Backlog starts at the MGM Timber

After a seasonal collapse, Inverness need to get back on track quickly as they play catch-up at the home of East Fife. Tuesday night @19:45 will see the Methil men take on a stuttering Caley Jags, fresh from being dumped out of the Scottish Cup by league2 leaders Spartans. East Fife are on a similar trajectory to the Caley Jags having lost all four of their games in a month since beating Elgin City in the KDM Trophy. Their form has been erratic, going from beating Stenhousemuir 1-0 at home to being thrashed 5-0 by the same side less than a month later. Like Inverness, their early season form seems to have deserted them and recent games have left both sets of fans looking for for an improvement.

Time for the Caley Jags players to stand up and be counted. There's plenty waiting in the wings if they can't keep a level of consistency sufficient enough to get us out of this League. They are good enough, now get out there and show the world.

Alloa Athletic play Montrose on the same night.

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Match/Ticket/Bus £20/Info

Stenhousemuir KDM

Alloa @ Home

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Let's name and shame them. Here's the guys that put paid to our aspirations in the Scottish Cup this season. A team with enough talent to run away with League1 but unable to beat the Spartans.

Last time out Inverness fell to their worst Scottish Cup result ever as Spartans dug deep to take the tie to penalties against a gutless Caley Jags. They confirmed their inability to score with the first two penalties being saved by MotM Paddy Martin and we never recovered from that going down 4-2 in the shoot-out after 120 minutes without a goal.

Recent League form is no better with only one point from our last three games scoring just one goal whilst conceding three. The only highlight of late was ironically a penalty shoot-out over Partick Thistle in the KDM Trophy after an encouraging 3-3 draw. That was probably our downfall four days later at Ainslie Park.

This fixture was carried over from November due to the postponed Scottish Cup schedules against Tranent getting in the way, and they were delayed three times due to a waterlogged pitch.

Inverness supporters should purchase tickets in Sections G & H.

One of our better displays this season was the fixture at the Caledonian Stadium where we beat East Fife 4-1 at the end of September.

Fifers Swamped in Second Half Blitz: The rain arrived just in time for kick-off in the Highlands after a few days of late Summer sun. The fifers were in no mood to be turned over by an on form Inverness and made life difficult for their hosts. However, David Wotherspoon headed the Caley Jags in front after seventeen minutes. Nathan Austin levelled just before the interval but Wotherspoon scored his second after an hour and a deflected effort by Alfie Stewart added a third. 99 bonk as Alfie Bavidge completed the scoring in the 99th minute. That win put Inverness top of the table for now. Full Time: 4-1

The Fifers squad that went out of the KDM Trophy 3-0 to Arbroath on 13th of January. Rollo was in goal for that one and Tommy Goss has since returned to Annan Athletic after being on loan at Bayview. There's a few changes in that side to the one that normally is on League duty. Nathan Austin

Their last League1 fixture was that 5-0 drubbing from Stenhousemuir at Ochilview. Prior to that they had been beaten 1-0 by Kelty Hearts and Peterhead.

East Fife had no game last weekend as their Cup journey was ended at the end of November by Arbroath (2-0), who also ended the Fifers involvement in the KDM Trophy a week ago by 3-0.

🏆William Hill League 1
🆚Inverness Caledonian Thistle
🏟MGM Timber Bayview Stadium
📅Tuesday 20th January 2026
🕒7:45PM KO
🎟️Tickets
📺Live stream available worldwide 👀

➡️ https://eftv.info

Ticket Prices:

• Adults: £20

• Concessions: £16

• Under 16s: £5

• East Fife Community FC members (U16): Free

• Inverness supporters should purchase tickets in Sections G & H.

Alloa Athletic play Montrose on the same night.

Accies beat Peterhead 1-2 at the weekend ☠️

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Stenny	21	12	37
2	ICTFC	19	20	34
3	QueenS	21	4	34
4	Alloa	20	10	30
5	P'Head	20	-12	26
6	E Fife	19	-8	25
7	Monty	19	-9	24
8	Accies	20	13	19
9	Cove	20	-4	17
10	Kelty	21	-26	13

I’ll give the benefit of the doubt that the wind impacted the first half.

All that mattered was getting the win, which they did.

