two very valuable points but it was negative and disappointing in the extreme.

But as the final whistle blew we were / are still TOP of the league and deservedly so. The brethren again paid homage to the footballing gods as TB emerged from his pulpit and led the faithful in the celebratory homage.

To me - Foran has been a revelation this season and was my MotM by a country mile. Just behind him was a more difficult choice but I would plump fer Meekings and Draper.

It is probably homage to the defensive unit that Brill is still relatively untested. He had no chance with the dodgy goal and had only one real save which may have been going wide anyway. His distribution however waned in the second half. Raven was solid enuff although TB must have been pished off that he managed to play half an hour in a brilliant white and un blooded head bandage. Warren was solid if not as effective as usual. Boyd is still a handful if not well past his SPL sell by date. Shinnie is as good an attacking wingback as there is - especially in comparison to Lee Wallace.

Ross and Doran looked good at times but were employed more in a defensive role. Poor Vincent worked his socks off but can anybody tell me what his feckin role was today. McKay again ploughed a lone furrow but his chip was worthy of winning any game.

I really hope that today was horses for courses and we are more attacking at the Hill of Dung. But I and you can probably put up with another week of adrenaline and serotonin surge.

 

Date: 14.09.2013   Venue: Rugby Park, Kilmarnock    Attendance: 3063
Referee: Steven Mclean
  
Kilmarnock: 1
Lineup: Samson, Clohessy, Irvine, Tesselaar, McKeown, Nicholson, Fowler (Pascali 70), Jacobs (Stewart 76), Gros (Ibrahim 46), Gardyne, Boyd
Subs (not used): Reguero, O'Hara, Ashcroft, Pooler
Scorers: Nicholson (51)
Booked: Pascali (76)
Sent Off: none
 
Inverness CT: 2
Lineup: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Draper, Foran, Ross, Vincent (Williams 81), Doran, McKay (Agdestein 85).
Subs (not used): Esson, Devine, Greenhalgh, Tremarco, Polworth
Scorers: Foran (6), McKay (56)
Booked: Shinnie (86)
Sent Off: none
By Scotty in Reports 2013-14 ·

Kilmarnock -V- Inverness CT - Preview

Teaser Paragraph:
Ghostbusters or coupon busters?



Rugby Park, the scene of some memorable scorelines for Inverness in previous years is the destination this weekend as Inverness travel to Ayrshire to take on winless Kilmarnock in the SPFL.

The Hunting Lodge has been abandoned by the Caley Away crew in favour of the Portland Arms. Nothing to do with ghostly happenings at the Lodge I'm assured, but they are taking no chances and are moving camp anyway. Maybe Feb8th will exorcise the Lodge before the next visit of William Thomson, Kilmarnock's own Immortal one apparently.
 
http://www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk/ayrshire-news/news-east-ayrshire/kilmarnock-news/2012/03/09/kilmarnock-pub-bosses-call-in-ghostbusters-after-ghostly-incidents-81430-30479242/

Killie have had an inauspicious start to the season, losing three and drawing two league games and they have been dumped out of the League Cup by Championship leaders Hamilton. Not the start new manager Allan Johnston would have been looking for after his switch from Queen of the South in the summer. Maybe he's not magic after all!

Richie Foran has picked up the first ever SPFL player of the month award, and also scooped the award at CTO after a sensational beginning to the season for our Irish captain. Thoroughly deserved accolades for our inspirational midfielder who is as adept in defence as he is in attack. Foran scored twice in August, one a thunderous diving header against Motherwell and the other at Celtic Park in a 2-2 draw.
 

 
Billy McKay added an International cap to his CV, unfortunately he could not stop Luxembourg recording their first home win in a world cup qualifier for 43 matches as they dumped N Ireland 3-2, their last victory at home coming in 1972. Billy was a second half sub and almost scored after jinking clear in the box but his effort was hit high into the side netting.
 
Our u20's paved the way in midweek coming away with a 3-3 draw at Rugby Park, where goals by Ryan Christie and Alan Evans along with an own goal gave Inverness a deserved share of the points.

Kirishima is going to spill the beans on the teams in the build up to the game...........

...........“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”

No, this was not Charles Bannerman on Sportsound, but Mahatma Gandhi. It is perhaps a tad excessive to have drawn a Gandhi quote on a football forum, but the keyword from the captain to the manager is belief; around the club and the fans, that this year will be something special. The starting XI is performing so well that Conor Pepper hopes for the bench and no more. Furthermore, ICT Chris on Pie & Bovril has stated that “McKay is on fire. Literally on fire.” (which may give Pepper hope of a start if true)

The international break has given most players a chance to rest, and injuries are thin on the ground for this match. There should be no surprises for ICT unless Malpas’ intensive training during the international break has worn out the squad. Killie are coming off a defeat and are in the same position ICT found themselves in last season – a reminder to all of how things can change.

The danger comes from upfront; journeyman Kris Boyd, like the prodigal son, returned to the SPFL after seeking fame and fortune elsewhere. Michael Gardyne, of Ross County “fame”, has been brought in from Dundee Utd. on loan to replace fans favourite Paul Heffernan. Killie too have budding internationalists, namely playmaker and fellow Northern Ireland team mate of Billy's, Sammy Clingan. He will pose a threat and will look to feed Gardyne who in turn will seek out Boyd. This trio then will have a big say in how the game will go. Former ICT keeper Reguero will be watching some Brill action from the bench. The latest player to try to resurrect his career at Rugby Park is none other than Nacho Novo who has been on trial along with Ismael Bouzid the former Hearts defender.

£30,000 was the fee Killie paid QoS for Johnston’s services after he pipped Terry to the PFA Manager of the Year award. He will be desperate to chalk up his first SPFL win and give the home fans something else to celebrate other than Macklin's shares.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the star of the show: the Killie Pie. This scotch pie is, in fact, a steak pie, made with scotch beef. Signed from Brownings the Bakers of Kilmarnock, voted by football fans as the best pie in British football, on more than one occasion, and most recently fourth best half time treat in European football. It has 2230 likes on Facebook, and has finally achieved national distribution in Scotland through Aldi & Spar.

Here's the Inverness fans in good spirits despite the 3-0 reverse in the cup, but extolling the virtues of the Killie Pie nonetheless, courtesy of our own dewsburydude



On a more serious note, Kilmarnock's impressive second half against Motherwell and the front line pairing should give Killie belief they can go for a win in the the game. Inverness will have to keep their standards and hunger high to come away with a win, something no doubt they have targeted for Saturday, along with some fish & chips at Aucterarder.
By tm4tj in Previews 2013-14 ·

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