The Post Dodds Era Kicks-Off

 

Life without Billy Dodds starts on Saturday, and it couldn't be tougher with Champions elect Dundee United visiting the Caledonian Stadium for a 3:00pm Cinch Championship encounter to round off a week of turmoil down the Longman. It was a no brainer really. The Board terminated the contract of Billy Dodds, and by association, Barry Wilson was struck off as well. No wins in our opening five games and only one point from fifteen had Inverness languishing at the foot of the table on our own. DoddsBall was in full swing. It was a sacking in the making after Dodds got a stay of execution with a Cup Final against Celtic at the end of last season. The big mystery was why was Dodds given a two year extension and who rubber-stamped his contract? The other mystery is where does John Robertson's loyalties lie and who pays his wages as he is more often than not seen at the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall? Two down and more to go is the current theme coming from the support, so who is next?

John Robertson and Charlie Christie will oversee this fixture on Saturday and until a new managemnt team is appointed.

 

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Billy Dodds & Barry Wilson

Match/Ticket Info

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Venue: H2H v Dundee Utd

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	33	10	10	13	35	43	-8
Away	28	7	10	11	36	42	-6
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	61	17	20	24	71	85	-14

United do have the edge over us but we have had our moments. A 4 - 0 thrashing of United at Tannadice in 2010 will live long in the memory banks. 

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Dundee Utd going back to Oct 20th 2018: Only one win over the last ten games!!!

1 - 2 (A)

0 - 3 (H)

1 - 4 (A)

0 - 3 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

0 - 2 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

0 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

The last meeting between the sides at the Caledonian Stadium was in November 2019 and the home fans were left scunnered in a 0 - 3 defeat.

SCUNNERED:  Dundee United cruised to victory in the Highlands as disparity on the park mirrored that off the park. United were worthy winners as Inverness struggled to find any momentum and it was left to desperation and Mark Ridgers to keep the score down. Shaun Rooney deflected a forced Paul McMullan cross/shot into the net. A reaction save from Siegrist blocked a James Keatings effort before the break but that was as good as it got for the hosts. Nicky Clark stroked in the second as we unravelled and a cheap penalty saw Lawrence Shankland complete the scoring, but not the agony as we failed to trouble the United keeper with a series of fluffed attempts whilst United looked more likely to increase their lead.
A poor day at the office that had the home fans shaking heads long before the end as we lose ground on the three teams above us.

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table ahead of Ayr United thrashing Queens Park 5-2 tonight 1. Raith Rovers 5 4 1 0 10 6 13 2. Dundee Utd 5 3 2 0 11 2 11 3. Partick Thistle 5 3 1 1 14 6 10 4. Arbroath 6 3 0 3 10 8 9 5. Queens Park 6 3 0 3 8 10 9 6. Dunfermline 5 2 2 1 6 4 8 7. Airdrieonians 5 2 0 3 5 10 6 8. Morton 5 1 1 3 7 12 4 9. Ayr United 5 1 0 4 3 12 3 10. Inverness CT 5 0 1 4 3 7 1

       Friday 22nd September

1.  Queen's Pk 2-5 Ayr United   

         Saturday 23rd September

1.   Airdrie v Raith Rvrs
2.   Dunfermline v Morton             
3.  Inverness v Dundee Utd
4.  Partick v Arbroath

Last Time Out

We didn't know it at the time, but It turned out to be Billy Dodds last game in charge. Ironically, it happened to be our best performance of the season. However, the result remained the same, and we lost a 23 year unbeaten record to Raith Rovers who find themselves top of the league ahead of this weekends fixtures. An aesthetically pleasing first half gave way to a less impressive second forty-five before we succumbed to a late sucker punch when Jamie Gullan hammered home after a defensive lapse. Hard one to take but that's what happens when you're down. 

Championship form so far: L L L D L  One Point from fifteen

 

The Arabs are everyones favourites for the title, but they dropped two points last week when Morton came back to earn a point shortly after Mathew Cudjoe had been sent off. Robbie Muirhead capitalised on a defensive error on the hour after Louis Moult had given United a first half lead with his fifth strike of the season.

Championship form so far:  W D W W D  Eleven Points from fifteen

 

Latest Team News

The Robertson/Christie combo will be without MacGregor, Nicolson and Welsh who have been out for a few weeks and nothing has changed there. Wallace Duffy is still a doubt. However, we are in limbo, therefore who knows if Robbo and Charlie will rock the boat too much. It's a difficult enough task to pick up a team low on confidence, even moreso when the title favourites come calling. Harry Lodovica will be available for selection after his red card at Arbroath.

