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Inverness CT -V- Morton - Preview

Championship Resumes
 
After the international break it's back to the Championship on Saturday as Morton come to the Caledonian Stadium looking to lift themselves up the table and clear of the bottom places. The game kicks-off at 3:00pm with Inverness hoping to put the defeat to Hamilton behind them.
 
Head 2 Head v Morton
Venue Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 16 11 3 2 43 15 +28 Away 14 8 2 4 27 17 +10 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 30 19 5 6 70 32 +38 First Competitive Meeting Sep 4th, 1999 League (H) 1 - 1 Most Recent Competitive Meeting Apr 6th, 2021 League (Championship) (A) 4 - 1 Last 10 Competitive Meetings
4 - 1
(A)
0 - 1
(H)
2 - 2
(A)
3 - 2
(H)
1 - 2
(A)
3 - 1
(H)
5 - 0
(H)
2 - 2
(A)
1 - 0
(H)
2 - 1
(A) Biggest Victories Aug 30th, 2019 League (H) 5 - 0 Heaviest Defeats Nov 12th, 1999 League (A) 1 - 5 Highest Attendance Oct 31st, 2009 League (H) 3,021 Highest Home Attendance Oct 31st, 2009 League (H) 3,021 Here's the table ahead of tonight's TV game between Hamilton and Partick Thistle where the Jags routed Accies 1-6.
Other fixtures tomorrow
Ayr United v Queen of the South
Dunfermline v Kilmarnock
Raith Rovers v Arbroath
    Pld W D L F A +/- Pts 1. Inverness CT 8 6 1 1 10 4 6 19 2. Kilmarnock 8 5 1 2 9 4 5 16 3. Arbroath 8 4 3 1 16 6 10 15 4. Raith Rovers 8 4 2 2 14 10 4 14 5. Partick Thistle 8 4 0 4 17 13 4 12 6. Queen of the South 8 3 0 5 9 12 -3 9 7. Ayr United 8 2 2 4 7 12 -5 8 8. Hamilton Academical 8 2 2 4 8 15 -7 8 9. Morton 8 1 3 4 7 12 -5 6 10. Dunfermline 8 0 4 4 4 13 -9 4 There's a big swing towards Inverness in these fixtures. Only two defeats at home versus Morton out of sixteen encounters. One of those was as recent as last season though, when we went down to the only goal of the game at the Caledonian Stadium. Aiden Nesbitt was the scorer of the goal and that result put Inverness second bottom of the table in March.
Our last game was a rousing 4-2 Challenge Cup win at Borough Briggs where a Billy Mckay hat-trick saw us overcome a two goal deficit to go into the next round where we will play Raith Rovers at the Caledonian Stadium at the end of November. Lewis Jamieson scored the fourth goal to round off the comeback.
Arbroath scored a late goal to deny Morton all three points a couple of weeks ago in a Championship encounter. That would have been a decent result against team of the month Arbroath. Gary Oliver and Cameron Blues scored the goals for the Ton. However Michael McKenna's 87th minute penalty earned the Smokies a point. Last time out Morton edged past Montrose in the Challenge Cup on penalties (4-2) after a goalless draw.
Latest Team News
According to the Official Preview we still have a number of players carrying knocks. Probably David Carson and with Danny Devine and Cammy Harper being subbed early at Elgin last week then they might require resting for a bit longer, but Billy Dodds likes to keep his injury situation close to his chest so we will have to wait until just after 2:00pm tomorrow to find out
Here's Roddy

