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Inverness CT -V- Dunfermline - Preview

Crucial Times Ahead

 

The big games keep coming as we reach the business end of the season, the intensity of this one heightened in midweek after the Pars thrashed Partick Thistle 4-1 on Tuesday night ahead of their visit to the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday. The game kicks off at 3:00pm with points vital for both sides for different reasons. John Hughes is the man tasked with saving Dunfermline's season and it's not all gone to plan so far, but the midweek rout of Partick is an untimely reminder that they can cause problems to the best sides in this division. How many people, like me, had the Pars down as one of the favourites to get promotion given the depth and quality of their squad. I certainly did not expect them to be exiting the Championship at the bottom end. Crazy season heading for a tense finish at both ends of the table.

MATCH/TICKETS/STREAMING INFO

OFFICIAL PREVIEW

Venue Head 2 Head Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / -
Home 22 9 8 5 28 21 +7
Away 24 9 10 5 29 26 +3
Neutral 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1
Total 48 18 19 11 60 51 +9
Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Pars
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1 - 1
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1 - 2
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0 - 0
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1 - 0
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1 - 1
(H)
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1 - 3
(A)
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2 - 1
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2 - 0
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1 - 0
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1 - 0
(H)

The honours tilt towards us over the years, a far cry from our first taste of the big time when Dunfermline pumped us 4-0 at East End Park in our first game in Division one or the Championship as we know it now. August 7th 1999 with nearly 5,000 in attendance, steak bridies and all. At last we had made the big time....Alas, we had a lot to learn.  Click on the link below to see Ian Broadfoot's brief report as we ended the game with 10 men against an accomplished Dunfermline Athletic.

 Aug 7th League 0 - 4  (A)    4,865  

Fast Forward to May 12th 2007 when Dunfermline were officially relegated after we beat them at the Caledonian Stadium; full report from Ian Broadfoot. Look at that crowd back in 2007, no doubt swelled by the Fifers as they tried to stave off relegation.

 May 12th League 2 - 1  (H)    6,464  

 

All games Saturday 3:00pm

    Arbroath v Raith Rvrs

Hamilton v Queens

       Killie v Partick 

   Morton v Ayr Utd

 Inverness CT v Dunfermline

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts
 
1. Kilmarnock 30 17 5 8 41 21 56
2. Arbroath 30 14 12 4 41 22 54
3. Inverness CT 30 12 10 8 41 29 46
4. Partick Thistle 30 12 9 9 42 34 45
5. Raith Rovers 30 10 12 8 37 37 42
6. Morton 30 8 11 11 33 40 35
7. Hamilton Ac. 30 8 11 11 35 45 35
8. Ayr United 30 8 8 14 30 44 32
9. Dunfermline 30 5 14 11 31 45 29
10. Q.O.S. 30 6 8 16 30 44 26

As a result of Dunfermline swatting away the Jags in midweek, all teams have now played 30 games with Inverness remaining in 3rd position whilst Partick and Raith capitulate. No room to crow about it though as we have only just returned to winning ways after a horrendous run of eleven games with no wins, taking only six points from a possible thirty three.

This season we have yet to beat the Pars. We were fortunate to draw 0-0 at East End Park in September as Dunfermline looked for their first win of the season after five games. We were top on 15 points, Dunfermline bottom with just two points after this one.

We went down 2-1 at the Caledonian Stadium in November after having led through a Billy Mckay goal. A Danny Devine og restored parity before a superb Dom Thomas solo goal clinched the points. Under Par: Inverness opened the scoring after probing well for over twenty minutes. Michael Gardyne drifted inside and the Pars defence opened up allowing him to get a shot away. It came back off the woodwork and Billy Mckay reacted first to knock the ball into the net. However, Dunfermline got their first win of the season as Inverness fired blanks thereafter, and goals from Kevin O'Hara assisted by a massive Danny Devine deflection and a great solo effort from Dom Thomas won the points for the Pars. Another bad day at the office continued with Inverness slipping to third following wins for Killie Raith and Partick.

The third encounter was a 1-1 draw at EEP: More points thrown away in our wasteful period in January. Inverness wasted an opportunity to put pressure on the top of the table after squandering a first half lead through Shane Sutherland. Steven Lawless levelled from the spot in the second half with ten minutes remaining after David Carson was adjudged to have blocked a cross with a flailing arm. Another drab performance after a first half full of promise. No surprise really given recent performances, but frustrating nonetheless.

