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Hibernian -V- ICT

Easter Weekend, Easter Road, Easter Bonus
 
Inverness continued the hunt for a Europa slot after denting Hibs prospects with a deserved away win at Easter Road on Easter weekend for a perfect Easter present for the hard working Inverness squad. Goals from Ross Draper and Andy Shinnie tilted the game in our favour after Leigh Griffiths had levelled with a deflected effort. Hibs tried in vain towards the end but Inverness had enough bottle to deny the hosts and claim their first win at Easter Road since 2008. 
In a lively opening, Kevin Thomson had the first shot, while Caley Thistle countered with two quick breaks in the opening seven minutes. From those attacks their best chance fell to Owain Tudur Jones who, reluctant to hit with his left foot, awkwardly shifted to his right to take the chance but ended up taking the power out of the resulting effort.
Alex Harris settled into the match quickly in his first Hibs start and soon tested right-back David Raven with his willingness to run at the full back.
Ryan McGivern's shot grazed the Inverness goal frame and, at the other end, Richie Foran tried his luck from outside the box but also failed to trouble the goalkeeper.
Half Time 0-0
The second half yielded all the goals, the first of them coming when a long pass from Foran found Ross Draper, who controlled and then lobbed the ball beyond Williams.
Hibs were quick to seek an equaliser, Thomson and Doyle setting up Griffiths but the striker was foiled as he delayed his shot. Griffiths, who'd scored in four of the previous five home games, continued his impressive form but appeared to know little about the deflection that wrong-footed Antonio Reguero after the goalkeeper had looked well placed to gather Deegan's 20-yard shot.
If fortune had smiled on Hibs with their equaliser, it soon frowned upon them when they conceded again.
Shinnie was unmarked when he gathered in the box but it was a deflection off James McPake that took the eventual shot beyond Williams.
McPake showed great timing and composure with a skilful tackle to deny Billy McKay what would have been a killer third goal and kept the home side in the hunt.
Hibs, without a home league win in 2013, sought to salvage a point but their final onslaught was deftly dealt with by a Caley Thistle side that saw the game out to a satisfactory conclusion without undue concern.
Match highlights here, Happy Easter....
 
30th Mar 2013 Scottish Premier League Easter Road, Edinburgh Hibernian 1 - Griffiths (59) TEAM: Williams, Clancy, McPake, McGivern, Stevenson (Wotherspoon 83), Deegan (Robertson 72), Thomson, Taiwo (Cairney 62), Harris, Griffiths, Doyle SUBS: Murdoch, Claros, Handling, Forster
Booked: Deegan (50), McGovern (57) Sent Off: none Inverness C.T. 2 - Draper (48), A.Shinnie (65) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, Meekings, Devine, G.Shinnie, Doran, Draper, Tudur-Jones, Foran, A.Shinnie (Ross 92), McKay.
SUBS: Mathieson, Sutherland, Polworth, Pepper, Gibbons, Taylor Booked: Foran (54) Sent Off: none Referee Craig Thomson Attendance 8555
By Scotty in Reports 2012-13 ·

Hibernian -V- Inverness CT - Preview

Teaser Paragraph:
Back to SPL Duty
 
 
The quest for Top-Six has been achieved, the push for Europe starts now. Victory over County coupled with Dundee United dropping points in their derby meant that Inverness had reached the Top-Six and can not now be displaced before the split.

International football got in the way of Butcher's drive for European domination, but the race starts again with a visit to Easter Road to take on fellow aspirants Hibernian.  Let's hope we are not put off by the embarrassment that is the Scotland National football team who have plumbed new depths and are now being mentioned in the same breath as San Marino and the Faroe Islands. Snow threatened to call off the international in Serbia, unfortunately for Scotland the game went ahead.

Anyway, enough of that rubbish, back to the real football this weekend.

Hibs have their own agenda and are still seeking points to ensure their position with the elite as Aberdeen, Dundee United and Kilmarnock are looking to enter the party. It's very tight below Celtic and nothing will be decided until the final few days of the season, but for now, we can sleep easy in the knowledge that we will be one of the clubs fighting for that Euro spot, no need to look over our shoulders just now.