By tm4tj in Previews 2021-22 ·

Elgin City 2-4 Inverness CT - Ch/Cup

He scores when he wants
 
Elgin City raced into an early two goal lead through a Tom Grivosti header and a great finish from Brian Cameron as City hit on the counter when Connor O'Keefe did well down the right before Cameron hammered a tremendous shot high into the net from just inside the box. Just when it looked like Elgin were cruising, Billy Mckay took matters into his own hands when he fired home from sixteen yards and then grabbed a second two minutes later as pressure mounted on the home goal.
Half Time: 2-2
After an even opening to the second half, Billy Mckay got his hat-trick before a great through ball from McAlear put Lewis Jamieson through to dink his shot behind McHale for the fourth Inverness goal as Elgin heads went down. With the wind now out of the Elgin sails, Inverness saw out the game comfortably to progress into the next round to face Raith Rovers.
Full Time: 2-4
A good workout for the guys and great to see MotM Billy Mckay amongst the goals, that's five in the two ties so far. Elgin gave the visitors plenty of problems in the first half hour before the Billy Mckay show started. A tidy finish from Lewis Jamieson as well when he tucked the ball round the keeper, the spin just enough to take the ball inside the post to round off the scoring in an entertaining game. Cammy Mackay made a great stop from a powerful drive in the second half as Elgin threatened momentarily, but Inverness eventually wore down the League two side.
 
 
 
 
 
The Goals

 
Here's Bazza

Date: 09/09/2021  Venue: Borough Briggs Attendance: 1348 Referee: Barry Cook 
 
Elgin City: 2
Manager: Gavin Price Lineup:  McHale; Spark, McHardy, MacPhee (Peters 85), Grivosti, MacEwan (Allen 76), Mailer, T Dingwall, R Dingwall, O'Keefe (Machado 58), Cameron  Subs (not used):  Cooney, Wilson, Lawrence, Sopel, Little. Scorers: Grivosti (9), Cameron (22) Booked: MacEwan (28), Grivosti (64), Mailer (69), R Dngwall (71) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 4
Manager: Barry Wilson  Lineup:  C Mackay; Duffy, Devine (Doran 76), Deas, Harper (Allardice 50), McAlear, Welsh, MacGregor, Sutherland (Duku 76) Jamieson, Mckay Subs (not used): Ridgers;  Scorers: B Mckay (38, 40, 68), Jamieson (72) Booked: McAlear (63) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2021-22 ·

Elgin City -V- Inverness CT- Ch/Cup

Olde rivalry renewed
 
Its not often we get the opportunity to renew acquaintances with one of our, (especially Caley), main adversaries in ye olde Highland League, but this Saturday we will travel to Borough Briggs for a Challenge Cup tie against Elgin City. This season it's called the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Don't forget this game is an early kick off at 2:00pm.
In the previous round, we disposed of Buckie Thistle with an ultimately comfortable 4-0 scoreline. It was not as clear cut as the score suggests, but we eased to the win with two late goals from Billy Mckay. Lewis Jamieson had us in front before the break but not before Buckie had rattled the woodwork and Cammy Mackay had made a great save to keep the high scoring Highland League side at bay. Cammy Harper put us two ahead before the late cameo from Billy.
Elgin got here having beaten Hibs young team 1-2 and were the given a bye when Dunfermline were below par as covid put paid to their Challenge and they conceded the tie.
 
 
OFFICIAL PREVIEW
PPV STREAMING
MATCH TICKETS
MATCH INFO
Match Info from Elgin City
 
We have only played Elgin twice in big boy matches
 2017  Jan 21st Scottish Cup (Rd 4) 2 - 1  (A)    3,624      2011  Jan 8th Scottish Cup (Rd 4) 2 - 0  (H)    2,808       Although we have played them in pre-season games and NoS Cup games.
 2020  Oct 3rd Friendly (Pre-season) 1 - 1  (H)    -      Sep 24th Friendly (Pre-season) 7 - 3  (A)    -      2017  Jul 8th Friendly 0 - 2  (A)    -      2016  Jul 12th Friendly 3 - 0  (A)    -      2014  Jul 12th Friendly 2 - 1  (A)    -      2013  Jul 13th Friendly 2 - 0  (A)    559      2012  Jul 14th Friendly 1 - 0  (A)    -      2011  Jul 2nd Friendly 3 - 0  (A)    -      2010  Jul 21st Friendly 6 - 0  (A)    -      2009  Jul 14th Friendly 3 - 1  (A)    -      2007  Jul 17th Friendly 3 - 0  (A)    -      2006  Jul 12th Friendly 2 - 0  (A)    530      2004  Jul 27th Friendly 5 - 0  (A)    -      Apr 25th North Cup (Final) 0 - 1  (N)    400      2002  Jul 27th Friendly 1 - 0  (H)    332      2001  Jul 31st Friendly 4 - 0  (A)    300      1998  Apr 25th North Cup (Final) 1 - 3  (H)    -      
Bazza ahead of the game against Elgin City

