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Queen of the South 1-1 Inverness CT - Report

Tight as a ducks erse
 
This crucial game ended in stalemate as did the entire Championship fixture list. In a tight first half both keepers had saves to make with Ridgers probably the busier. Queens opened the scoring on the hour when the defence allowed Fitzpatrick to run forty yards unchallenged to fire high past Ridgers. Toddy levelled minutes later from a Storey cross, heading down into the bottom corner for his tenth goal this season. No further scoring with Inverness finishing the game on top but unable to get the winner.
Inverness went down to Dumfries for their sixth away game out of the last seven, and more importantly on a winning run of six on the bounce, including two Scottish Cup games. This late run has put Inverness in contention for a top four finish, but one defeat could change all that as we hang on to our ambitions with only four games left.
Neil McCann was without the services of Sean Welsh and James Keatings with Brad Mckay as captain and Roddy MacGregor starting. Queen of the South made two changes from the game against Hibs. In come East and Jones with Dobbie and Joseph dropping to the bench and they will go with a front three of Connor Shields, Isaiah Jones and Dapo Mebude.
Less than four minutes gone and both keepers were called into action with Ferguson saving from Allan and Ridgers likewise from Shields.
It had been a bright opening by both sides with Inverness doing most of the pressing.
Ridgers kept the scoresheet blank with a tremendous save after a long free kick found Breen ghosting in behind the defenders. The big keeper dived full length to turn the header behind for a corner which he gathered well to ease the pressure. He had to make another superb save just after the half hour when Shields broke into the box.
In an increasingly rare foray forward a deep cross by Mackay saw Ferguson gather the header which was too straight at him.
Indiana Jones took a sore one when Allardice challenged for the ball and it cannoned off his neck/face.
Ferguson saved a free kick low to his right five minutes before the break and one minute before the forty-five a Todorov header was blocked en-route with big shouts for a penalty falling on deaf ears.
A promising free kick right on the interval was skied by Allardice and it remained goalless at the break.
Half Time: 0-0
Ridgers was back in action early in the half when he dived low to his left to save a shot on the cut back as he was left wrong footed but got to it at full stretch to make the save.
Dan Mackay curled an effort just over on the run and Scott Allan should have done better than shoot wide after substitute James Vincent set him up. Toddy headed a free kick towards goal but Ferguson picked it out of the air comfortably. 
The deadlock was broken when our defence parted like the Red Sea to allow Fitzpatrick to run through on an exposed keeper to slot home high into the net.
The lead lasted only a couple of minutes  before Todorov headed a cross to the far post from Storey low into the net under challenge.

Entering the final fifteen and Storey fired a left footer from distance but Ferguson was right behind it. Dan Mackay fizzed one just over with ten minutes left. A good run down the right saw a Storey cross dummied for Sutherland to strike from fifteen yards but it was too straight at the keeper again.
Chances were getting tight now and defences remained on top as the game drew to a close with Inverness on the offensive but no further goals.
Full Time: 1-1
An entertaining and open game could not separate the sides and with all other results ending all square we remain in fourth place, but you can't get a fag paper between the top six sides apart from Hearts who are now confirmed as Champions with Alloa all but relegated.
Still all to play for and next up for the Caley Jags in the Championship is Dundee at the Caledonian Stadium.
Great display from our defence with Mckay, Ridgers and Devine outstanding and hot Toddy still on a roll with his tenth of the season.

 
 
Date: 10/04/2021  Venue: Palmerston Park, Dumfries Attendance: 0000 Referee: Grant Irvine 
 
Queen of the South: 1
Manager: Allan Johnstone Lineup:  Ferguson; Gibson, Breen, Buchanan, Maxwell, Obileye, Dickson, McCabe, Mebude, Shields, Jones (Fitzpatrick 57)) Subs (not used):  Leighfield; McKee, Joseph, Pybus, East, Dobbie Scorers: Fitzpatrick (65) Booked: none Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1
Manager: Neil McCann (temporary) Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, B Mckay, Devine, Deas, D Mackay, Allardice, Allan (Sutherland 75), MacGregor (Vincent 58), Storey, Todorov (Harper 85) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Lyall, Duffy, McHattie  Scorers: Todorov (68) Booked: MacGregor (26), Deas (87), Storey (89) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2020-21 ·

Queen of the South -V- Inverness CT - Preview

Can we be King of Queens?
 