Two Inverness players were unused at International level during the week as Billy McKay and Owain Tudur-Jones were called into their respective squads for world cup qualifiers.  Good recognition for both players who have had excellent seasons so far.

Plenty of speculation surrounding Antonio Reguero regarding a move to Kilmarnock for next season.  A strange choice considering Killie have been pleading poverty for as long as Inverness have been an SPL side. Toni has been a more than adequate replacement for Ryan Esson this season and will be called upon this weekend again as Esson recovers from his groin injury.  Andrew Shinnie is the other headliner, a supposed move to Birmingham City in the offing although he is playing his cards close to his chest.

The players will have used the break to recharge the batteries ahead of what will be a tough conclusion to the season, but this year there is plenty to play for and the possibility of another Highland derby to whet the appetite should keep them focussed on the job in hand.

Gary Warren has knee ligament damage and will miss the next month of the season at a crucial stage in the drive for a Euro spot, but Danny Devine will be an able deputy and Chris Hogg has played a couple of u20 games recently and is building up his strength after a lengthy lay off.  His last game was for the u20's as they went down to their Hibs counterparts this week by three goals to two.  Shane Sutherland and Jordan Gibbons had Inverness on top but after a few changes, Hibs got back into the game and snatched the winner, but by all accounts a good workout for Hogg along with Shane, Nick Ross, Phillip Roberts and Connor Pepper amongst others.





***Latest Team News***

Inverness will miss influential defender Gary Warren who could be out for a month with a knee injury. Simon King is still unavailable but Chris Hogg is on the comeback trail, although this may be too soon for a full shift.  Graeme Shinnie is avalable after suspension which will give Butcher a selection problem after Charlie Taylor put in a good effort against County. Reguero will continue in goal.

Hibernian  defender Tim Clancy could return for Hibernian having  recovered from a hamstring injury but the match comes too early for Paul Hanlon. Alan Maybury is suspended, while Jorge Claros will be assessed following his return from international duty.
 
tm4tj Prediction:- Points are getting harder to come by as the teams fight it out for placings into the top-six. Warren will be a big miss for us but that is countered by Maybury missing out for Hibs.  Easter Road is a difficult place to get all three points at the best of times and the Hibees should be well up for this game as they look to secure their place at the top end of the table.  Might have to settle for a point here, 1-1.
 
 
By tm4tj in Previews 2012-13 ·

Inverness CT -V- Ross County - Report

The Seethe, Episode Five, Series one


Poor Derek.  Everybody is against him.  Even Richard Brittain has had enough and Neil Lennon is now a Saint judging by Derek Adams' gait.  According to Derek we will be disappointed to win the game like that.  Aye Derek, we are absolutely gutted!  

Not content with stating his displeasure about this derby day, he is still harking on about the last one.  In fact, he is still seething from the cup game.  Derek Derek, get over it man, the Highlands are ours, and by virtue of completing three wins over your team this season, then it's official that we now get to keep County.  Try this number 08457 909090

This game was settled on the hour by a Billy McKay penalty.  No question about the decision, but Derek saw it differently.  Andy Shinnie had opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute and Paul Lawson replied after thirty-five minutes with a superb strike which saw an unsighted Esson clutching at thin air.

It was always going to be a tight affair and a draw looked the best bet, but we just shaded it, especially in the second half when County were found wanting and in truth we could have picked them off but for some counter attacks breaking down all too easily.

Billy McKay looked lively early on and his impeccable twists and turns almost paid dividends but Fraser was equal to the first one, beating away the ball as McKay turned Munro, the next ones his efforts were misdirected.

Not too much to get over excited about really as the game, like the last one, turned a bit scrappy with defences on top.  None of the three keepers had much to do.  Reguero replacing Esson before half time after Ryan pulled up with a recurring niggle.