Latest Team News
Elgin went down 0-2 to Stirling Albion in League 2, and that was after an excellent away win at Stenhousemuir the previous week, McHardy and Dingwall scoring in each half.Last time out we suffered our first defeat in the Championship as a rather tepid display against ten man Accies saw us lose 2-1 @ NDP. Great strikes by Smith and Ryan had Accies in control and a backs to the wall determined effort saw them hold out until the 92nd minute when Michael Gardyne scored a superb curling effort from just inside the left edge of the box. Too little too late though and our shot shy performance got what it deserved. 
Billy Dodds kept his injuries quiet prior to the defeat at Hamilton where David Carson, Danny Devine and Aaron Doran all missed out. Shane Sutherland was back in action last week after injury and will no doubt be looking for a start against his former team. Expect Reece McAlear to start in this one and it's a good opportunity for Billy Mckay and Lewis Jamieson to impress with Cammy Mackay getting a chance to shine between the sticks. Barry Wilson was the main man for the previous round and he will be in charge of this one against the club he previously managed.
Elgin's Gavin Price has former Inverness youth and exciting young prospect Matheus Machado in his squad. Tom Grivosti on loan from County as well. Kane Hester has been out recently having pulled his hamstring in training last week and missed City’s 1-1 draw at League Two leaders Kelty Hearts. It is a medial hamstring strain requiring a minimum of three weeks rest, with a worst case scenario of six weeks out. He will be a big miss for City having netted seven goals this season with 48 goals for the Black and Whites in just 82 starts.
Elgin last time out: McHale, Spark, Grivosti, McHardy, McPhee, MacEwan (Allan 90′), Mailer (Wilson 46′), Cameron, T.Dingwall, R.Dingwall (Sopel 85′), O’Keefe (Machado 73′)
 
 
By tm4tj in Previews 2021-22 ·

Elgin City -V- Inverness CT- Ch/Cup

Olde rivalry renewed
 
Its not often we get the opportunity to renew acquaintances with one of our, (especially Caley), main adversaries in ye olde Highland League, but this Saturday we will travel to Borough Briggs for a Challenge Cup tie against Elgin City. This season it's called the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Don't forget this game is an early kick off at 2:00pm.
In the previous round, we disposed of Buckie Thistle with an ultimately comfortable 4-0 scoreline. It was not as clear cut as the score suggests, but we eased to the win with two late goals from Billy Mckay. Lewis Jamieson had us in front before the break but not before Buckie had rattled the woodwork and Cammy Mackay had made a great save to keep the high scoring Highland League side at bay. Cammy Harper put us two ahead before the late cameo from Billy.
Elgin got here having beaten Hibs young team 1-2 and were the given a bye when Dunfermline were below par as covid put paid to their Challenge and they conceded the tie.
 
 
OFFICIAL PREVIEW
PPV STREAMING
MATCH TICKETS
MATCH INFO
Match Info from Elgin City
 
