Points still required.

 

Penultimate game before the play offs and it's another away day as we head to Greenock to take on Morton this Saturday. 3:00pm kick off at Cappielow and we still need three points to ensure third place in the table unless Partick lose as well. Anything is possible in this league. In fairness to Dodds and his team, we are more than capable of getting to the final of the play-offs, but inconsistency could be our downfall. Depends what team turns up on the day. I won't be too despondent should we fail to win at Cappielow, but come the play-offs, we must be at our best. Attitude, aptitude and commitment will be crucial to the outcome of our season. 

 

MATCH/TICKETS/STREAMING/INFO

SUPPORTERS BUS 07462 218717

Morton bus now leaving Caley Club at 9.15, stadium 9.30

 

Venue - Head2Head

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	19	12	4	3	46	17	+29
Away	16	9	3	4	34	19	+15
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	35	21	7	7	80	36	+44

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Morton

0 - 1 (H)

6 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

4 - 1 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

2 - 2 (A)

3 - 2 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

An out of character 6-1 humping of Morton has been the highlight of our season, apart from that, the other two league games against Morton have been rubbish. They also knocked us out of the Scottish Cup after two draws and a penalty shoot-out.

CTO Oct16th: Caley Jags open up a gap: Inverness extended their lead at the top of the Championship as the Pars got a late leveller against Killie. The hosts opened the scoring after twenty minutes through Billy Mckay with the credit for the assist going to Mark Ridgers from his quick goal kick. Inverness stepped up a gear after the interval and Michael Gardyne scored the second early in the second half as he crashed a loose ball in the box high into the net. That was enough to see off Morton who battled hard throughout but fell short. It could have been a different story had the visitors made more of their own opportunities. Five points clear after the first quarter: Who knew?

CTO Dec11th: Gubbed, at last: Managerless bottom club Morton were gubbed. There's no other word for it. Caley Jags were rampant after a couple of drab draws in the Scottish Cup. I'll credit Aaron Doran with the opener when his cross to the back post ended up in the net as Hamilton tried to claw it clear. Sutherland got the second after a Billy Mckay shot was blocked at close range. Mckay got his own when he rolled the ball in off the post. Boss! Just on the interval Ugwu scored from the spot to offer Morton a lifeline. Reece McAlear scored a fekkin screamer, what can only be described as a piledriver. What a strike that was! The ever alert Sutherland added a fifth and it was no surprise when Jamieson dribbled his way into the box and slotted home the sixth. This has been coming for weeks, but today was maybe the day the Caley Jags believed in themselves. Boom!

CTO Feb5th: Absolute dross: What a shitfest of a game. We were an absolute shambles from the start and Morton were all over us like a rash. Lewis Strapp scored the only goal of the game after Chalmers failed to cover in midfield. When the loose ball was knocked forward, defender Strapp got to it first and poked it through Mark Ridgers legs. Pathetic stuff from Inverness and we did nothing about trying to change the way the game was going. A shot from Pearson the only thing of note over ninety minutes of a stop start game that would not have looked out of place at the Bught Park. We were clueless for 95 minutes and deserved nothing. No surprise really given our recent performances, but totally depressing stuff to watch.

Both cup games were dire 1-1 draws with Morton winning the shoot-out. Incidentally, that 6-1 win at Cappielow signalled the start of our dismal eleven game streak of no wins, gaining only six points from a possible thirty-three. Thankfully Raith Rovers went on a similar run at the same time and Partick blew hot and cold, mostly cold so that's why we are where we are today.