Down to the nitty gritty now and another crucial game ahead as we travel to Palmerston Park Dumfries for what is the start of the proverbial six-pointers with only four games left in the Championship. Queens on Saturday at 3:00pm, our sixth away game out of the last seven, then Dundee (H), Hearts (A), Ayr United (H). It's a difficult closing run to the season when you consider our immediate target, Dunfermline, close out the season against bottom teams Arbroath and Alloa. As the table stands, we are only three points ahead of Queens going in to this game and they still have a game in hand.
OFFICIAL PREVIEW
STREAMING INFO £10
We started the week in fine fettle as we clinically beat Morton 4-1 at Cappielow thanks to stunning goals from Allardice, Todorov (2) and Dan Mackay. The strikers must have taken a bottle of Hot Toddy's stunning goal linctus as every goal was sublime, maybe none better than Toddy's second goal when he chested the ball down and volleyed spectacularly past keeper McAdams. We toiled for a time on the poor surface at Cappielow before two quick goals approaching the break put us in control. Ton pulled one back as they rallied after the break but the wind was taken out of their sails with Toddy's spectacular intervention and Dan added the icing on the cake when he curled a beauty of his own into the top corner. Great goals and a good win at what is often a difficult place to get all three points at times. Neil McCann was full of praise for the side after that one, and rightly so. 
Enjoy these goals again, not often you get four crackers in the same game...

 
Here's the league table ahead of the Hearts v Alloa game on Friday night.
    Pld W D L F A +/- Pts 1. Hearts 23 14 5 4 50 24 26 47 2. Raith Rovers 22 10 6 6 39 27 12 36 3. Dundee 22 10 6 6 43 37 6 36 4. Inverness CT 23 8 9 6 32 24 8 33 5. Dunfermline 22 8 7 7 30 28 2 31 6. Queen of the South 22 9 3 10 36 44 -8 30 7. Ayr United 23 6 8 9 28 30 -2 26 8. Arbroath 23 6 7 10 19 28 -9 25 9. Morton 23 6 7 10 20 31 -11 25 10. Alloa Athletic 23 4 6 13 27 51 -24 18 Last 10 Competitive Meetings with Queen of the South - Queens last SIX League games since beating us 0-1-> W- W-W - L-L-W
0 - 1
(H)
3 - 0
(A)
3 - 1
(H)
2 - 0
(A)
2 - 0
(H)
2 - 0
(A)
1 - 2
(H)
3 - 3
(A)
0 - 0
(H)
2 - 0
(A) Dunfermline recently took a 5-1 hammering from Raith Rovers but bounced back to hold Hearts to a 0-0 draw which is the result that yoyo'ed them back above us momentarily. Such is the fixture chaos this season, it won't become clear until the final two games who is maybe going where.
Queen of the South went out of the cup on Monday night, going down 3-1 to an impressive Hibernian. James Maxwell scored what proved to be a late consolation goal for the Doonhamers.  Nortei Nortey scored the only goal in the Highlands but is likely to miss this game. Their form shows that since they beat us in Inverness they have won four and lost three including the cup game with Hibs. During that run they have had impressive wins over Dundee, Dunfermline Hearts and Arbroath, but suffered defeats to Alloa and Morton. It's a funny old game!
A repeat of the away game at Palmerston earlier in the season would be maybe stretching the bounds of possibility a tad, but a backs to the wall scrappy win will suffice. Points make prizes as they say and that's what we need to do to keep in the hunt for a top four finish. Who knew we would be in this position after a season destroyed by injuries, weather and viruses?
***Latest Team News***
Duffy, Doran, Keatings and Welsh missed out at Morton, Welsh being replaced after the warm up but he could be available for this crucial game. Sadly, McDonald's season is probably a right-off. Nikolay Todorov scored his ninth goal of the season, and what a goal it was. Toddy is on a roll just now and young Dan Mackay notched his seventh. Good return from these guys of late after a slow start to the season.