We have only played Elgin twice in big boy matches
 2017  Jan 21st Scottish Cup (Rd 4) 2 - 1  (A)    3,624      2011  Jan 8th Scottish Cup (Rd 4) 2 - 0  (H)    2,808       Although we have played them in pre-season games and NoS Cup games.
 2020  Oct 3rd Friendly (Pre-season) 1 - 1  (H)    -      Sep 24th Friendly (Pre-season) 7 - 3  (A)    -      2017  Jul 8th Friendly 0 - 2  (A)    -      2016  Jul 12th Friendly 3 - 0  (A)    -      2014  Jul 12th Friendly 2 - 1  (A)    -      2013  Jul 13th Friendly 2 - 0  (A)    559      2012  Jul 14th Friendly 1 - 0  (A)    -      2011  Jul 2nd Friendly 3 - 0  (A)    -      2010  Jul 21st Friendly 6 - 0  (A)    -      2009  Jul 14th Friendly 3 - 1  (A)    -      2007  Jul 17th Friendly 3 - 0  (A)    -      2006  Jul 12th Friendly 2 - 0  (A)    530      2004  Jul 27th Friendly 5 - 0  (A)    -      Apr 25th North Cup (Final) 0 - 1  (N)    400      2002  Jul 27th Friendly 1 - 0  (H)    332      2001  Jul 31st Friendly 4 - 0  (A)    300      1998  Apr 25th North Cup (Final) 1 - 3  (H)    -      
Bazza ahead of the game against Elgin City

Latest Team News
Elgin went down 0-2 to Stirling Albion in League 2, and that was after an excellent away win at Stenhousemuir the previous week, McHardy and Dingwall scoring in each half.Last time out we suffered our first defeat in the Championship as a rather tepid display against ten man Accies saw us lose 2-1 @ NDP. Great strikes by Smith and Ryan had Accies in control and a backs to the wall determined effort saw them hold out until the 92nd minute when Michael Gardyne scored a superb curling effort from just inside the left edge of the box. Too little too late though and our shot shy performance got what it deserved. 
Billy Dodds kept his injuries quiet prior to the defeat at Hamilton where David Carson, Danny Devine and Aaron Doran all missed out. Shane Sutherland was back in action last week after injury and will no doubt be looking for a start against his former team. Expect Reece McAlear to start in this one and it's a good opportunity for Billy Mckay and Lewis Jamieson to impress with Cammy Mackay getting a chance to shine between the sticks. Barry Wilson was the main man for the previous round and he will be in charge of this one against the club he previously managed.
Elgin's Gavin Price has former Inverness youth and exciting young prospect Matheus Machado in his squad. Tom Grivosti on loan from County as well. Kane Hester has been out recently having pulled his hamstring in training last week and missed City’s 1-1 draw at League Two leaders Kelty Hearts. It is a medial hamstring strain requiring a minimum of three weeks rest, with a worst case scenario of six weeks out. He will be a big miss for City having netted seven goals this season with 48 goals for the Black and Whites in just 82 starts.
Elgin last time out: McHale, Spark, Grivosti, McHardy, McPhee, MacEwan (Allan 90′), Mailer (Wilson 46′), Cameron, T.Dingwall, R.Dingwall (Sopel 85′), O’Keefe (Machado 73′)
 
 
By tm4tj in Previews 2021-22 ·

Hamilton 2-1 Inverness CT - Report

Academicals teach us a lesson
 
Accies did inflict the first reverse for Inverness, as the Caley Jags drowned at the fountain of youth, and they did it with ten men for over an hour after Reegan Mimnaugh was sent off for a second bookable offence. They opened the scoring when Lewis Smith thumped the ball into the net after only five minutes. Andy Ryan added a second as Inverness crumbled and failed to trouble the home keeper. 2-0 at the break and Inverness bossed possession after the interval but never made Fulton work for his money. Harper hit the bar as the pressure mounted and Michael Gardyne scored a late consolation in injury time, but it was too little too late. With Raith beating Killie and Arbroath drawing, no major damage was done with Raith and Partick the big winners this weekend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With only one win this season, Accies were looking to topple leaders Caley Thistle at the Fountain of Youth and get their season started. Inverness were hoping to keep their great start to the season going and stay ahead of Kilmarnock and Arbroath after a battling win over Queen of the South last weekend.
Billy Dodds kept his injuries close to his chest with Aaron Doran and David Carson ruled out and Wallace Duffy and Cameron Harper filling the full back berths. Danny Devine was also absent and we were down to only six on the bench with no defensive cover. Stuart Taylor had David Moyo returning on the bench after injury.
Accies took an early lead through a thumping 12 yard shot from Lewis Smith with Mark Ridgers unable to react as the ball flashed past him.
Lewis smith smashes the ball home
They doubled their lead when Andy Ryan drilled a ball from the edge of the box past the outstretched arms of the keeper.
Inverness were thrown a lifeline when Mimnaugh was red carded for a second booking with half an hour gone. It was all we had to grasp onto after an utterly abysmal first half where we created nothing.
Half Time: 2-0
Billy McKay replaced the inept Manny Duku at the break, in truth, more than Duku was struggling to perform. 
As the second half progressed, it was apparent that Inverness were clueless and hapless when it came to creating chances, and with only fifteen minutes left this game was slipping away without troubling Fulton in the Accies goal.
Cammy Harper smacked the crossbar from twelve yards in our best opportunity as we dominated possession, but Accies had the most important statistic, a two goal lead.
Plenty of action in the final third, but little action in the penalty box, what there was ended up being wasted as our shot shy forwards fired blanks.
That was until this happened...