My MotM was Richie Foran, and yes, he does make County look *****
Guest reporter I M Seething from Shadowlands has a tidy report for us.
Well there you are. The last scheduled derby of the season and Ross County have yet to win one. They might feel hard done by, they might feel as if the fates were against them, but Inverness deserved this.
The missing Shinnie (G) was replaced by Charlie Taylor as Inverness opened with a pace that threatened to flatten County. 5 minutes in and a Taylor corner was knocked on by Foran. Whilst Fraser and his defence dithered, Andrew Shinnie slotted the goal from less than a yard out. Not bonny, but the Inverness support cared not a jot, at least until later in the half.
Billy McKay looked in the mood as he could have made it two, twisting and turning in the box before shooting narrowly wide. Doran could have added to the total but things stayed the same for half an hour until a free kick from Vigurs was knocked to Lawson. Whilst we looked at him, he dispatched a curling effort past Esson to equalise. Ryan must have been well hacked off at this point, because the next thing was that he was well, carted off. He seemed to pull a muscle and after a quick “hola!” Antonio Reguero appeared for a somewhat unexpected day at work.
Half Time 1-1
The second half started well for Inverness, mainly due to the withdrawal of the pestilential Sproule, replaced by the altogether more lumbering Wolfarth. Iain Brines began to struggle a bit in maintaining control as the usual derby tackles began to fly in, but his main and enduring contribution to this game came in 58 minutes as Taylor cut in from the left and drove into the county penalty box. A sliding challenge by Kovacevic contacted Taylor first and he collapsed faster than Lehman’s bank. Dramatic? Yes. Penalty? Yes. Once the ball was handed to Billy McKay and the referee had sorted out the earnest discussion on the merits of the award, the outcome was never in doubt.
County huffed and puffed, substituting Munro for Glen to give them perhaps the most immobile front line in the SPL, but they could do nothing. Bookings arrived for Kettlewell, Lawson (who was lucky it wasn’t red) and Vigurs for one girn too many.
Of course no Highland derby would be complete without the now customary ill grace that Derek Adams shows.   Give it up Derek, your club’s better than that.
Full Time 2-1

Thanks for that Mr Seething, much appreciated.
And by 2:00pm on Sunday, we had cemented out Top-Six place after Dundee and Dundee United played out a 1-1 draw which ensured United could not displace us at the split.
Congratulations to all at ICT
By tm4tj in Reports 2012-13 ·

Inverness CT -V- Ross County - Preview

Teaser Paragraph:
Running Scared, or Running for Top-Six?


Ross County are the form team in the SPL right now.  Unbeaten since before Christmas when Celtic beat them 4-0 at Parkhead, they have embarked on a remarkable eleven game run taking 27 points out of a possible 33.  This has resulted in a surge up the table from second bottom on the 22nd of December to overhaul the 14 point gap to ourselves. After beating Celtic last weekend, they jumped one point above us to third in the table, how dare they.  On the other hand, we are stuttering towards the split and confidence is not as high as it was before Christmas.  To put Counties achievement into perspective, we have gained only 12 points over the same period and look to have blown our chances of finishing second in the SPL.

It has been a good season by any standards.  Both Highland clubs are breaking records this season.  Billy McKay's scoring exploits have kept us in touch at the top end and we led the table in terms of goals scored for long enough.  County's, debut season has turned out rather well for them after an inauspicious start and they look to have earned a top-six spot after their unbeaten run.  Ah yes, that reminds me, beach football has always been a particular favourite of mine.

After last weeks disappointing draw at Dundee, Terry Butcher has been handed a bill for £200 for venting his frustration at his teams inability to take three points by smashing a hole in the dugout.  The plastic covering was damaged as Butcher suffered like the rest of us and opinions on CTO were mixed on the rights and wrongs of this, but Scotty came up with the best answer; "maybe we should all just put it in perspextive!"

His frustrations though are not unwarranted and are shared by us all as the team struggles to get over the top six finish line.  Points have been dropped in the run towards the split and we have thrown a few points away since our bad week when we were knocked out of both cups and suffered SPL defeat.  Kilmarnock at home springs to mind.  Our confidence seems to have taken a knock and our free scoring run has almost ground to a halt.  Teams we would have beaten earlier in the season are now picking points off us as the battle for position heightens.
 
Here he is in calmer times..........

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And hark, what's this I hear..........
 
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It's a rallying call to all Caley Thistle troops to get behind the team for a final push towards the promised land.  Never before has this club needed everyone to pull in the same direction with such power as they need on Saturday.  County have done exceptionally well to get to where they are right now, and have almost overshadowed what we have achieved so far this season.  However, both clubs have won nothing yet but a win for either could well go a long way to creating history, and the backing of the fans is a must if we are to get out of the habit of bottling these games.  You can bet your bottom dollar that the County fans will be well up for this, and rightly so considering their current form, so wet yer whistle and get behind the team.
 
