First Leg v Smokies

 

After an edgy quarter final play off win over Partick Thistle, we face Championship team of the season Arbroath on Tuesday night at 7:05pm. Dick Campbell takes his team North as favourites to progress to the final, with St Johnstone being the likely candidates for the opposition. The game will also be screened live on the BBC Scotland channel. 

Arbroath have had a fantastic season falling just two points short of automatic promotion and finishing second in the Championship, six points ahead of third placed Inverness, and with a superior goal difference of seven, and losing only five Championship games all season. The one thing in our favour is that we beat them twice, the most recent a slightly flattering 3-0 win a couple of months ago.

TICKET INFO

OFFICIAL PREVIEW

Venue H2H all comps

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	21	16	2	3	56	18	+38
Away	19	9	4	6	26	22	+4
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	40	25	6	9	82	40	+42

This seasons meetings with the Smokies

3 - 0 (H)

0 - 0 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

Interestingly, over the final six games of the Championship, Inverness were the team on form, finishing with a flourish ahead of the Play-Offs

			Overall					Home					Away
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1.	Inverness CT	6	4	1	1	12	5	3	0	0	8	1	1	1	1	4	4	+7	13
2.	Arbroath	6	3	2	1	13	6	2	1	0	11	4	1	1	1	2	2	+7	11
3.	Kilmarnock	6	3	2	1	9	6	3	0	0	6	2	0	2	1	3	4	+3	11

Last time we faced Arbroath we were on an eleven game run of no wins since we thumped Morton 6-1 at Cappielow on December 11th

CTO Report March 12th: 3-0: The spell is broken: A blistering start by Inverness put them on their way to a first win in 12 starts. Goals from Shane Sutherland and Reece McAlear set them on their way inside eleven minutes. Billy Mckay sclaffed in a third with twenty minutes to go and there was no way back for Arbroath who lost ground at the top of the table with Dick Campbell sent to the stands. As Partick Thistle lost to Morton, we closed the gap to two points behind them with Raith still one point behind us. Away to Rovers next week. That's a massive game now as both sides chase a play-off spot. I said to my grandkid's at the game "that was an emphatic win" At only seven years old, Ava said "granda, what does win mean?" Yes, it's been a long time coming...

 

Well done Mark, great stuff.   

68 clean sheets, that's some size of linen cupboard pal!

TEAM NEWS

Roddy MacGregor has cracked a bone in his jaw and could be out for the next few games. Tom Walsh is likewise after being injured inside twenty minutes at Firhill. Wallace Duffy missed the last couple after being injured against Accies on matchday 36. Scott Allardice made it onto the pitch as an injury time sub for the first time in months, so that's a positive and here's another one, Aaron Doran came on as a sub for the last half hour after taking a knock at Cappielow on matchday 35.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A well deserved April's Player of the Month award for Logan Chalmers who has chipped in with some massively important stunning goals recently in our drive for promotion.

He scored five goals in a five game purple patch starting with a match winning fiercely struck brace over Raith Rovers. He followed that up with a belter against Ayr United, a sweet winner against Killie and a wonderful solo thumper against Queen of the South.

After a somewhat slow start, Logan has benefitted from more game time and you can see why he is highly rated by parent club Dundee United

That's some left peg lad. 💪

 

 

 

 

 

 

View full article

 

Thought Walsh was out for rest of season, but maybe that's a red herring Mantis.