Michael Gardyne scored a beauty of a curler after the ninety minutes but would it be too little too late as Inverness laid siege to the home goal. Alas, it was too little too late and Accies got the three points and Inverness got what they deserved, zilch.
Gardyne was our most likely player with a decent cameo from MacGregor, but after that it was difficult to pick out anyone who shone above mediocrity.
 
From CTO RIG:  Deserved win for Accies. We were rotten for too much of that game to deserve anything. Nice finishes for both of their goals but really poor defending from our point of view.
After the sending off it was almost all ICT but we created pretty much nothing of note. Half hearted penalty appeals in the second half and a wonderful strike from Gardyne, easily our best player, were all we had to show for our possession.
Accies defended well and easily coped with our timid attempts to get back into the game. We had to lose sometime but I am very disappointed at how poor we were today. 
More match reaction from BBC Sport
Inverness manager Billy Dodds: "We gave away really poor goals. We had a few chances, but we didn't do enough, we didn't bombard them. "When you see the results at full-time, it's disappointing. There was an opportunity that's spurned."
Hamilton boss Stuart Taylor: "I'm really happy with the performance. It was tough going over an hour down to ten men, but I thought we defended extremely well." "I'm disappointed for them to lose the goal in the last couple of minutes, but I'm also delighted for them."
Dodds trying to understand it all

 
 
    Pld W D L F A +/- Pts 1. Inverness CT 8 6 1 1 10 4 6 19 2. Kilmarnock 8 5 1 2 9 4 5 16 3. Arbroath 8 4 3 1 16 6 10 15 4. Raith Rovers 8 4 2 2 14 10 4 14 5. Partick Thistle 8 4 0 4 17 13 4 12 6. Queen of the South 8 3 0 5 9 12 -3 9 7. Ayr United 8 2 2 4 7 12 -5 8 8. Hamilton Academical 8 2 2 4 8 15 -7 8 9. Morton 8 1 3 4 7 12 -5 6 10. Dunfermline 8 0 4 4 4 13 -9 4 Date: 02/10/21  Venue: New Douglas Park, Hamilton Attendance: 1088 Referee: Euan Anderson
 
Hamilton Accies: 2
Manager: Stuart Taylor Lineup:  Fulton; Virtanen, Popescu, Macdonald, Ryan (Moyo 76) Smith, Want (Easton 80), Mullin, Mimnaugh, Matheson, Redfern (Hughes 69) Subs (not used):  Hilton; Hamilton, Munro, McGowan Scorers: Smith (5), Ryan (26) Booked: Mimnaugh (7, 30), Redfern (20), Want (45+6), Fulton (79), Hughes (82), Sent Off: Mimnaugh (30) Inverness CT: 1
Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup:  Ridgers, Duffy (McDonald 66), Broadfoot, Deas, Harper, Gardyne, Welsh, Allardice, Walsh (Sutherland 30), MacGregor, Duku (Mckay 45) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Jamieson, McAlear Scorers: Gardyne (90+2) Booked: Duku (21) Welsh (32) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2021-22 ·

