It's five games since we last played at home in the Championship and that one never went well, a 0-3 loss to Hamilton Accies. In fact our League form has been abysmal over the last 19 games as we have only managed a mere sixteen points from a possible fifty seven. That's a poor return in any language. 28%. These statistics have not gone unnoticed by the long suffering Caley Jags fans who have seen their club plunge deeper into trouble on and off the field. I'm sure Billy Dodds will be grateful for the second chance in the Scottish Cup, but is that simply papering over the cracks? Friday nights visitors at 7:45pm have already pumped us 4-1 and 5-1 this season although we did win the home game 1-0. However, that was not good enough for the Partick board and Ian McCall was relieved of his duties in February as Partick fell off the pace slightly and Kris Doolan has replaced him to good effect. Looks like the jobs for boys pact at Inverness is alive and kicking though and despite protestations from many quarters, Billy Dodds is still hanging on by a thread as we look set for another season in the Championship with a Premiership play-off place looking highly unlikely if not virtually impossible.
Overall Partick have stormed ahead of us thanks to the heavy defeats this season. Home results show that we are still ahead of Partick, but those massive defeats this season will have dented our confidence somewhat. This season's aggregate is 9-3 for Partick Thistle.
He scores when he wants: 1 - 0 October 7th 2022: A first half where defences were on top offered little opportunity for either side to create the clear cut chance required until the half hour when Robbie Deas pounced on a loose clearance within the box. His header was bundled away from goal a yard from the line by two defenders with Mitchell floundering. A couple of minutes later and Mitchell was called into action to scramble the ball away low down at his post from a Duffy header. Billy Mckay clipped one over the bar after a tremendous turn and run by Daniel Mackay. Kyle Turner was red carded for what appeared to be a slightly high tackle on Roddy MacGregor and Inverness ended the half knocking on the Partick door. Cammy Harper brought out a super save from Mitchell with 65 minutes gone, diving high to his top left corner. Ten minutes later Billy Mckay opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season, drilling home from twelve yards after good work by MotM Dan Mackay. Kevin Holt came close to an unlikely equaliser with a low shot across the face of the goal ten minutes from the end, but Partick rarely threatened. Oakley had an effort kept out on the line acrobatically by Holt as Inverness looked to close out the game. However, Inverness saw out the game to go joint top of the table after their fourth win in a row. That'll do nicely.
Not good reading for Inverness fans. Thank goodness for the Scottish Cup
1.
Partick Thistle
6
3
3
0
7
1
1
1
0
3
0
2
2
0
4
1
+6
12
2.
Queens Park
6
3
2
1
12
8
2
2
0
6
4
1
0
1
6
4
+4
11
3.
Raith Rovers
6
2
3
1
11
8
1
2
0
8
3
1
1
1
3
5
+3
9
4.
Morton
6
2
3
1
7
7
2
1
1
4
4
0
2
0
3
3
0
9
5.
Dundee
6
2
2
2
7
6
1
1
1
5
5
1
1
1
2
1
+1
8
6.
Hamilton Ac.
6
2
2
2
7
8
1
2
2
4
8
1
0
0
3
0
-1
8
7.
Ayr United
6
2
1
3
7
7
0
0
2
1
3
2
1
1
6
4
0
7
8.
Arbroath
6
1
4
1
5
5
0
2
1
2
3
1
2
0
3
2
0
7
9.
Inverness CT
6
1
2
3
7
11
0
1
1
2
5
1
1
2
5
6
-4
5
10.
Cove Rangers
6
0
1
5
3
15
0
1
1
1
3
0
0
4
2
12
-12
1
Last Time Out
We are all but out of contentionafter losing 2-1 to Championship leaders Queens Park. Despite taking a half time lead thanks to a good strike by Dan Mackay, we were unable to sustain any consistency in the second half and two unchallenged headers from Grant Savoury and the giant Stephen Eze saw Queens Park take all three points. Sandwiched between the 2-1 win at Ayr (Welsh & Henderson scoring) and defeat to Queens Park there was a rousing 2-1 win on the telly over Kilmarnock with Billy Mckay (pen) and Sean Welsh with the goals. If only we could replicate that level of performance in the League games.
Partick have drawntheir last two outings without scoring against Dundee and Morton. They did put three past Raith Rovers the same day we won at Ayr
Latest Team News
Roddy MacGregorlimped off last week in his second appearance after months out. Sean Welsh missed the game at Ochilview so not sure what's happening there, but he's unfortunately made of rice paper which has been a problem for him whilst here. When fit he makes our midfield tick and can be a match winner as shown recently. A couple of new issues according to Bazza, presumably MacGregor (ankle), maybe Welsh and by the sounds of it, maybe more???
Where's Tom Walsh when you need him???
Here's Bazza
Firhill Facts
Kris Doolan was in charge of the u18's and had been in interim charge of first team matters for almost three weeks prior to being rubber stamped on 3rd March, overseeing away victories over Ayr United and Dundee as well as a draw at Arbroath. Since then a 3-0 home win over Raith Rovers has been followed by goalless draws with Dundee and Morton, but more importantly he has dragged Partick back into play-off contention whilst we slip further away.