 

 

Dundee United (Manager Jim Goodwin)

In: Declan Gallagher, defender (St Mirren); Louis Moult, forward (Burton Albion); Ross Docherty, midfielder (Partick Thistle); Kevin Holt, defender (Partick Thistle); Liam Grimshaw, midfielder (Morton). Loan in: Jordan Tillson, midfielder (Ross County); Jack Walton, goalkeeper (Luton); Oliver Denham, defender (Cardiff City).

Out: A number of players were deemed surplus to requirements at Tannadice as United up their game in their bid to bounce back into the Premiership. Charlie Mulgrew retired and the exprienced Steven Fletcher and Peter Pawlett are away amongst others.

Louis Moult is a proven goascorer and will need close attention. Glen Middleton is a handful as well and an able provider. To be fair, as expected, United appear to have the strongest squad on paper in the Championship.

Dundee United Team v Morton last week 1-1:

Walton

 

Grimshaw (Meekison 84)   Gallagher   Holt   McMann

 

Tillson   Glass (Sibbald 69)

 

Middleton   Watt (Fotheringham 68)  Anim Cudjoe (58)

 

Moult

 

Subs not used: Newman; Freeman, Stirton, Graham, Mochrie, Denholm

 

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Don't forget, there's still an open meeting at the Innes Bar to discuss our current plight amongst other things.

Dodds no more. But there's still Gardiner, Robertson and more to discuss.

Come along and have your say.

Innes Bar (Beer Garden)

61 Innes Street

Inverness

IV1 1NR

TIME: 12:00-2:15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 minutes ago, ICTPaisley said:

Better performance than against Raith last week then? 

I thought  that was the best we have played this season so far although that cannot be hard to be honest

43 minutes ago, WYNESS101 said:

Was that a bigger home support than normal? 

Wouldn’t say so, but there was much more positivity in the crowd, even after the sickening late goal.

I agree with the comments that the players were up for it and felt we matched United in the main, but our downfall was failing to get shots away.

I came away feeling more confident we can turn things round, at least enough to ensure safety.

Udjur had a decent debut and Boyes looked good again. Anderson also looks a good find.

I thought it telling that Doran started, whilst it’s the best Samuels has played for at least a year.

There is hope!

1 hour ago, WYNESS101 said:

First home game of the season for me today.

1st half was awful for both teams not much really happened.

Second half was a lot better. We looked really good in spells and did create a lot of chances but sadly couldn't put them away. Not too sure what happened for the red card was it something he said to the ref? The new defender looked decent reminded me of a Grant Munro no mucking around at the back just clear it if there was any pressure. He was my MOTM. Austin changed the game for us when he came on looked very quick on the wing and was unlucky on a few shots he pulled off.

I'm taking away a lot of positives from that second half performance today.

Thought Samuel's was poor!  As usual he huffed and puffed but took the wrong choice, he also shot (wide) when he should have squared the ball to Mackay. Shaw was poor today  and Carson needs lessons on passing,   however a more positive display overall and the Aussie looks the part.  

1 hour ago, WYNESS101 said:

Was that a bigger home support than normal? 

Think a lot of free tickets given out? However nice to see all the young people there 

Signs of improvement but still came away with nothing, worrying we are going to get detached at the bottom.

Positives ,the two centre backs look  decent and good to see Doran back to some form.

Special mention to Goodwin though ,an absolute tool. Set up his team in his own image, sez loads about his lack of class.Lost count of how many yellows, a deserved red, niggling fouls,trying to deceive for a penalty the list is endless . Also a special mention for his ultimate shithousery. At least 3 times DU deliberately kicked on an  extra ball to try and break up our attacking play. 

 

 

Although the result is not what we wanted, it was a better all round team performance, and if we can sort out being more ruthless in the final third, we could start to pick up some much needed points. And Christie and Robbo managed to get through the game by watching the play, instead of having their heads buried in a folder or tablet!

9 hours ago, Jaggernaut said:

Although the result is not what we wanted, it was a better all round team performance, and if we can sort out being more ruthless in the final third, we could start to pick up some much needed points. And Christie and Robbo managed to get through the game by watching the play, instead of having their heads buried in a folder or tablet!

I really liked thar Charlie was out pitchside whole game encouraging the players! They've not had that in a while! 

Goodwin taking the **** big time .Did it the entire game plus personally chucked a ball on pitch during play.

Total tool.

11 minutes ago, alwaysblue said:

Goodwin taking the **** big time .Did it the entire game plus personally chucked a ball on pitch during play.

Total tool.

The incompetent officials need to get on top of this. The standside linesman talked to him about it and then let him away with it for the rest of the match. They needed to do what the referee did to Mcinnes in the Dundee kilmarnock game, and send him off if he doesn't comply.