Hamilton -V- Inverness CT - Preview

No Rice
 
We would have locked horns with one of our olde gaffers sidekicks this weekend as Inverness travel to the Fountain of Youth Stadium (NDP) in South Lanarkshire. Brian Rice was the man who took Accies down, and not before time if you ask me as they have been flirting with relegation for years, but he resigned in August. Former player and assistant manager Stuart Taylor is the man tasked with reshaping the Accies. Good luck with that. This one kicks off at 3:00pm on Saturday with Inverness looking to continue their tremendous start to the season and Accies looking to kick start theirs as they sit second bottom with only one win and two draws to their name so far.
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Ticket & Match info
Elgin City Ticket & Match Info
Supporters Bus
TV GAMES
 

 
Venue Head 2 Head Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 13 4 4 5 20 17 +3 Away 9 6 1 2 15 10 +5 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 22 10 5 7 35 27 +8 First Competitive Meeting Jan 25th, 1997 Scottish Cup (Rd 3) (H) 1 - 3 Most Recent Competitive Meeting May 6th, 2017 League (H) 2 - 1 Last 10 Competitive Meetings
2 - 1
(H)
0 - 3
(A)
1 - 1
(H)
1 - 1
(A)
1 - 0
(A)
0 - 1
(H)
4 - 3
(A)
0 - 2
(H)
2 - 0
(A)
4 - 2
(H) Biggest Victories Feb 22nd, 2003 Scottish Cup (4th Round) (H) 6 - 2 Heaviest Defeats Jan 31st, 2017 League (A) 0 - 3 Highest Attendance Jan 24th, 2015 League (A) 5,089 Highest Home Attendance Aug 28th, 2010 League (H) 3,851 Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts   1. Inverness CT 7 6 1 0 9 2 19 2. Kilmarnock 7 5 1 1 8 1 16 3. Arbroath 7 4 2 1 14 4 14 4. Raith Rovers 7 3 2 2 11 9 11 5. Partick Thistle 7 3 0 4 13 13 9 6. Ayr United 7 2 2 3 7 8 8 7. Q.O.S. 7 2 0 5 8 12 6 8. Morton 7 1 2 4 5 10 5 9. Hamilton Ac. 7 1 2 4 6 14 5 10. Dunfermline 7 0 4 3 4 12 4 Other fixtures this weekend, all 3:00pm on Saturday. 
Kilmarnock v Raith - Chance for Raith to get in the mix.
Morton v Arbroath - Can the Smokies keep the run going.
Partick Thistle v Ayr Utd - Can Ayr leapfrog Partick into 5th.
Queens v Pars - Also rans, time for Pars to get the finger out.
Surprisingly, Accies have a better record than us at the Caledonian Stadium overall, but we have been more productive in the away fixture with six wins and a draw out of the nine fixtures. It's four years since our last meeting when we won 2 - 1 at the Caledonian Stadium in what was a difficult season for Inverness culminating in relegation. Brad Mckay and Greg Tansey scored for Inverness whilst Danny Redmond notched a late consolation for the visitors. However, three weeks later we were relegated 
From the Archives: Rare win for Inverness gives hope: Inverness threw themselves a slender lifeline with a deserved 2-1 win over Hamilton Accies in the relegation scrap at the foot of the table. It was only our second win in twenty-four games and our fourth of the season. This win closes the gap to Accies and Well to four points with only three games left. We should have been out of site by half time and Accies could have had no complaints had we been four or five up at the break. As it was, an early goal from defender Brad Mckay and a penalty by Greg Tansey was all we had to show from numerous attempts. Accies left a bitter sweet taste in the mouth as they notched a goal through Redmond with the last kick of the game as we got ourselves in a fankle. Pity about that but it was a welcome three points that gives us a glimmer of hope and keeps our premiership status alive for another week at least.
Inverness dug deep last weekend to overcome a stubborn but mainly toothless Queen of the South 2-1 with goals from Sean Welsh and Michael Gardyne. Lee Connelly scored a stunner for Queens out of nothing. That victory put Inverness back on top of the table after Killie and Arbroath played out a scoreless draw on the Friday night. 
Raith Rovers and Dunfermline played out a 1-1 draw in the rescheduled Fife derby on Wednesday night to bring the table up to matchday eight for everyone. Raith are up to fourth in the table with the Pars still bottom.
Here's the three goals; all superb strikes...