Partick Starting XI v Morton: Mitchell; McMillan, McAvoy, Muirhead, Milne, Docherty, Bannigan, Lawless, Turner, Tiffoney, Graham.
The obvious and perennial threats to us are striker Brian Graham and chief provider Scott Tiffoney. Lawless, Turner and Dowds will also need well policed.
Well done ICT, an incredibly resilient 10 v 12 performance.
Caley Mad In Berks
What a great result, and a really terrific 'backs to the wall' performance after the shocking red card for the captain. I really hope we appeal it.
Well done everybody (Ridgers particularly). On
Yay, It's a home game
It's five games since we last played at home in the Championship and that one never went well, a 0-3 loss to Hamilton Accies. In fact our League form has been abysmal over the last 19 games as we have only managed a mere sixteen points from a possible fifty seven. That's a poor return in any language. 28%. These statistics have not gone unnoticed by the long suffering Caley Jags fans who have seen their club plunge deeper into trouble on and off the field. I'm sure Billy Dodds will be grateful for the second chance in the Scottish Cup, but is that simply papering over the cracks? Friday nights visitors at 7:45pm have already pumped us 4-1 and 5-1 this season although we did win the home game 1-0. However, that was not good enough for the Partick board and Ian McCall was relieved of his duties in February as Partick fell off the pace slightly and Kris Doolan has replaced him to good effect. Looks like the jobs for boys pact at Inverness is alive and kicking though and despite protestations from many quarters, Billy Dodds is still hanging on by a thread as we look set for another season in the Championship with a Premiership play-off place looking highly unlikely if not virtually impossible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Match/Ticket info
The Wyness Shuffle
📺Live on BBC Scotland📺
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Overall Partick have stormed ahead of us thanks to the heavy defeats this season. Home results show that we are still ahead of Partick, but those massive defeats this season will have dented our confidence somewhat. This season's aggregate is 9-3 for Partick Thistle.
1 - 5
(A)
1 - 0
(H)
1 - 4
(A)
1 - 0
(H)
2 - 1
(A)
0 - 1
(A)
3 - 3
(H)
0 - 0
(A)
3 - 1
(H)
1 - 3
(A)
He scores when he wants: 1 - 0 October 7th 2022: A first half where defences were on top offered little opportunity for either side to create the clear cut chance required until the half hour when Robbie Deas pounced on a loose clearance within the box. His header was bundled away from goal a yard from the line by two defenders with Mitchell floundering. A couple of minutes later and Mitchell was called into action to scramble the ball away low down at his post from a Duffy header. Billy Mckay clipped one over the bar after a tremendous turn and run by Daniel Mackay. Kyle Turner was red carded for what appeared to be a slightly high tackle on Roddy MacGregor and Inverness ended the half knocking on the Partick door. Cammy Harper brought out a super save from Mitchell with 65 minutes gone, diving high to his top left corner. Ten minutes later Billy Mckay opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season, drilling home from twelve yards after good work by MotM Dan Mackay. Kevin Holt came close to an unlikely equaliser with a low shot across the face of the goal ten minutes from the end, but Partick rarely threatened. Oakley had an effort kept out on the line acrobatically by Holt as Inverness looked to close out the game. However, Inverness saw out the game to go joint top of the table after their fourth win in a row. That'll do nicely.
FRIDAY 24TH MARCH 7:45pm
Inverness CT v Partick Thistle
Ayr United v Cove Rangers
Queen's v Arbroath
Last Time Out
We are all but out of contention after losing 2-1 to Championship leaders Queens Park. Despite taking a half time lead thanks to a good strike by Dan Mackay, we were unable to sustain any consistency in the second half and two unchallenged headers from Grant Savoury and the giant Stephen Eze saw Queens Park take all three points. Sandwiched between the 2-1 win at Ayr (Welsh & Henderson scoring) and defeat to Queens Park there was a rousing 2-1 win on the telly over Kilmarnock with Billy Mckay (pen) and Sean Welsh with the goals. If only we could replicate that level of performance in the League games.
Partick have drawn their last two outings without scoring against Dundee and Morton. They did put three past Raith Rovers the same day we won at Ayr
Latest Team News
Roddy MacGregor limped off last week in his second appearance after months out. Sean Welsh missed the game at Ochilview so not sure what's happening there, but he's unfortunately made of rice paper which has been a problem for him whilst here. When fit he makes our midfield tick and can be a match winner as shown recently. A couple of new issues according to Bazza, presumably MacGregor (ankle), maybe Welsh and by the sounds of it, maybe more???
Where's Tom Walsh when you need him???
Here's Bazza
Firhill Facts
Kris Doolan was in charge of the u18's and had been in interim charge of first team matters for almost three weeks prior to being rubber stamped on 3rd March, overseeing away victories over Ayr United and Dundee as well as a draw at Arbroath. Since then a 3-0 home win over Raith Rovers has been followed by goalless draws with Dundee and Morton, but more importantly he has dragged Partick back into play-off contention whilst we slip further away.
Partick Starting XI v Morton: Mitchell; McMillan, McAvoy, Muirhead, Milne, Docherty, Bannigan, Lawless, Turner, Tiffoney, Graham.
The obvious and perennial threats to us are striker Brian Graham and chief provider Scott Tiffoney. Lawless, Turner and Dowds will also need well policed.