Allan Johnstone had this team out against Hibs in the Scottish Cup: 
Ferguson, Gibson, Buchanan, Breen, Maxwell, Obileye, McCabe, Dickson, Joseph (Jones 56′), Dobbie (McKee 76′), Shields (Mebude 76′)
As always, Stephen Dobbie is a big threat and Connor Shields is the man on form with plenty pace and power, and like Toddy, nine goals in the bank as well. Nortei Nortey looks likely to miss out but Dan Pybus could return and Isaiah Jones played for half an hour in the cup game on his return from injury.
By tm4tj in Previews 2020-21 ·

Morton 1-4 Inverness CT - Report

HOT TODDY SCORES A PEACH
 
This crucial week kicked off at Cappielow and despite the condition of the pitch Inverness managed to score twice in the first half. We benefitted from what looked like an infringement for a pass back seven minutes before the break. Scott Allardice lashed the ball high into the net after much confusion and two minutes later Nikolay Todorov turned in the box to lash the ball into the net after some defensive bloopers. Two up at the break but the next goal could be important and it was Muirhead that gave Morton some hope. However Todorov superbly volleyed home after chesting down the ball to restore our two goal cushion and Danny Mackay scored a tremendous fourth with a curling shot from the edge of the box. Back up to fourth for Inverness with Dundee also winning at Ayr.
After the Scottish Cup heroics at Dingwall we went to Cappielow on a more serious mission, to capture three points in our bid for a play-off slot. Morton find themselves in desperate need of points at the other end of the table and something was going to give. Three league defeats on the trot for Morton, three league wins on the trot for Inverness, but Morton were the last side to beat Inverness.
Gus MacPherson made four changes from the side that put East Fife out of the cup. In come Luca Colville, Steven McGinn, Gary Oliver and Robbie Muirhead. For Neil McCann, Wallace Duffy and James Keatings disappear without trace as he goes with the same line-up that put County out of the cup.
Morton kicked off on a dry but chilly night in Greenock with Inverness playing in their pink away strip with a change before a ball was kicked as Roddy MacGregor replaced Sean Welsh in the starting XI.
It was a scrappy opening to the game on a pitch that has seen better days after a testing winter.
First opportunity to make a keeper work fell to Todorov from a Scott Allan free kick but it was headed well wide. Ridgers made a comfortable save fifteen minutes in but the pitch was making passing difficult. He made another save a couple of minutes later from a close range header pushing it out for a corner as Morton threatened.
However, it was brutal stuff akin to a welfare league match at the Bught Park. Claims for a penalty were dismissed as an Inverness player went down in the box as the ball bobbled around.
Storey ballooned a bouncing ball well over the bar from a decent position on the left side of the box as the surface dictated the pace of the game.
Friday's goal hero Danny Mackay was fed through on goal by Scott Allan but his initial shot was weak and McAdams blocked it; when the rebound came back to him he lifted it over the bar from close range. Great opportunity missed.
Morton then forced a couple of corners that came to nothing although Aidan Nesbitt was looking dangerous wide on the right.
Mystery moment in the Morton box soon after as referee Reid picked up the cleared ball and carried it thirty yards back into the hosts penalty box via the linesman. Rumour has it it may have been a pass-back spotted by the line judge. Unperturbed Scott Allan touched it to Scott Allardice and he ended up lashing the ball high into the net from eight yards. Two minutes later another Scott Allan free kick caused havoc in the Morton box and when the ball was headed back in by Daniel Mackay and Colville fresh aired it, Nikolay Todorov swivelled and opened up his body before hammering it into the net from around 15 yards, the keeper rooted to the spot.
Half Time: 0-2
The second half saw no changes and it was only two minutes in when Mark Ridgers had to make a crucial block when McGinty burst into the left side of the box. The resultant corner was perilously close to the goal line as well as Morton's urgency looked to get them a foothold in the game.
Morton were pressing the Inverness midfield better in this half and the visitors were living dangerously at times as they forced a number of corners.
It was little surprise when Morton pulled a goal back on the hour when Robbie Muirhead drilled a loose ball into the net from twelve yards, swiftly followed by two attacking substitutes with scorer Muirhead going off.
Shane Sutherland replaced Scott Allan with twenty minutes left as we became increasingly desperate as our composure deserted us momentarily.
He made an immediate impact after collecting the ball on the right before fighting a great ball into the box. Todorov scored a goal of the season contender as he chested the ball down from high and volleyed it into the net on the turn from fifteen yards before the ball hit the deck, the ball flashing high past the astounded keeper. What a fekkin strike from a hot Toddy!
Danny Mackay got in on the act as he picked up another great ball from Sutherland before curling a beauty into the top of the net from the edge of the box. Another beauty.
James Vincent was denied a fifth as McAdams did well to block the substitutes effort from inside the box and Toddy looked for his hat-trick diving low to try and head a cross goalwards.
Full Time:1-4
The game was over as a contest and the points were heading North long before the final whistle with Morton lucky not to concede more.
Great win for Inverness who keep the pressure on the top six and jump back up to fourth, but Morton are deep in trouble at the bottom. 
Dundee beat Ayr 3-0 on the night
 