Motherwell's bottle seems to be holding up pretty well as they thrashed Hibs 4-1 last night to go six points ahead of us and look to be the team that will secure second spot unless we can get get back in the groove.

***Latest Team News***

After his ridiculous booking in the last derby for alleged diving, Graeme Shinnie will have to miss this game out through suspension.  Charlie Taylor was tried at left back against Dundee and he seems favourite to deputise, although Daniel Devine could be in with a shout as well.  Chris Hogg and Simon King are long term absentees and Phillip Roberts has a knock.

Richard Brittain and Ivan Sproule are not assured of a return to action.  That is the view of Derek Adams who is content with the job his replacements have done, although that may well be a smoke screen from the Seethe as they have been integral in Counties surge to the top.  Michael Fraser looks set to continue in goal for the injured Mark Brown.
 
tm4tj Prediction:- Oh my, it's a tough call.  You should really go with the form team when it comes to these games.  However, County have failed to win in the previous four games this season, Inverness winning twice.  We have not been at our best recently and County's run has been beyond what their own fans would have thought possible.  They are just poking out of the shadows now, but it's time to put them back in their place.  If we can get some momentum going, then it's not inconceivable that County's run will come to an end at the hands of the top team in the Highlands.  We need a team of battlers on the park, that should rule out the deft touches of Nick Ross, and we need ten Richie Foran's and one Ryan Esson.................but most of all, we need lot's of vocal backing and that's where you lot come in.  2-1 for us and an end to
County's remarkable run. :ictscarf:
 
Here's one of them to tell us about it
 
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Ginger Jaggy has his say on the forthcoming derby.................
 
Don your colours, man the stands, make some noise and get behind Terry’s boys this weekend. The Highland Derby will see its fifth instalment in Inverness on Saturday as third faces fourth in a titanic battle that will nudge the victor towards a historic debut appearance in the top six.

On the fifth of October the Caledonian stadium played host to a historic first Highland Derby in Scottish football’s top flight. On Saturday the teams will meet again in Inverness but with so much more riding on it than that first SPL encounter. This game will mean so much more than local pride, it will go a long way to one of these rivals cementing a place in the top six and look forward to the potential adventure of Europe. With three games to go there is only nine points separating second place Motherwell and Aberdeen in ninth with any team in that pack in the running to make it.

The respective form of both teams sees a marked difference in fortunes from the last time these two met in Inverness on cup replay duty. Caley Thistle looked dead certainties to be top six after a blistering first half of the campaign. But we have since stuttered towards the split even though we are unbeaten in our last 4. County on the other hand are the run-away train that we were at the start of the season. They last suffered defeat in a 4-0 drubbing at Celtic Park just before Christmas and since then have gone on an 11 game unbeaten run which has seen them fail to taste defeat in 2013. In fact that defeat saw County sit some 12 points adrift of us in second place with County down in eleventh just nine clear of Dundee. Now we see County sit one point ahead of us; how the table has been turned on its head.

This dramatic change in form was present last week when Inverness could only pick up a point at the bottom team Dundee, while yet again, County picked up a miraculous 3-2 comeback win against the champions elect in Dingwall. The facts show that the momentum is with County but all is not lost for the home faithful. A lot of County’s momentum has come from some decent home form which is unsurprising as the surface contributes to anti football. And for us it hasn’t been too bad barring one or two games. The difference has been that everything that went for us in the first half of the season is not going for us now. What has happened I don’t know but I know that the eleven players that take to the field give their all and as fans we should appreciate it even if it is slightly disappointing we aren’t winning games like we were.