So, time to redress the balance for this season as Dunfermline begin to realise the severity of their plight. 

Last Time Out

We came away with an unlikely three points after Logan Chalmers scored two spectacular goals in the dying embers of a game we looked like losing, even against ten men. Raith took an early lead through Aidan Connolly before Shane Sutherland stabbed in the equaliser. That was short lived as Poplatnik restored Raith's advantage before the break. A couple of enforced changes weakened Raith but we still struggled and even after Kyle Benedictus was red carded with twenty minutes to go we looked spent on ideas. Up popped Chalmers with two sweet left foot strikes to take the points North. That result came on the back of us ending our drought with a 3-0 win over Arbroath the week before to revive our flagging play-off hopes.

On yersel Logan

As said before, Dunfermline helped us out in midweek by thumping Partick thistle 4-1. More importantly they helped themselves massively and climbed off the foot of the table in doing so. Partick had opened the scoring with a strike from distance through Ross Docherty. They fought back and deservedly levelled with an og from Lewis Mayo. Mathew Todd scored a second for a rampant Pars in the first half followed by Josh Edwards. Man of the Match Dom Thomas scored a spectacular fourth in the second half to put the icing on the cake. Great result for the Pars led of course by none other that John Hughes, our former Scottish Cup winning manager.

Latest Team News

Scott Allardice is out long term with Roddy MacGregor rumoured to be returned to full training.

More team news to follow...


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  • Eagle4Caley
    Eagle4Caley

    Incredible how a run of 11 games without a win, can be followed by a winning run, two of which we're definitely deserved. Key goals prevented at key times, and key goals cored at good times. Sounds si

  • Kingsmills
    Kingsmills

    If there was ever a time to get our first win of the season against Dunfermline it's tomorrow.

  • Jaggernaut
    Jaggernaut

    We started this campaign with a five game winning run, it would be great if we could better that from now till the end of the season.

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I have in the past been critical of caleys play. Yesterday was the first game I have seen for a while what a difference back to the team I loved and supported great movement supporting each other what a team.

Much, much better performance from the team. Credit to them and Dodds. Dunfermline were never in that game save for a short spell after we scored when MacKay kept us in the game with some stunning saves. 

McAlear's Jimmy Ping was simply gorgeous. Incredible technique to hit that so well but also so controlled. I will never tire of watching it. 

Great finish by Samuels for his first ICT goal mere seconds after I bemoaned his appearance in place of Mckay :laugh:

Picking players to get points in the MotM was a chore but for the right reasons this time. So many good performances from Sutherland, Deas, Duffy, McAlear etc but looking back I think I've been harsh to exclude Carson who had the cigars out keeping Dom Thomas in his back pocket the entire time Thomas was on the pitch. A real return to form for Carson. 

I feel like Arbroath are running on fumes at the moment so could we sneak second spot? We've probably left ourselves with too much to do but you never know... 

22 minutes ago, RiG said:

 

 

I feel like Arbroath are running on fumes at the moment so could we sneak second spot? We've probably left ourselves with too much to do but you never know... 

Maybe so but that should now be the ambition.

On 3/26/2022 at 7:26 PM, forresjags said:

Sutherland pick of the bunch today, some great touches and seems to be relishing playing in a wider role.

He very rarely loses possession or misplaces a pass.

We seemed to try to play to our strengths yesterday which was refreshing.

It’s just a pity we don’t play for two weeks given we have been building momentum but it will give the players with injuries time to recover.

Also a shout out for Doran and Duffy. Doran has lost his pace, but it was his vision and a great pass that let Samuels into score. Duffy has looked confident and capable any time he has played at centre half, and seems more natural there than at right back. He is really unlucky not to have had more game time this season. 

Edited by Robert

12 hours ago, bigman said:

I have in the past been critical of caleys play. Yesterday was the first game I have seen for a while what a difference back to the team I loved and supported great movement supporting each other what a team.

It's been almost three decades since I have been critical of Caley's play.

Even then, I was in no great position to do so as Thistle's play was even more worthy of criticism.

Great game and fantastic atmosphere. First half totally in control without carving them open. Bit nervy after we scored but brilliant to see the attitude to defending our goal -  ‘thou shalt not pass’ style. Two top quality goals. Think I got sunburnt! 