 
Match reaction and highlights  to follow

 

 
Date: 06/04/2021  Venue: Cappielow Park, Greenock Attendance: 0000 Referee: Steven Reid 
 
Morton FC: 1
Manager: Gus MacPherson Lineup:  McAdams, Ledger (Orsi 62), McLean, McGinty, McGinn, Strapp, Colville, Hynes,  Nisbett, Oliver (McGuffie 72), Muirhead (Sterling 63) Subs (not used):  Fjortoft, Jacobs, Blues, Lyon Scorers: Muirhead (61) Booked: none Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 4
Manager: Neil McCann (temporary) Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, B Mackay, Devine, Deas, D Mackay (Harper 81), Allardice, Allan (Sutherland 69), MacGregor, Storey (Vincent 72), Todorov Subs (not used): C Mackay; Lyall, Welsh, McHattie Scorers: Allardice (38), Todorov (40, 71), D Mackay (81) Booked: none Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2020-21 ·

Morton -V- Inverness CT - Preview

Big week starts tonight
 
The race for a play-off place is entering the final laps now with just five games left for the Caley Jags to try and overhaul one of the clubs above us in the table. Off to Greenock on Tuesday night for a 7:00pm start to face Morton who beat us in Inverness last time we met. In reality, the best we can hope for is overhauling one team before the end of the season and take our chances against the rest if we make the play-offs.
Whilst we were on Cup duty last weekend beating the village team from Dingwall, we were looking for Hearts to do us a turn by beating Dunfermline at Tynecastle on the Saturday. They failed to do this in a 0-0 draw and that result has knocked Inverness just out of the coveted top four slots. Fair play from the Pars I suppose who recovered well from the 5-1 hammering they took off Raith Rovers last time out and now sit one point above Inverness.
Our next two games will shape our season and are crucial to our success this campaign. Away to Morton followed by a trip to face Queen of the South at Palmerston. Aye, there are no easy games left, it's then Dundee at home, Hearts away and our final game is a home tie with Ayr United.
STREAMING £14 from Ton TV
OFFICIAL PREVIEW
We have dropped five points to Morton this season already. A draw at Cappielow against ten men for over half the game was a low point, especially as we threw away a lead. Worse followed at the Caledonian Stadium when Morton's Aidan Nesbitt scored the only goal as we struggled to make headway and Morton got their first win in ten games. However, since then we are unbeaten in six games, winning the last five including the two cup games. Mark Ridgers made his 150th appearance for the club in the Cup game at Dingwall and he is on a run of three clean Championship  sheets in a row. Another one would not go amiss. 
However, a word of caution. It's all very well owning the bragging rights after the Highland derby, but the big prize this season is promotion, and while that's still achievable it would be criminal to undo the good work of the last few weeks and rest on our laurels, albeit it is rather satisfying.
 