As for tactics it may be time for a slight change in the system. The 4-2-3-1 has worked well for us this season and does make us compact, but whether teams have worked it out or the players have just lost a little sharpness it is not as attacking as it was. One criticism of the last match against Dundee was that Inverness - on a tricky surface- failed to hold on to the ball with high balls for Billy Mckay. Even with a much better surface than in Dingwall, Inverness may have to go more direct and putting Richie Foran up alongside McKay will give County more problems and something different to think about. Having Foran back in the starting line up also has to be a must as he is the driving force of the team who is very good at taking games by the scruff of their necks. For County I would expect them to go one up front like they did in the league and cup game at Inverness. The danger will come from the flanks with Vigurs – who likes a goal against us – and if fit, Ivan Sproule who has five in his seven league games since his release from Hibs. Against Celtic they played a 4-1-4-1 with Paul Lawson playing in the hole between defence and midfield and I would expect similar on Saturday. One big weakness could be Michael Fraser who looked very shaky with Celtic’s two goals and this is why I would like to see lots of crosses and Foran, Draper or Jones being a presence from set pieces.

Overall it is a huge game for both sides. A draw may help both sides gain a top 6 berth but that will be the last thought come 3 o’clock. It is in my opinion, it's bigger for Caley Thistle than Ross County to gain all three points. It will take us back above County and if results work out then it could see us concrete our place in the right half of the table. We may not have been setting the league alight recently but our exploits from the first half of the season makes a top six place definitely deserved. Top six is the main goal but a victory on Saturday especially against the opposition may just be the catalyst for the team to find a late burst towards gaining a historic debut in Europe.
 
Tensions boiled over two weeks ago between Butcher and Adams which was on the cards after Adams made it his major goal to get one over us since the cup tie in Dingwall. I as well as many others will love to see the return of that reaction from that day come 5pm Saturday and I feel we will get it, in a morale  boosting 2-0 victory.

IN THE WORDS OF DELIA SMITH ‘LETS BE HAVING YOU’
MAKE SATURDAY AN OCCASION TO REMEMBER FOR A GREAT HIGHLAND DERBY DAY SUCCESS
C'MON CALEY THISTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :ictscarf:
By tm4tj in Previews 2012-13 ·

CTO Player of the Month - February

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Aaron Doran was CTO's star man for February, becoming the sixth different player to earn player of the month honours this season.
 
The Irish winger was voted man of the match in three straight matches, against Celtic, Kilmarnock and Motherwell, and his total of 72 votes was well clear of second placed Nick Ross. David Raven (against Killie away), Gary Warren (against Hearts) and Danny Devine (against Dundee United) were all voted man of the match once.
 
Doran's impressive haul of points moves him into second place in the Player of the Year standings, which are extremely tight at the top but Andrew Shinnie still enjoys a narrow lead in the overall standings.
 
It is mathematically possible for anyone who has already earned points this season to still win it (with the exception of Andre Blackman). There are a possible 40 points available from the last 8 games, and if someone went on a great run like Doran did in February, anything is possible. However, looking at it realistically, you have to consider Doran, Billy McKay, Richie Foran and Owain Tudur Jones as the likeliest challengers to Andy Shinnie, with Gary Warren, Ross Draper and David Raven not quite out of the hunt yet, but with a lot to do if they are to win .... It will be an interesting run-in
 
Overall quantity of votes cast for each player in February: (Used to decide Player of the Month) Player 02/02 09/02 13/02 16/02 23/02 27/02 TOTAL Aaron Doran 1 22 23 10 7 9 72 Nick Ross 5 9 6 8 7 5 40 Danny Devine         9 29 38 Owain Tudur-Jones 9 18 3 1 1 4 36 Gary Warren 2 5 6 6 17   36 Ross Draper   19 11 2   2 34 Andrew Shinnie   4 8   4 18 34 Josh Meekings 4 5 4 4   15 32 David Raven 10 7 4 4 1 4 30 Graeme Shinnie 2 6 10 3 3 1 25 Ryan Esson 4 2     1 3 10 Billy McKay 1   3 1 4   9 Philip Roberts   1         1 Shane Sutherland   1         1 Charlie Taylor 1           1  
Player of the Year Points ~ Current Standings : 2012/13 (Player of Month also highlighted in monthly column) Player AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY TOTAL Andrew Shinnie 11   10  5  6 6  3       41 Aaron Doran 3 1 6 9    1 16       36 Billy McKay 1   8 8   16 1         34 Richie Foran   21      10           31 Owain Tudur-Jones 3   3  2  12 5  6       31 Gary Warren 5 3 1 4  7     6       26 Ross Draper 11 6 3   1    4        25 David Raven       9 10   5        24 Josh Meekings   1 1     13  1       17 Ryan Esson 8 3          1       12 Antonio Ruguero     1 8 3            12 Danny Devine              8       8 Graeme Shinnie 3   3     1  1       8 Andre Blackman   5                 5 Conor Pepper   3                 3 Philip Roberts   3                 3 Nick Ross             3       3  
By hislopsoffsideagain in News 2012-13 ·