🔜 With it all level after last night's first leg, we travel to Gayfield for the second-leg this Friday

🎟️ Tickets for Friday's game available from https://t.co/xba7FwOCyB

👉https://t.co/mjtzNryPgz pic.twitter.com/miSPjFn4dO

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) May 11, 2022

If we insist on the long aimless punt then I would push sutherland forward to try and win and retain some possession for billy to feed off. Really pissed off with what I saw last night. Even more pissed off with my wife arranging a bbq for next friday.... cant think of a way to get out of this and up to Arbroath.  Gayfield has always been one if my fav venues and it will be buzzing. Still think we have a good chance

11 minutes ago, Naelifts said:

If we insist on the long aimless punt then I would push sutherland forward to try and win and retain some possession for billy to feed off. Really pissed off with what I saw last night. Even more pissed off with my wife arranging a bbq for next friday.... cant think of a way to get out of this and up to Arbroath.  Gayfield has always been one if my fav venues and it will be buzzing. Still think we have a good chance

I say, who wears the trousers in your house? You clearly will be wearing the apron at the BBQ.  Whereas Kingsmill and I will be wearing our masculine pink shirts together at that time. 🧐

Edited May 11, 20224 yr by No Shin Guards
I say, Typo!!

2 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Thought Walsh was out for rest of season, but maybe that's a red herring Mantis.

Never tried those, but will need to be in Arbroath by 5.30 to get smokies for Mrs Mantis' Saturday lunch.

38 minutes ago, TheMantis said:

Never tried those, but will need to be in Arbroath by 5.30 to get smokies for Mrs Mantis' Saturday lunch.

A brace of smokies and an away win.

A perfect afternoon/evening in Arbroath.

When it comes to smoked fish, smokies are so much nicer than kippers.

Although, with all due respect to Mrs Mantis, breakfast fodder for me rather than lunch, served with a runny poached egg  grilled tomato and hot buttered toast.

Edited May 11, 20224 yr by Kingsmills

58 minutes ago, Kingsmills said:

A brace of smokies and an away win.

A perfect afternoon/evening in Arbroath.

When it comes to smoked fish, smokies are so much nicer than kippers.

Although, with all due respect to Mrs Mantis, breakfast fodder for me rather than lunch, served with a runny poached egg  grilled tomato and hot buttered toast.

Never mind breakfast you will have to treat No Shin Guards to his supper if he picks you up and takes you to Arbroath 🤣

5 minutes ago, IBM said:

Never mind breakfast you will have to treat No Shin Guards to his supper if he picks you up and takes you to Arbroath 🤣

Sadly, I have made prior arrangements 😁

I’m not so sure Arbroath did run out of steam last night. They are very fit and the stat someone posted about their late goals does not suggest tiredness.

I think the wind suited them as it helped them come out flying at the start.

We had the wind advantage in the second and we were largely on top.

Let’s hope for calm conditions at Gayfield on Friday or, if not, we win the toss and have the wind behind us in the first half and get on the front foot from the first whistle and hopefully have enough to defend in the second half to see us through.

I don’t expect any changes in the starting line up and agree with those singling Devine out. I’ve lost count of the number of goal saving blocks and challenges he’s made this season. He is one of our underrated players. 

Edited May 11, 20224 yr by Robert

4 hours ago, Kingsmills said:

Sadly, I have made prior arrangements 😁

I say, are you cheating on me? If you wear a pink tutu to match your pink away shirt I will find you and treat you to a stick of celery and cup of green tea at half time. X🧐

Ticketing details for Friday:

https://www.arbroathfc.co.uk/away-tickets/

6 hours ago, Kingsmills said:

Sadly, I have made prior arrangements 😁

 

6 hours ago, IBM said:

Never mind breakfast you will have to treat No Shin Guards to his supper if he picks you up and takes you to Arbroath 🤣

 

6 hours ago, Kingsmills said:

Sadly, I have made prior arrangements 😁

The offer sounded a bit fishy to me anyway.

CTO Preview for Friday night at Gayfield

16 hours ago, Robert said:

I’m not so sure Arbroath did run out of steam last night. They are very fit and the stat someone posted about their late goals does not suggest tiredness.

I think the wind suited them as it helped them come out flying at the start.

We had the wind advantage in the second and we were largely on top.

Let’s hope for calm conditions at Gayfield on Friday or, if not, we win the toss and have the wind behind us in the first half and get on the front foot from the first whistle and hopefully have enough to defend in the second half to see us through.