Ayr United v Dundee also tonight at 7:00pm
Last 10 Competitive Meetings against Morton
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)
1 - 1
(H) Morton were in cup action at the weekend and had to go all the way before edging past East Fife 1-2 after extra time. They were heading out of the cup until Sean McGinty equalised in the 91st minute before substitute Robbie Muirhead settled the tie with eight minutes of extra time left. Kevin Smith had given the Fifers the lead on the hour and made Morton work hard for their place in the fourth round draw, as they did to Inverness early in the season in a league cup encounter.
The Ton were also looking for a wee favour on Saturday when Arbroath hosted Alloa Athletic but the Wasps were unable to help out and went down 2-1. Not a great result for Morton who are now level on points with Arbroath and only hold a one goal advantage over the Smokies. So, for different reasons points at Cappielow will be a prized possession for both clubs as games run out in pursuit of their goals.
 
Our cup exploits have earned us an away tie at Paisley in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on the weekend of 17th/18th April. That  means the League game against Dundee has been re-scheduled for 20th April @ 7:00pm
Fabulous goals from Nikolay Todorov, Daniel Mackay and Shane Sutherland were enough to see of County in the cup who opened the scoring through Billy Mckay. 
St Mirren will offer a much sterner test than County's defence and this will be a difficult tie with the winner heading for a tie at Kilmarnock or Montrose. 
Morton's extra time win over the wee Fifers earned them an away tie at Motherwell in the fifth round.
 
***Latest Team News***
Scott Allan has played around an hour and a half now over two games and we have yet to see the best of him as his match sharpness returns. Aaron Doran is reputed to be close to a return but Anthony Macdonald will do well to get any game time this season. Almost a full squad, that's as good as it get's this season.
Gus MacPherson is in charge of his sixth game since taking over at Greenock. He began when Morton were sixth in the table a month ago. Strangely enough that was the day after Morton beat Inverness at the Caledonian Stadium where top scorer Aidan Nesbitt got the only goal of the game. He is on four goals at the moment. MacPherson has secured a loan deal for Steven McGinn from St Mirren as they look to avoid a fourth Championship defeat in a row since beating Inverness.
By tm4tj in Previews 2020-21 ·

Ross County 1-3 Inverness CT - Scottish Cup - Report

Demolition derby
 
Unfortunately no fans were allowed in for the first Highland derby since April 2019 when County beat Inverness 2-1. This time round Inverness demolished County with a clinical display of finishing to come from behind and win the tie 3-1. It was a dour first half that sprung to life after thirty eight minutes when former Caley Jags favourite Billy Mckay scored with a close range header after a corner had been flicked on. It took Inverness less than a minute to respond when Nikolay Todorov lashed the ball home following a free kick. In truth the game needed the goals as it had been a war of attrition prior to these strikes. County upped the pace in the second half but it's easy to see where their problems lie, a lack of a cutting edge and poor defending would cost them. In the fifty-fourth minute Dan Mackay burst forward on the left, ducked inside two defenders before finishing with aplomb. The best County could offer was a header wide by Jordan White as Inverness continued to look like the team in the top division. The icing on the cake was complete when substitute Shane Sutherland turned in the box to drive home as County failed to clear their lines. Best chance for County was a late scramble in the box but we're getting used to them now and cleared the ball much to the chagrin of the wee team over the bridge.
There has been a lack of Highland derby's recently but tonight there was one in the third round of the Scottish Cup as Premiership hangers on Ross County hosted Championship hopefuls Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Inverness got here after edging out Buckie Thistle in a five goal second round tie. County start their Scottish Cup campaign tonight. Nick Walsh is the man in charge, I wonder who is in charge of Nick Walsh. Previous games he has refereed have been a mystery to both sets of supporters. County have been in charge of the derby's recently and it's eleven games since Inverness won over ninety minutes, a 3-0 victory in Dingwall in 2016. The best defence in the Championship versus the worst defence in the Premiership. Neither team impressing in the scoring game; who will come out on top in this one.
The much awaited Highland derby kicked off on a decent night for football and it was Inverness that took the game to the Premiership side.  In truth it was a poor first half and very little of note happened in the first half hour. Devine headed wide early on but neither keeper were involved in anything of note as defences were on top.
That changed when Billy Mckay headed home a flick on from Shaw to put Dingwall ahead. Perfect for Billy, a header from two yards, no missing them for the wee striker. 43 seconds later it was all square when Todorov got the ball inside the box following a free kick by Sean Welsh. Robbie Deas rose highest to nod the ball across the box and Toddy lashed the ball home brilliantly from around twelve yards after steadying himself.
The goals prompted a flurry of activity but it remained level at the break.
Half Time: 1-1
The second half saw County playing with more intent, but still without doing anything in the final third. 
Daniel Mackay showed them how it should be done with a brilliant solo goal after he cut in from the left between two defenders before drilling the ball behind Laidlaw to put the visitors ahead. A deep corner had been headed clear by Danny Devine and David Carson strode onto it before sending a delightful ball down the line. Danny had plenty to do and did it with pace and accuracy as he left two defenders in his wake before striking the ball firmly under the keeper from sixteen yards.
Danny Boy