We started this campaign with a five game winning run, it would be great if we could better that from now till the end of the season.

Incredible how a run of 11 games without a win, can be followed by a winning run, two of which we're definitely deserved. Key goals prevented at key times, and key goals cored at good times. Sounds simple doesn't it. The crazy thing is we have lost just (JUST) 3 games in 13 this calendar year. Maybe that does set us up better than we think for the run-in. McAlear has stepped up to cover the loss of Allardice [and what a great goal he scored], and we are seeing some returns from the loan players, and at last Samuels. We're are a bit short of numbers. so the return of Devine, and in particular a fit MacGregor are important (and obvs Pearson was on international duty). I think Doran and Walsh have big parts to play in the run-in, and that 2nd spot if claimed on the last day could be a deciding factor too. The defence feels fairly solid, and Dodds seems to be able to shuffle the side around to get goals from people. It feels like we have some momentum, and the squad is happy and harmonious. Let's hope for a good April, with a proper spring in the step!

Such a shame that we have no interest in tonight's live match on the BBC Scotland channel with Kilmarnock being out of our reach in first place.

37 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

Such a shame that we have no interest in tonight's live match on the BBC Scotland channel with Kilmarnock being out of our reach in first place.

They're not out of reach.  If they lose their remaining 5 games and we win ours, we will end the season 5 points ahead of them.  It's not likely to happen I grant you, but they are not out of reach - yet.  They could win one and draw two and we could still pip them on goal difference.  I am very interested in watching them lose tonight!

  • Author

TONIGHT 1st APRIL

Ayr Utd 1-1 Accies

Morton 1-1 Killie

SATURDAY 2ND APRIL

Partick 0-0 Arbroath

WEDNESDAY 6TH APRIL

Pars v Raith - 19:45

FRIDAY 8TH APRIL

Queens v Partick - 19:45

Last updated: 26.03.2022 at 13:13
Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts
 
1. Kilmarnock 31 18 5 8 43 22 59
2. Arbroath 31 14 13 4 44 25 55
3. Inverness CT 31 13 10 8 43 29 49
4. Partick Thistle 31 12 9 10 43 36 45
5. Raith Rovers 31 10 13 8 40 40 43
6. Hamilton Ac. 31 9 11 11 36 45 38
7. Morton 31 8 12 11 34 41 36
8. Ayr United 31 8 9 14 31 45 33
9. Dunfermline 31 5 14 12 31 47 29
10. Q.O.S. 31 6 8 17 30 45 26
8 hours ago, DoofersDad said:

They're not out of reach.  If they lose their remaining 5 games and we win ours, we will end the season 5 points ahead of them.  It's not likely to happen I grant you, but they are not out of reach - yet.  They could win one and draw two and we could still pip them on goal difference.  I am very interested in watching them lose tonight!

I have become quite optimistic about our prospects of late to the point of believing we have a good chance of overhauling Arbroath for second place but that is just a bit of a stretch too far even through the most red and blue tinted spectacles.

Edited by Kingsmills

7 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

I have become quite optimistic about our prospects of late to the point of believing we have a good chance of overhauling Arbroath for second place but that is just a bit of a stretch too far even through the most red and blue tinted spectacles.

I have my blue and red specs on mon the Ton :lol:

I’m more inclined to think we’re fighting for second place so I’m looking for a late Killie winner to knock the stuffing out of Arbroath and deny them any encouragement…

On 3/26/2022 at 8:23 PM, Kingsmills said:

I like the Challenge Cup as a tournament although I would rather we are not eligible to take part next season.

However, the final usually takes place earlier in the season and I wonder whether it is appropriate, at this late crucial stage in the league season with so many sides having so much to play for, it is appropriate for it to take precedence over league fixtures rather that being played midweek under the lights.

I think it is a couple of weeks later than usual, certainly compared to when we were last in the final.

However, the final deserves to be played at the weekend as midweek would limit the fans who could attend.

If we’d been in it, I’m sure none of us would have wanted a midweek date. Just a shame about our very poor cup form this season. 

2 hours ago, Robert said:

I think it is a couple of weeks later than usual, certainly compared to when we were last in the final.

However, the final deserves to be played at the weekend as midweek would limit the fans who could attend.

If we’d been in it, I’m sure none of us would have wanted a midweek date. Just a shame about our very poor cup form this season. 

Poor cup form which few of us will now care too much about if we can gain promotion.

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