Dundee -V- Inverness CT - Report

Edging closer
 
Billy McKay rescued a point for Inverness with a late header to edge us closer to the top six finish that has eluded us for a few years now.  John Baird scored his fourth goal in the last eight matches to set the ball rolling as Dundee looked to claw back the points towards safety, but neither club could fashion out a winner and the draw was seen as a fair result overall.  Gary Warren came close with a header cleared off the line and Andy Shinnie smacked the bar but there was little hope of another four goals coming our way as we stutter towards the split.
A couple of early pitch inspections were required before this game got the go-ahead, and the reason for that became apparent as the game progressed, the pitch being very heavy and cutting up quickly.
Richie Foran started on the bench as did Nick Ross.  Graeme Shinnie was pushed further forward with Charlie Taylor at full back in his first start.  Dundee, buoyed by their win over St Mirren in midweek had left our Nemesis Colin Nish on the bench with former Raith Rovers striker John Baird the man on form up front.
Inverness started brightest and Shinnie and Doran set up McKay, but the cross was just too high for the wee man and his header went wide.
On form John Baird raised the Dundee expectations with an excellent twenty yard strike as he cracked the ball past Esson on the end of a slick four man move, Ryan Conroy being the final provider.
This goal perked Dundee up and Nicky Riley fired a shot narrowly over from twenty yards.
Centre back come goal scorer Gary Warren almost equalised but his header was desperately cleared off the line twice as the Dee's defence scrambled the ball to safety, ooooohhh.
Birmingham target (allegedly) Andy Shinnie was out of luck as he saw his dipping shot from distance beat Rab Douglas but cannon back off the crossbar, great effort from him though.
Inverness were having the better of the first half in every way apart from the scoreline and frustration was beginning to show on and off the park.  The visitors dugout felt the wrath of Terry as he Butchered the perspex cover after another move stuttered to a halt around the half hour, his displeasure available for all to see.    That was a warning for his own players that the half time chat was going to be colourful.
Baird almost scored his second of the day, but Esson blocked his point-blank effort although I'm not sure he knew much about it after Riley had swung in a strikers dream cross.  Dundee were dangerous on the counter seemingly able to cut open the Inverness defence at times, but it was the visitors who were creating and controlling most of the play without troubling Douglas, and this was riling Terry.
Half Time 1-0
Whatever Butcher said at half time, it never worked unless he asked them to let Dundee control the pace.  Riley was once more causing us problems with his pace and trickery and Doran was trying his best at the other end.
Billy McKay caused some panic in the Dundee defence but he was crowded out and the ball was eventually gouged clear by a mortified defence.
Esson had to be at his best to tip an Iain Davidson back head flick over the bar from a Conroy corner, and at the opposite end, Owain Tudur-Jones bobbled a ball towards Douglas but he might have got a fingertip to it and it went round the post.
However, the goal was coming and when Jones hit a ball long, Foran gathered it and fed Graeme Shinnie who flighted a ball to the far post where Billy McKay made ground to nod past a helpless Douglas.  Good build up, good goal.
Both sides tried to win the game in the last ten minutes but there was no further scoring and a point each was a fair result.
Full Time 1-1
This was never going to be the same outcome as the previous two fixtures this season.  Both sides will see this as a couple of points dropped rather than a point gained.  Probably the result that neither wanted, but for us it's a point closer to the top six finish, but we do seem to be doing this the hard way recently.  Good to see Billy McKay scoring again and he will be crucial in our run in to the split.
David Raven is leading the way in the MotM votes for this one, and Ross Draper gets some good reviews online for his endeavour.
 