Still County failed to register anything on target despite a triple substitution just after the hour mark and Inverness were comfortable protecting their lead whilst looking dangerous on the break.
Sub Jordan White headed wide with twenty minutes left in County's best/only chance of the game and as they grew more desperate it was Inverness that sealed the win with three minutes remaining.
One of our own substitutes Shane Sutherland ended the contest when he combined with Roddy MacGregor to rifle the ball home from the angle following a free kick. Another superb finish as Shane took his strike early to score across the keeper from around fifteen yards on the right side of the box.
After failing to get the better of our defenders following a scramble in the box it was over and out for County and into the next round for Inverness.
Full Time: 1-3
 
Match reaction on BBC Sport
Inverness CT manager Neil McCann: "That's as good a team performance as you're likely to see. It needed to be against a Premiership side but I thought we were comfortable. "The character they've shown in the past wee while was evident. I thought the shape was brilliant tonight, was really hard to break down, and we scored two great goals [in the second half]. "We're starting to pick up momentum. You can see the belief starting to grow in the group."
 

Full match Highlights available on BBC Sport at the moment.
All the goals from Caley Jags TV
 
 
Date: 02/04/2021  Venue: Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall Attendance: 0000 Referee: Nick Walsh 
 
Ross County: 1
Manager: John Hughes Lineup:  Laidlaw; Hjelde, Naismith, Donaldson, Watson, Kelly, Vigurs (Hylton 63), Lakin, Shaw (White 64), Gardyne (Charles-Cook 64), Mckay,  Subs (not used):  Hilton; Tillson, MacKinnon, Paton, Maouche, Draper Scorers: Mckay (38) Booked: none Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 3
Manager: Neil McCann (temporary) Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, B Mckay, Devine, Deas, D Mackay (Harper 83), Welsh, Allardice, Allan (Sutherland 72), Storey, Todorov (MacGregor 72) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Lyall, Duffy, McHattie, Vincent, Keatings Scorers: Todorov (40), Dan Mackay (54), Sutherland (87) Booked: Devine (15) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2020-21 ·

Ross County -V- Inverness CT - Scottish Cup

A bridge too far?
 
Having disposed of Buckie Thistle last Wednesday, Inverness make the short trip over the Kessock Bridge to take on Premiership strugglers Ross County in the third round of the Scottish Cup. Could this be a bridge too far in our recovery programme or will it be a warm up for the promotion play-offs. Should make for interesting viewing with the game being shown on BBC Scotland with a revised kick-off time of 7:45pm. Unfortunately covid restrictions means no fans will be in the stadium for what should be a cup cracker with Yogi now in charge at Premiership Dingwall and Neil & Billy trying to steer Inverness to safety in the Championship. Both management teams would do well to remember that the League is the number one priority, but bragging rights and a wee cup run can also lift the spirits.
Once upon a time there were three clubs...
County's Premiership status put them straight into round three, but due to delays caused by the weather and coronavirus the next round draw preceded the second round game at Buckie. 
Inverness edged out Buckie who put up a terrific fight against a much changed Inverness side. James Keatings opened the scoring in 35 seconds but big Jack Murray deservedly headed Buckie level. Sean Welsh drove Inverness ahead, but the tie looked to be heading for extra time after Callum Murray equalised with a couple of minutes left. However Dan Mackay pounced in the 90th minute to put Inverness through 2-3.
Then there were two, Ross County -V- Inverness CT
Our last ten competitive games against County are not very flattering. What can I say, the wee team from over the bridge have held the upper hand in recent seasons. Our last competitive win over County was in 2016 when goals from Liam Polworth, Ross Draper and a belter from Miles Storey saw us win 3 - 0 in Dingwall on the 19th March. Would it be clutching at straws to say County have never knocked the Caley Jags out of the Scottish Cup, ever? Yes, it's been a great rivalry with 61 games played, 26 wins for ICT, 17 wins for County and 18 draws. Goals for 95 - 70 = + 25 GD. So overall, County are still in the shadows.  Well,it's all we have to go on! Here's another thought: Inverness have the best defensive record in the Championship conceding just 23 goals. County have the leakiest defence in the Premiership with 59 goals against. Neither side have excelled in scoring goals. ICT 28 from 22 games, County 26 from 33 games.
Highlights from the 3-0 win in Dingwall