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts ***KILLIE V ARBROATH - FRIDAY NIGHT*** 1. Kilmarnock 34 19 6 9 47 25 63 2. Arbroath 34 16 14 4 50 26 62 3. Inverness CT 34 14 11 9 48 34 53 4. Partick Thistle 34 13 10 11 44 37 49 5. Raith Rovers 34 11 13 10 41 43 46 6. Hamilton Ac. 34 10 12 12 38 47 42 7. Morton 34 9 13 12 36 43 40 8. Ayr United 34 8 11 15 35 50 35 9. Dunfermline 34 7 14 13 35 50 35 10. Q.O.S. 34 7 8 19 33 52 29

Apr 23rd 2022

    Queens v Ayr United 

        Partick v Dunfermline 

Morton v Caley J 

Accies v Rovers 

Last Time Out

We fluffed our lines once more against a bottom side as we went down 2-1 at Palmerston against a Queen of the South side heading for a lower division unless you believe in miracles. Josh Todd gave Queens an early advantage before Logan Chalmers scored his fifth spectacular goal in as many games. However we looked weary and Queens regained the lead five minutes before the break through Euan East. That's how it ended as we struggled to rise above mediocrity with Queens having the greater desire.

Morton have eased themselves away to the top edge of the relegation zone and are virtually safe, but, like us, will be looking for points to ensure they get the job done without relying on others. They blew that opportunity after going down 1-0 at home to nearest rivals Hamilton Accies last time out who now find themselves safe. It was an early David Moyo goal that did the damage and left Morton still needing a couple of points.

Latest Team News

We rested some in midweek although you could have been excused for thinking that all were having a break. Allardice is a long term casualty and Broadfoot was rested completely after feeling an olde war wound. Sean Welsh and Danny Devine were in the wars, Devine cutting his head in a clash with the woodwork. I believe the post is ok and Danny was patched up. We have never been great at resting players, our squad is too thin to do that comfortably, so maybe we should just go for it and put this to bed. Read more in the OFFICIAL PREVIEW

Morton have no new alterations since we last played them with Dougie Imrie at the helm.

 

 

View full article

 

5 minutes ago, No Shin Guards said:

I say, a bronze medal 🥉 being the worst we can get this season.

Not exactly the Scottish Cup, but remember, Lewis Horner is back with us next season 😉 

He’s been without a club since last May. Are you at the wind up or is this for real?

Well that was no classic, but job done and 3 points.Concerned that this level of performance will not be good enough for play offs.We really needed a second goal.At least I can grow my nails soon, as watching ICT when 1-0 up can be nerve wracking as I waited for the self induced mistake and equaliser.Thankfully it never came. We need to really tighten up at the back at times and stop giving away soft free kicks in dangerous areas.

Well done for the win

 

Edited April 23, 20224 yr by Douglas Mackenzie

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
QotS relegated - Cove Rangers promoted
1.	Kilmarnock	35	20	6	9	49	26	66
2.	Arbroath	35	16	14	5	51	28	62
3.	Inverness CT	35	15	11	9	49	34	56
4.	Partick Thistle	35	14	10	11	45	37	52
5.	Raith Rovers	35	12	13	10	43	43	49
6.	Hamilton Ac.	35	10	12	13	38	49	42
7.	Morton	35	9	13	13	36	44	40
8.	Ayr United	35	8	12	15	36	51	36
9.	Dunfermline	35	7	14	14	35	51	35
10.	Q.O.S.	35	7	9	19	34	53	30

 

***Dates for your diary***

CINCH PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFFS

Tuesday May 3
Quarter-final, 1st leg 
Partick Thistle v Inverness CT
Live on BBC Scotland, kick-off 7.05pm

Friday May 6
Quarter-final, 2nd leg
Inverness CT v Partick Thistle
Live on BBC Scotland, kick-off 7.45pm

 

Hopefully, in our lucky pink strip for both legs.

One thing about that league table and the gap between us and Arbroath is that we aren’t sitting here pondering any particular game, chance, error or incident, as it wouldn’t have made any difference to our league position. In most seasons an extra point or 3 would be significant.

The only significant difference we could have made would have been to turn up for the third round of fixtures. I'm sure there was the odd point or ten we could have picked up.🤔

Can i pick up  bbc scotland abroad?

Defensively solid for the most part but we didn't create too much of note and when we did we were wasteful. Hard to see how we have enough quality to go up over the course of the next 6 games (in the playoffs). That said Arbroath look to be running on fumes and we've turned up against Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers so maybe we could sneak through but performances like today don't give me too much confidence.