Accies only success this campaign was a 1-2 win over Queen of the South on matchday four. Their opening fixture against Raith Rovers offered much promise as they came from four nil down to snatch a dramatic 4-4 draw after scoring four goals in the final twenty-two minutes. Their last game was a 0-0 draw with Dunfermline at EEP, similar to us. Arbroath put four past them without reply three weeks ago. They have failed to score in their last three Championship matches. All this means that at the moment, like Dunfermline, they find themselves at the wrong end of the table.
Latest Team News
Billy Dodds will have more choice this Saturday as Aaron Doran and Shane Sutherland remained on the bench last week after recovering from injuries picked up at Dunfermline.
Stuart Taylor has had a few knocks to contend with over the last couple of weeks. Lewis Spence is out with a knee injury that Taylor hopes is not requiring surgery. Shaun Want,  Luke Matheson, Kieran MacDonald and Andy Ryan were all noticeably struggling and could be doubts for this weekend. Accies have secured Hearts defender Mihai Popescu on loan for the entire season. Striker David Moyo could return this weekend. Miko Virtanen is optimistic insisting "Accies are ready to inflict a first defeat on Inverness". He has based this on the number of opportunities Accies have created against Ayr United and Dunfermline and claims of being unlucky.
Dodds looking forward to the Accies challenge

Aaron Doran: 300 not out
By tm4tj in Previews 2021-22 ·

Inverness CT 2-1 Queen of the South - Report

Gardyne volleys us to the top
 
Goals from Sean Welsh and Michael Gardyne were just enough to put Inverness back to the top of the table despite a worldy goal from Lee Connelly for the visitors. Inverness deserved the win but made hard work of it before Gardyne scored a superb volley to win the points and ease the fans nerves. 
Billy Dodds had Michael Gardyne back from injury but Doran and Sutherland were on the bench after knocks last week. Sean Welsh was in the starting XI as Inverness looked to get back above Kilmarnock after they drew with Arbroath on Friday night.
Queen of the South came North on the back of some indifferent form which showed they were better suited to playing away from home. No Dobbie as the prolific striker had left Palmerston after a glittering career. Much travelled former Ross County and Inverness player Alex Cooper was on the bench for the Doonhamers.
Mark Ridgers was the first keeper in action as he smothered a weak shot from Lee Connelly with just sixty seconds gone; Connelly would do better later in the game..
Inverness responded with a Scott Allardice drive that fizzed a couple of feet wide in the fifth minute, although the keeper looked to have his post covered.
Allardice's next involvement was a booking after a rash tackle out wide as Inverness made heavy weather of making any progress. However, Duku turned his marker and was brought down on the edge of the penalty box arc as David Carson fed the ball to him. Sean Welsh stepped forward and curled a sublime low free kick into the bottom corner from around twenty-five yards, the ball coming off the surface at pace.
Tom Walsh almost got on the end of a Gardyne cross after a quick free kick, the ball just out of reach. Minutes later another Gardyne cross found Manny Duku but his header was glanced wide. Duku was causing problems for the defence with his awkward style and direct running, almost finding Walsh after another cut back into the box. Yet another Gardyne cross not connected with Duku's head as the striker passes up on another opportunity. 
Ten minutes to the break and the hosts are well in control although Queens are not completely out of it so far with only one goal separating the sides as another Gardyne cross evades two forwards in the box.
After Gardyne was fouled wide left, a Walsh free kick was headed goalwards but it lacked sufficient power to trouble the keeper as the interval loomed.
Half Time: 1-0
The visitors managed to make some progress early in the second half and Mark Ridgers pulled off a superb save and he was not to know it was adjudged offside.
Substitute Reece McAlear stung the palms of the keeper as Inverness came back into the game.
Broadfoot dollied a header into the keeper and when Johnston broke on the right side for Queens, he got the break of the ball but dragged his shot just wide across the keeper. 
Billy McKay replaced the hapless Duku around the hour as Inverness looked for the cushion.
Clear chances were difficult to come by as the hosts won a couple of corners to no avail, but from the return ball, Walsh's cross bounced back off the corner of the bar.
Out of nothing the visitors scored a superb goal through Connelly with a curling shot from the corner of the box high into the net across the keeper. Great strike!
Lewis Jamieson replaced Allardice as Dodds decided a second goal was needed.
It almost came at the other end as a cleared ball ricocheted off a defender and Ridgers had to look sharp to save.
Just when Queens looked the more likely to score, Michael Gardyne volleyed in a beauty after a long through ball from Robbie Deas bounced up nicely for him to chest then volley home with power.
Inverness pressed for a third goal and Carson and Gardyne were blocked in the six yard box as the clock ticked towards the ninety.
With the hosts in command the referee ended the game to send Inverness back to the top of the table after a deserved win over a gritty Queens.
Good performances all over the park with Michael Gardyne the pick of the bunch and honourable mentions for Sean Welsh, Danny Devine and David Carson.
 