Last 10 Competitive Meetings don't make for good reading for Caley Jags fans
1 - 2
(H)
2 - 2
(H)
2 - 2
(A)
1 - 2
(A)
2 - 2
(H)
0 - 0
(A)
0 - 4
(A)
1 - 1
(H)
2 - 3
(A)
2 - 3
(H)  
We have managed three League wins on the bounce, all by 1-0 against Raith Rovers, Dunfermline and Arbroath as the McCann/Dodds revolution picks up pace. Looks like we are flying under the radar, but it's been effective in moving us up the table away from the drop zone and closer to the Premiership play-offs. Fingers crossed on that one. A marquee loan signing has given fans some hope that we can do the latter. Scott Allan has arrived from Hibs on loan and made his debut in the last half hour against Arbroath, showing glimpses of class and hopefully he can put his illness and injury problems behind him. In his half hour cameo there were signs that Scott will add another dimension to our creative play, something we have been looking for since the start of the season.
County have blown hot and cold in recent weeks. It was only a couple of months ago they were thumping Aberdeen 4-1. However, despite also beating Celtic in Dingwall some inconsistent results have seen County struggle to stay just above the bottom two. Since then defeats to Hibs, St Mirren and St Johnstone interspersed with a 3-2 win over Killie keeps the Premiership flag flying. Billy Mckay scored a couple in that game and we know he likes to score when he wants. So, who do we know from their time at Inverness. John Hughes obviously, Scottish Cup winning manager in 2015. Billy Mckay, still got an eye for goal and a great penalty box striker. Jordan White, nothing to see here, jumps like he has his feet in a bag of cement, move on. Coll Donaldson, big defender can show some silky skills but prone to errors under pressure. Ross Draper was a fans favourite at Inverness, a big strapping lad, mostly a sub. Iain Vigurs, a booking waiting to happen. Get him down as first yellow card. Has all the skill in the world but a cynical schizer who would wind up his own granny. Carl Tremarco, agent Tremarco has not had much game time and his days are numbered. Apart from Gardyne and Shaw, the rest are mostly new names to us, but anyway, we have Brad Mckay...
***Latest Team News***
We like to keep things close to our chest of late although we were quick to inform all that Lewis Toshney has left the building last week. Injuries dictated that Lewis had played no games this season, so no big loss in the overall picture, but good luck to Lewis in his battles against injury. Anthony McDonald is still out. Aaron Doran made a fleeting return a couple of weeks ago but has not been seen since. Playing two games a week for the last two months can take it's toll and it certainly looked like it against Arbroath but we have had the novelty of six days off before this cup game. Beware, we still have James Vincent on our books, now he's a man that knows what it's like to score the winning goal in a Scottish Cup Final.
Yogi also knows what it's like to win a Scottish Cup, I'm sure he will have ambitions to go further than the entry round for his current club. 
 
 
By tm4tj in Previews 2020-21 ·

Inverness CT 1-0 Arbroath - Report

Inverness up to fourth...
 