Top of the league: let’s stay there this time!

Roll on Saturday.

11 minutes ago, Gringo said:

Job done. Phew

👍👍👍👍

you can have the first draft now

Second Half

They tried to play highlights at the interval to no avail, alas there were none to show. Let's hope something happens in the second half or the 118 away fans will probably go home as well. And those watching on EFTV. I want my money back.... Early activity in the Inverness box as we cleared the ball in the opening minute. Luis Longstaff took a dig after the referee played advantage but his shot was dragged low and wide from the edge of the box. Not sure what it is, but something must be making all these players play so poorly. Biggest cheer so far was Munro slicing a clearance behind for a corner from which Bah tried a McTominay but fired over the bar. A corner onto the head of Zimba who should have hit the target but failed as it bounced wide. Danny Devine came in late at the back post off a Chalmers free kick but he stabbed his effort just over the bar. In fairness at least we are seeing some attempts and MacKinnon fired wide from outside the box. The closest effort so far saw McManus clear off the line with his head from a Devine header before Sole lashed the rebound well wide. The visitors pressure was mounting and after a period of decent possession it ended with Sole's cross being just too high. It had been coming, and when it did come it was a belter after the ball broke to Alfie Stewart who whacked a beauty with the outside of his left foot high past the diving keeper. Kieron Willox almost added a second but his low curler missed the post by a whisker. Another effort from Willox was palmed away by the keeper minutes later followed by a blocked effort. A ball in from a corner went vertical and when it dropped to Devine two yards out he missed the target. Should have been number two. Since the visitors upped the tempo with the introduction of Stewart and Willox there was only one side in it and into time added on the points were safe when substitute Alfie Bavidge raced clear to finish at the second attempt after Hemfrey had blocked his initial effort. Boom!!!

FULL TIME: 0-2

Oh well, they can keep the money after a much better second half where the visitors dominated. That result put the Caley Jags back on top of the table on goal difference after an incredibly dull first half

23 minutes ago, Robert said:

I’ll give the benefit of the doubt that the wind impacted the first half.

All that mattered was getting the win, which they did.

Top of the league: let’s stay there this time!

Roll on Saturday.

I was thinking this also, especially when one of the East Fife players tried to clear the ball from 6 yards and the ball came flying right back to Devine who really should have scored.

I hope bishbashbosh stuck with it for the second half

I hope bishbashbosh stuck with it for the second half

Yes, as I probably will have to do again on Saturday. Alloa pumped Montrose 4-1 in the other game tonight.

Got there in the end though.

Edited January 20Jan 20 by bishbashbosh

4 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

Great strike by Alfie S. Looked and sounded like Siberia🥶

bc

Everyone's dream night out. A cold, windy January night in Methil Docks.
The first half was like Spartans all over again. Devine-Savage-Devine-Chalmers-Devine-Savage, 70% possession etc etc.
We started with a bit more purpose second half and meanwhile the wind seemed to have picked up although we now had it behind us. Kicks from Hemfrey in goals were struggling to reach the halfway line. If anybody scored it was going to be us but although the pressure was building, a goal wasn't a formality.

Kel has taken stick for his use of subs but the changes after an hour transformed the game as the pedestrian Chalmers and the 'tricky but ineffective' Longstaff gave way for Stewart and Willox. We upped the tempo as the Fifers tired.

Alfie Stewart's goal was a sight to behold. The celebrations from the management team were wild and joyful as well as relieved. The pundits always say that a tight game is settled by a quality player showing a bit of quality.
What about Willox? Well if you remember the first time you clapped eyes on Alfie Bavidge, that's what it was like. Electric pace as you would expect from a man from Nairrrrrn and great teamwork with Oscar down the left flank.

It has to be said that EF were woeful and are the worst team I have seen all season (I missed the 9-0 game in person), and resorted to the physical at times. The hardest Munro had to work all night was in dealing with passbacks. I think Dick risked a half fit Brian Easton who will hit 38 about 6 months before Billy, and he had to go off. Munro and Newton were both booked and flirted with second yellows at times.

It's traditional after a result like this for people to get carried away so beware the men from the Recs on Saturday.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by The Mantis

Apparently these are highlights 😂