Duffy did well at CB and it was good to see Roddy get the full 90 minutes after being out for so long. But too many others were just okay and no more. We need to perform a lot better if we want to have any chance of promotion.

5 hours ago, Robert said:

He’s been without a club since last May. Are you at the wind up or is this for real?

I say, the chap I spoke to before the Ayr game said he was Lewis Horner. But come to think of it he did look a bit like John Darwin. They both have similar accents. Would hate to think I was duped. 🥺

He’s a Geordie so has a pretty distinct accent!!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Horner 

We released him and he’s had his betting demons so I’d be surprised if we are bringing him back.

Still think you are at the wind up!

Well as has been stated in other posts this was not exactly in the spectacle category but it was a grand day out as the sun beamed down on Costa Del Greenock and the vociferous band of Invernessians congregated in  the beach bar known as the Norseman and did not stop carousing until getting back on their transportation back to the big City. That bunch outsung the locals whereas the team only prospered by a single goal victory although the final margin really should have been more. Played some pretty patterns at times but slightly spoiled by the final ball or the final attempt on goal. The possession ratio of 54 / 46 % in our favour would have been greater if we had not settled for the 1-0 win with 15 minutes to go. That is my only real criticism of Dodds as I certainly cringed at the "defend at all costs" attitude when a second goal was clearly on the cards. Our defence who had looked solid and rarely tested looked nervous and that fed on to the following support. Taking the ball into the corner with 2-3 minutes to got was a tad embarrasing. Still all is well that ends well.

RIDGERS ****  Clearly ouf Numero Uno. He just appears to bring that extra confidence to those in front of him.

CARSON ***  Well I have said it before but I still do not think that he is a full back. Gives 100% but prones to mistakes although thankfully only a few minor flaws at Cappielow.

DUFFY ***  Did well in central defence although he did appear to be getting a fair amount of "help" from his more experienced partner.

BROADFOOT ****  I often feel that he does not get the credit that he deserves. He may amble and look "slow" at times but his reading of the game is considerably more developed that any other pinkster.

DEAS *** Dose the job at full back but always looks more settled as a centre back. Height also adds to our defensive prowess.

WELSH  *** Must have been looking to take over the leading position in regard to the timing of a yellow card. The tackle did not look over the top but the referee could have been swayed by the Morton appeals. Did his usual midfield maestro job thereafter.

McAlear ***  I have been impressed by him previously but I suppose that we all have bad days at the office. Made numerous mistakes, especially in the second half, thankfully most in an attacking sense.

DORAN ****  What a shame that he looks as if his season is over. Very impressive in the first 45 and looked the most likely to set up a goal. Looked like a groin strain unless he had an embarrasing itch.

MCGREGOR **** I proudly joined into the "He's one of our own" chant that resounded around Cappielow. He understandably tired in the end but lasted the 90. He just brings that extra energy and fizz so Welcome Back Roddy.

Mckay *** Always a threat and suffered by being the lone forward - although the hoof tactic was rarely utilised as Billy had the guile of a more football playing midfield providing the ammo. He was often left 2-1 or 3-1 although he will probably be the first to admit that he should have got himself on the score card.

SAMUELS ***  Again had a bad day at the office. I was not sure exactly what his role was and I suspect that he didnt either.

As fer the substitutions WALSH evidently came on earlier than expected. Unfortunately he needs a "confidence transplant". There were times that the Walsh of old would have driven forward but lets hope that he is refreshed for the play-offs. HARPER impressed in his 25 minutes. He simply provided the width on the left that was sadly missing beforehand.

So it was another lovely Away Day - from the refurbished Horseshoe to the delapidated Norseman to the Paisley Piazza, enjoyed with Govan Jaggie and GJ junior. And nobody from the Greenock gangland came anywhere near the Senior Citizen Crew. 🤣

 

 

 

The club’s report:

https://ictfc.com/report-morton-0-1-ictfc