Nikolay Todorov scored the only goal of the game with twenty minutes left in a disappointing encounter where the three points were more important than the performance. Scott Allan made his debut in the second half where Inverness did just enough to move up to a temporary position of fourth in the league ahead of the Dundee v Dunfermline game tonight.
Scott Allan was on the bench after much hype about the excellent loan signing from Hibs. Daniel Mackay was declared fit for his 50th appearance and all the big boys returned to the defence with Cameron Harper starting.
It was fully fifteen minutes in before anyone had a sight of goal and it was Dale Hilson who dragged a shot wide of Mark Ridgers' post in a rare venture into the hosts box.
It was turgid stuff in the opening quarter with both sides struggling to make much headway on a cold but reasonable afternoon for a kickabout.
The ball entered the Arbroath net after Danny Devine nodded a free kick towards the goal, and as David Carson appeared on the scene to head into the net the referee signalled for offside or more likely an infringement.
Roddy MacGregor burst forward and offloaded from just outside the box but his daisy cutter slid just the wrong side of the post after half an hour.
A great turn and pass from Shane Sutherland set Dan Mackay clear down the left but his cross was mopped up by the defence and in the next attack Sutherland got the ball at his feet around the penalty spot but he could not dig it out with his back to goal and once more Arbroath cleared their lines.
Four minutes before the break an Arbroath free kick offered the visitors a glimmer of hope but a foul to Inverness was the end product as the ball was whipped into the box.
From an Arbroath corner right on the whistle, Ridgers and the defenders had to clear the ball away from the top corner after a good header from Ricky Little looked as if it might creep in. Possibly headed clear by Sean Welsh from just under the bar.
Colin Steven brought the half to a close thereafter, presumably to save the ball from further punishment. 
Half Time:0-0
No surprise when McCann made early changes to the line-up by introducing Miles Storey and Scott Allan for Shane Sutherland  and Roddy MacGregor as up until now we had looked impotent.
Arbroath looked lively at the start of the second period, in contrast to the Caley Jags who looked rather pedestrian and cumbersome.
Todorov was unable to take advantage of a great ball into the box as we looked to get forward. Scott Allan was looking sharp but it looked like he was getting no favours from the officials.
Sixty-eight minutes on the clock and a curling Cammy Harper free kick was brilliantly headed home by a stooping Nikolay Todorov to open the scoring. Superb goal and just what we needed, but a defensive disaster for the Smokies. Well I'll be Bulgared, that was Toddy's sixth goal of the season.
Hot Toddy opens the scoring...

Shortly after the goal a rugby scrum formed in the Caley Jags box and nobody knew where the hell the ball was but a free kick to Inverness was the end result as all around scratched their heads.
Substitute Miles Storey latched onto the ball over twenty yards out but Gaston did well to turn it away. He did exactly the same five minutes later from a Scott Allan drive to keep the score the same and denying Allan a debut goal.
Hanging on against Arbroath.... How times have changed, but that's what we were doing soaking up waves of attacks until a burst forward by Storey saw Gaston save bravely at his feet, the referee giving a free kick to the keeper and booking Storey for his trouble.
Full Time 1-0
However, it was the result that was important, not the performance and three points were secured as Inverness held firm.
Up to fourth in the table with Dundee playing Dunfermline tonight.
 
Highlights or lowlights from Caley Jags TV ...
 
 
Neil....

Scott...

 
 
Date: 27/03/2021  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 0000 Referee:  Colin Steven
 
Inverness CT: 1
Manager: Neil McCann (temporary) Lineup:  Ridgers; Carson, Deas, Devine, Harper, D Mackay, Welsh, Allardice, MacGregor (Storey 55), Sutherland (Allan 54), Todorov (McHattie 88) Subs (not used):  C Mackay; Vincent, Lyall, Keatings Scorers: Todorov (69) Booked: Storey (90+2) Sent Off: none Arbroath FC: 0
Manager: Dick Campbell Lineup:  Gaston; Gold, Little, O'Brien, C Hamilton, McKenna (Low 84), Craigen (Stewart 63), Williamson (Whatley 81), Hilson, J Hamilton, Moore Subs (not used): Gallacher; Pignatiello, Doolan, Smith Scorers: none Booked: Craigen (29) Sent Off: none a
By tm4tj in Reports 2020-21 ·

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