Five to go

 

Down to the last five league games starting with the visit of Arbroath on Tuesday night for a 7:45pm kick-off. After successive victories over Partick, Morton and Raith Rovers, we have brought our own fate back into our own hands with a late run. It's still a big ask, but win our remaining games and we will be in the play-offs. Who saw that coming a month ago? Mind you, we still have to play Hamilton, and that gives me the fear.

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Match/Ticket Info

Scottish Cup Tickets

AGM 2023

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Venue

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	23	16	4	3	57	19	+38
Away	22	10	6	6	30	23	+7
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	45	26	10	9	87	42	+45

We hold the overall advantage over the Smokies but four of the last five games ended all square after ninety minutes. They are now fighting to avoid relegation and will be a tough nut to crack as Dundee found out at the weekend in a scoreless draw at Gayfield. We surprised our own fans with a 4-1 win out of the blue at Arbroath in January.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Arbroath

4 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (A)

0 - 0 (A)

0 - 0 (H)

3 - 0 (H)

0 - 0 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

From CTO 4 - 1 win January 2023: Smokies Smoked: Both clubs had big wins in the first games of 2023 and it was Inverness that continued in style with a 4-1 win at Gayfield. Billy Mckay, who scored a hat-trick last week, opened the scoring at the back post in the ninth minute but Ben El-Mhanni levelled fifteen minutes later when he slotted into the bottom corner. Jay Henderson put us ahead just before the break as he lifted a shot high into the net from inside the box. Twenty minutes into the second half Dan Mackay shot into the bottom corner to double our advantage. Substitute Lewis Nicolson concluded the scoring in the 86th minute with a header from sub Steven Boyd's cross. Great win on the road for the Caley Jags that moves us into sixth place in the table, eleven points behind table toppers Queens Park. Great start to 2023 for the Caley Jags with two big wins on the bounce.

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Three fixtures on Tuesday night 1. Dundee 31 15 9 7 54 32 54 2. Queens Park 32 16 6 10 58 45 54 3. Partick Thistle 32 15 6 11 58 40 51 4. Ayr United 32 14 8 10 57 41 50 5. Inverness CT 31 12 9 10 44 42 45 6. Morton 31 11 11 9 43 38 44 7. Raith Rovers 31 11 8 12 42 41 41 8. Arbroath 31 6 14 11 28 41 32 9. Hamilton Ac. 31 7 8 16 28 56 29 10. Cove Rangers 32 6 9 17 35 71 27

Tuesday 11th April

Dundee v Rovers

 Inverness CT v Arbroath FC

Morton v Accies

Last Time Out

We won our third game on the bounce with a comfortable 2-0 win over Raith Rovers. Jay Henderson played after being injured at Cappielow the previous week and opened the scoring before Nathan Shaw crashed in a second ten minutes later. With Raith Rovers looking like their season was already over, the Caley Jags did just enough without over exerting themselves and keeping themselves fresh for the coming busy April schedule culminating in the Scottish Cup tie against Falkirk at Hampden on the 29th. W L W W W 

Arbroath, unbeaten in their last seven league games, have eased themselves clear of Hamilton and Cove at the bottom of the table after two wins and a draw in the last three. However, it's still tight at the bottom and they will be in no mood to gift three points to us. A win over Queens Park  was followed by another over Ayr United before the goalless draw against Dundee on Saturday. D D W W D 

Latest Team News

Billy Dodds has no apparent fresh injuries after the weekend and Jay Henderson played and scored which was a bonus. Danny Devine stayed on the bench which will benefit him in the coming weeks. No sign of Roddy MacGregor, Max Ram, Wallace Duffy or the two season long crocks in Shane Sutherland and Tom Walsh.

Arbroath Starting XI v Dundee: Gaston; Banks, Little, O'Brien, Hetherington, Baldé, Gold, Stewart, McKenna, Dow, Hilson

Arbroath assistant manager Ian Campbell said on BBC Sport: "I think everyone saw an Arbroath team really fighting for each other, well organised and professional. "The plaudits come to Arbroath today, we were tremendous. I'm so happy we done today what we've been doing since Christmas, we went about our business exceptionally (against Dundee).

6 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

We are bound to blow it aren’t we ?

Hope not of course but if we get a needless sending off when 2 up it would seem likely. 

The play offs are in our own hands now. Hopefully the team can keep grinding out 3 points 

10 hours ago, Satan said:

Didn't think he was up to full speed tonight, a couple of runs he made he was never getting close to catching the ball. Almost like he is still protecting an injury.

Yes, tend to agree with this. To be honest couldn’t recall any real contribution Samuals made through the night, couple or runs but never in control or serious about winning the ball. He ‘hid’ in my opinion during a lot of the match and if the bloke wanted subbed he made a good case ahead of Mackay of me.  We’ll need all our players mentally and physically ready for the next two matches to take 6 points and keep the playoffs a possibility. Hope Samuals improves to get to where he can. 

Last comment - observation on last night. Delighted about the win; the first half was dreadful. The continued play safe square passing at the back will come unstuck sooner or later and cost us a goal. It’s a risk we continue to play and we need more emphasis on getting the midfield involved going forward.

Good luck on sat against the Cove.

 

Edited April 12, 20233 yr by Big cherly
Ff

 

Disagree with the comments about Samuels. He was making good runs but not receiving the ball at the right time. A better cross from Henderson just on half time would have given Samuels a tap in. Think he does need to get a goal to boost his confidence but he played bis part last night. 

It's a shame we rarely seem to put highlights out anymore and just have the goals if we are lucky. Does anyone know why the videos from the club have fallen away over the last few months?

1 hour ago, RiG said:

It's a shame we rarely seem to put highlights out anymore and just have the goals if we are lucky. Does anyone know why the videos from the club have fallen away over the last few months?

Don't think Andy and his helpers at club anymore 

19 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

Don't think Andy and his helpers at club anymore 

Yeah, Andy is no longer volunteering on match days. Thankfully he's been using his skills to amazing effect with the ICTWFC Academy, doing loads of filming etc and putting together great videos from the girls/women's games. 

Of course after I say that there's a highlights package on YouTube now. 

 

Edited April 12, 20233 yr by RiG

2 hours ago, Fraz said:

Yeah, Andy is no longer volunteering on match days. Thankfully he's been using his skills to amazing effect with the ICTWFC Academy, doing loads of filming etc and putting together great videos from the girls/women's games. 

And the quality is no longer the same as it was, looks like it's done with a mobile phone!

Highlights up on YouTube! Not anywhere near what we used to get with Andy and his crew but I suppose its better than nothing...

 

Don't think we will be appealing that red card. Henderson ends up practically stamping on the guy's foot.

 

Great counterattack goal for the opener, though one of Arbroath's midfielders doesn't half sell himself easily (and I imagine will get a lot of stick from Dick for not chasing back quickly). Good movement by the attackers, particularly Shaw and Henderson to create space for the latter on the right and then in turn for Shaw in the middle.

 

Unbelievably stupid shirt tug for the penalty. Nice spot kick from Allardice, mind. Keepers don't normally have a hope if it's in the roof of the net, even if it isn't quite in the corner.

Nice spot kick ?? Unfeckinstoppable 😎

The club’s report:

https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-2-0-arbroath-11-04-2023