I don’t expect any changes in the starting line up and agree with those singling Devine out. I’ve lost count of the number of goal saving blocks and challenges he’s made this season. He is one of our underrated players. 

 

Just now, jed5697 said:

 

Arbroath Friday

Come on guys, get after these fishy characters early doors. Do everyone proud - good luck

Was wondering if Joe Hardy might start the second leg instead of Billy. He struggled badly against the muscle of Arbroath with Joe being a little bit more robust. Billy might prove very effective coming on at about 70 minutes if we were still level and heading for extra time. Equally Aron starting instead of Shane might change things but allow Shane to come on maybe after 60 minutes. 

I'm sure BD will make the right decision

2 hours ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

Was wondering if Joe Hardy might start the second leg instead of Billy. He struggled badly against the muscle of Arbroath with Joe being a little bit more robust. Billy might prove very effective coming on at about 70 minutes if we were still level and heading for extra time. Equally Aron starting instead of Shane might change things but allow Shane to come on maybe after 60 minutes. 

As long as we don't persist on lumping big balls into Joe, as effective as tits evolving on fish 

2 hours ago, caleyboy said:

I'm sure BD will make the right decision

I hope so but there have been far too many games this season when he hasn't.

1 hour ago, Donald1973 said:

As long as we don't persist on lumping big balls into Joe, as effective as tits evolving on fish 

I say, I agree and as much use as wings on a Haggis.

Got to have the midfield bossing it and keeping the ball on the deck.

Not trying to hit every passing easyjet plane passing overhead like they seemed to be aiming for on Tuesday night. Eh what? 🧐 

Given the influence of Nicky Low, is it time to play three in the middle to tighten things up and ensure we are competitive?

It would mean a 4-3-3 / 4 5 1 type flexible formation so we would need to play with one up top but have the midfield needing to get up in support.

If Allardice is fit to start, I’d put him in alongside Welsh and McAlear with one of them playing deeper to support the defence and allow the full backs to push forward when the opportunity arises.

The problem is who drops out. Logically Mckay or Samuels so we keep the width of Chalmers and Sutherland. 

Edited May 12, 20224 yr by Robert

21 minutes ago, Robert said:

Given the influence of Nicky Low, is it time to play three in the middle to tighten things up and ensure we are competitive?

It would mean a 4-3-3 type formation so we would need to play with one up top but have the midfield needing to get up in support.

If Allardice is fit to start, I’d put him in alongside Welsh and McAlear with one of them playing deeper to support the defence and allow the full backs to push forward when the opportunity arises.

The problem is who drops out. Logically Mckay or Samuels so we keep the width of Chalmers and Sutherland. 

I think we need to mix it up a bit. Lining up with the obvious won't work imho. Therefore agree with above fully 

41 minutes ago, Robert said:

Given the influence of Nicky Low, is it time to play three in the middle to tighten things up and ensure we are competitive?

It would mean a 4-3-3 type formation so we would need to play with one up top but have the midfield needing to get up in support.

If Allardice is fit to start, I’d put him in alongside Welsh and McAlear with one of them playing deeper to support the defence and allow the full backs to push forward when the opportunity arises.

The problem is who drops out. Logically Mckay or Samuels so we keep the width of Chalmers and Sutherland. 

 

19 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

I think we need to mix it up a bit. Lining up with the obvious won't work imho. Therefore agree with above fully 

Yes I think you are both right we need to do something different but I don't think Billy Dodds will change it.

We need to get a hold of midfield, and if that means five in the middle, so be it. The team also continue to use the long punt forward, just for the opposition centre backs to win the ball, and start another attack. I don't see Dodds screaming at the team to stop it, so he must be happy with it. All our best moves and chances were created by passing the ball on the deck, that's were we will win this game in my opinion, get hold of the midfield and feed the attacker. I really think we can win this, but not with the futile long punt.