 
9th Mar 2013 Scottish Premier League Dens Park, Dundee Dundee 1 - J Baird 13 TEAM: Douglas, Irvine, Toshney, Grassi, Easton, Riley, Davidson, McAlister, Conroy, Harkins, Finnigan (85), Baird SUBS: A Baird, Benedictus, Gallagher, McBride, Nish, Stewart
Booked: Easton, Davidson Sent Off: none Inverness C.T. 1 - McKay 83 TEAM: Esson, Raven, G Shinnie, Warren, Meekings,Jones, Doran, (Foran 72), Draper, McKay, A. Shinnie, Taylor, (Ross 58)
SUBS: Reguero, Polworth, Gibbons, Devine, Sutherland Booked: G Shinnie, Foran Sent Off: none Referee Craig Thomson Attendance 4114
By Scotty in Reports 2012-13 ·

Dundee -V- Inverness CT - Preview

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The scene is set for Mr Brown's Boys

 
 
 
 
Inverness take on Mr Brown's Boys on Saturday, three days after Bomber won his first game in charge of the Dee in his fourth game as interim manager. He has stopped the rot though, with four points in the last two games after Dundee had suffered four straight defeats and it would complete a decent enough week or so for the bottom club should they upset Inverness at the weekend.  

In midweek, a battling 2-1 win for Dundee against St Mirren after coming from behind showed great character from the relegation threatened club.  That was on the back of a determined draw against St Johnstone last midweek and a tremendous bounce back after the derby cup quarter final defeat to the Arabs at the weekend.  It was only their fourth win of the campaign which sees them fourteen points adrift of the Buddies, but it would take more than a miracle for Dundee to get out of this one methinks.

Inverness are boosted by news that more players are about to pen new deals on the back of Gary Warren extending his contract.  Good news for Inverness fans as the players follow the managers example by staying in the Highlands.  These players were revealed as striker Billy McKay and midfielder Ross Draper, with Owain Tudur-Jones another target.
 
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Great to have them on board for another season or two, but rumours abound that Andy Shinnie may be going South after the summer.  Great disappointment if so as Andy has quality in abundance and deserves a shot at another level of play and pay, I just wonder if Birmingham City are the best ones for that opportunity.  Best ask Rooney.........that's Adam, remember him? Currently on loan from Birmingham at Swindon Town.  Tread carefully Andy, but good luck whatever.

Inverness have put eight goals past Dundee already this season whilst conceding twice in the two games so far. Dundee's goal difference is 43 goals worse off than ours and that tells it's own story.  However, they have only lost eight more goals than us.  Scoring goals is where the massive difference is with Dundee only hitting the back of the net 18 times on SPL duty.  But, if you take into consideration that our goals have dried up recently then this game is not quite as one sided as league positions would have us believe.

We only have one win to boast about at Dens park, that being the 1-4 in October.  On that night in the city of Discovery, Billy McKay scored a double with Gary Warren and Andy Shinnie adding two more.  The inevitable goal from Colin Nish was Dee's reply but in the end they were well beaten, but not without a fight.  Judging by performances that night, Nicky Riley is worth keeping an eye on.  The tricky winger looks comfortable on the ball and is capable of scoring as well as providing for others..........like Nish or Baird.  
 
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***Latest Team News***

Inverness defender Chris Hogg played his first 45 minutes with the u20's last Sunday after his horrific knee injury last year.  Good to see the Hoggmeister getting back on the pitch.  Simon King is still out and Phillip Roberts is nursing an injury.  Aaron Doran was subbed last week after a knock but should make the squad and Graeme Shinnie's suspension for the joke booking last weekend does not kick in until the game against County next week.

Dundee have Stephen O'Donnell, Mark Kerr and Jamie McCluskey still out. Declan Gallagher returns after suspension, and striker Carl Finnigan should keep his place on the bench after recovering from injury. I believe this is the same Mr Finnigan that was involved in our relegation when he played for Falkirk........

tm4tj Prediction:- Banana skin alert!    This one has slippery surface written all over it as John Brown stamps his robust style on the Dundee team, despite objections from large numbers of their support.  Yes we have scored eight times, but momentum has changed, and our goals are not so easy to come by recently although our defence has been solid. Neither the Arab's or the Gudgies were able to penetrate our Ryan.  That tempts me to hope for a win, but a draw might be the unwanted result in the push for European football.  First the Highlands, now Europe............who would have thought it?
 
:ictscarf:
By tm4tj in Previews 2012-13 ·

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