 
From BBC Sport
Billy Dodds: "We had to work for it but I thought our attitude was fantastic. My experienced players came up trumps. Sean Welsh with a brilliant free kick and Michael Gardyne with a great finish."
Allan Johnston: "The least we should have come away with was a point with the way we played, especially in the second half so we are a little bit frustrated. We have to make sure we learn from that."
From CTO Robert: Pretty dominant first half without creating any clear cut chances, but deservedly ahead after a great free kick by Welsh. We failed to kick on after the break and it was no great surprise when the equaliser went in, as they had tested us a few times before it. It was a very good finish. That was the kick up the backside we needed and we got the winner through Gardyne from a long ball by Deas, with Jamieson playing his part by distracting the defence. However, we need to be more clinical and put teams away when we are on top, and stop making it hard for ourselves. Pick for me today was Gardyne, closely followed by Welsh.
From CTO RIG: 
Deserved win. We largely cigared that today save for a period in the second half when Queens got their equaliser and looked like they might steal a point but fortunately we were able to go up a gear and get a deserved winner.
Smashing performance from Gardyne. He might be 58<<disclaimer alert>> but he's still as fit as anyone in our squad and still has plenty to offer. Pacey and direct and not afraid to have a crack at goal when some might take an extra touch too many (Duku). Lovely finish for the winner and a deserved MotM. Devine continues to be perhaps our most consistent performer. He almost score a comedy own goal but other than that he was excellent again and stepped out of defence on numerous occasions to intercept balls forward from Queens. Carson was again solid at RB and MacGregor, before his injury, was running the midfield. Walsh was disappointing though and I feel that he's not really hit the height he did in his previous stint with us.
Connelly looked useful for Queens who did press and harry us a lot in the first half but seemed to cease after conceding a goal and seemed content to let us knock the ball about looking for an opening. Unfortunately a fair bit of our play broke down in the final third (we definitely lacked a killer pass at times) but I felt we dealt with their few attacking opportunities quite well. Their equaliser was absolutely stunning but fortunately we just upped our game a bit and took a deserved win.
All in all, a very pleasing day.
Doddsy

 
Here's the goals, three crackers...

 
Date: 25/09/2021  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 1184 Referee: Alan Newlands 
 
Inverness CT: 2
Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, Broadfoot, Devine, Deas, Walsh, Welsh, Allardice (Jamieson 76), MacGregor (McAlear 54), Gardyne, Duku (Mckay 63) Subs (not used):  Mackay; Harper, Sutherland, Doran Scorers: Welsh (12), Gardyne (81) Booked: Allardice (9) Sent Off: none Queen of the South: 1
Manager: Allan Johnston Lineup:  Brynn; Gibson, Mckay, Connelly, Debayo, Liddle (Junior 67), McGrory (Fitzpatrick 73) East, Joseph, Nditi, Johnston (Paton 87), Subs (not used): Cowie; Cooper, Chima, Henderson, Scorers: Connelly (74) Booked: Nditi (85) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2021-22 ·

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