Dunc's Homecoming

 

It's Duncan Ferguson's first home game on Saturday against a team expected to be challenging at the top end of the table come the end of the season. Partick Thistle will be a stern test for Dunc's revitalised troops who have been re-energised by the new Gaffer's unexpected arrival at the Caledonian Stadium. He got off to a flier last weekend but the adrenaline started to wear off before the end of the game and Arbroath staged a comeback from 3-0 down before we held out for a 3-2 win on the road, our first success in this years Championship. It's a big ask to expect miracles against well established Championship challengers, but that's the task on Saturday.

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Match/Ticket Info

North of Scotland Cup v Nairn

Community development Summer report

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Last Time Out

Inverness earned their first three points of the season last week against Arbroath in a five goal nailbiter. Dunc's reign got off to a great start with an early goal from Luis Longstaff. It was added to before the break when Longstaff turned provider for Aaron Doran to thump home his low driven cross after half an hour. Billy Mckay lobbed keeper Gaston just after the break from a Mark Ridgers kick out. Route one is alive and kicking. Arbroath got a lifeline with a freak goal when a clearance rebounded off Ross Stewart and deftly chipped over the flailing keepers hands and into the net from eighteen yards. Meh! Michael McKenna reduced the leeway to one when he arrowed home aftrer a bit of pinball on the edge of the box. We dug deep though and withstood a late barrage to secure the win for a jubilant away support and an equally enthusiastic new manager.

Current Form last five games: L D L L W   That leaves Inverness bottom equal with Morton on four points. Our scoring record is poor with only 6 goals scored but despite the mistakes, we haveonly conceded 10.

Here's the goals from last week>>>

 

Partick Thistle recovered from a 3-0 defeat to Arbroath the previous week to thump Dunfermline 3-0. Scott Robinson scored in the first half before our old friend Brian Graham scored five minutes after the break. Kerr McInroy added a third. This game had a raft of opportunities for both sides but it was the Firhill side that had the cutting edge in front of goal.

Current Form last five games: W W W L W  Good start by Partick has them tucked in behind Dundee United & Raith Rovers in 3rd place with 13 points. Partick are top scorers in the league with 17 goals having conceded 9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest Team News

Ferguson will be without the long term absentees (MacGregor & Nicolson) plus more recent victims in Sean Welsh, Danny Devine and Wallace Duffy. Awaiting further team news>>>

 

Partick Thistle

Kris Doolan XI v Dunfermline

Sneddon

 

Ngwenya   Muirhead   Neilson   Milne

 

McInroy   Robinson (Alston 79)   Bannigan (Williamson 79)

 

Lawless   Graham (Adeloye 67)   Fitzpatrick (McDonald 73)

 

Subs not used: Diack, McGinley, Alston, Stanway, McKenzie,  

 

One for the Diary>>>

 

***Game Changer***

Due to a weather warning this game versus East Fife will now be played at Millburn Academy, with a 12.30pm kick-off.

 

 

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Table after yesterdays games
1.	Dundee Utd	8	5	3	0	17	4	18
2.	Raith Rovers	8	5	2	1	13	9	17
3.	Partick Thistle	8	4	2	2	17	9	14
4.	Arbroath	8	4	0	4	15	11	12
5.	Airdrieonians	8	4	0	4	8	12	12
6.	Dunfermline	7	3	2	2	9	8	11
7.	Queens Park	9	3	1	5	11	19	10
8.	Ayr United	8	3	0	5	11	17	9
9.	Inverness CT	8	1	2	5	6	10	5
10.	Morton	8	1	2	5	8	16	5

Sounds like the weather had a bit of an impact on the game, but an encouraging result all the same.

The match report gave good ratings to Gilmour, Longstaff and Ujdur [Longstaff I think has been generally pretty good each game he has played] so maybe our recruitment has been not so bad after all.

Scoring obviously a bit of a problem at the moment since we have lost every league game we have by the odd goal. Overall I think the defence is in a decent place, with good numbers and some quality that will see us over the winter.  We've certainly not been tonked by anyone.

Looking at Shaw, Longstaff and McKay there are clearly goals there, and I have faith in Big Dunc, if he can't get the attack firing including the likes of Brooks [young but intelligent] Lodovica [potentially another Todorov who ventually had quite a purple patch] Samuels [fast, young, needs to develop some composure ] then who could?

Midfield seems settled, not sure how long Welsh is out for, he would makes a difference when he returns.

The season has a long way to go, if we can steady progress up to the New Year, first to make relegation an unlikely event, and then to be withing striking distance of the top 4, who knows...if we can rid ourselves of the Dodds long dip in form that has cost us two seasons running [albeit last season mass injuries did play a hand]

 

Edited October 8, 20232 yr by Eagle4Caley

I’ll take a point, especially given that Partick really should have scored at the end.

On the plus side the defence looked pretty solid, but it also felt we could have played until midnight without scoring.

A front line of Samuels, Lodovica and Brooks at the end felt a bit short of quality.

Anderson and Gilmour put in some shift in the middle of the park and Longstaff looked keen to take men on.

Build up was a bit pedestrian at times and there was a tendency to pass sideways or turn back rather than try and find a man further forward. On the occasions McKay did break through, we were slow to support.

If someone can find the Shaw from the end of last season, that would be great.

Green shoots for sure, and not letting them in for fun at the back is an improvement.

No idea what the Partick love-in is all about, they looked pretty ordinary to be honest.

[Edit] Thought the ref had a decent game too. Wasn’t too fussy, or card happy and quite happy to let the game flow.

Edited October 8, 20232 yr by HawkeyeTheGnu