Crucial Six Pointer Clash

Every point is a prisoner from here on in as we face a crucial six-pointer at home to nearest challengers Stenhousemuir. Gary Naysmith's side have been the biggest threat to our aspirations to return to the championship for next season. Make no bones about it, they are the real deal and are having a tremendous season thus far and a tidy Scottish Cup run to boot, where they thrashed Morton 4-0 then gave Falkirk a hard time before fatigue set in once extra-time kicked in. Not only that, but their League form has been consistent and they have already beaten the Caley Jags at home and away this term. The Warriors are unbeaten at home in the League for the last twelve fixtures, since Alloa Athletic beat them on the opening day of the season on August 2nd, and that has been a solid platform for them to build their season around. We did edge them out in the quarter final of the KDM Trophy, but that was another tough encounter. We moved five points ahead last weekend after Stenhousemuir dropped two points against Montrose whilst we beat Hamilton Accies in a tense win at Broadwood. All in, this should be another big game which could indicate where the title might be heading.

A date for the diary: Our KDM Trophy fate has been decided when Ayr United beat St Johnstone after a dramatic ending and a penalty shoot out win. St Johnstone came back from the dead with two goals in the 89th & 94th minute to level the tie at 3-3. Ayr went on to win the shoot-out 5-4 and we will face them at Somerset Park with the game being shown live on BBC Alba. Tuesday 24th February 19:45 kick-off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Match/Ticket/Bus/Bar/Info

KDM Trophy 📺 Ayr United

📺Live on BBC Alba📺

Young Fan Zone

⬇️⬇️⬇️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 - 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞

Ready to level up your matchday?

The new ICT Young Fanzone is kicking off and it is the place to be before every home game.

If you’re 12 to 17 and mad about Caley Thistle, come hang out, cook up new chants, help create displays or just chill with your pals before heading to the stadium. Football on the big screen and free food and wifi? What is not to like?

And this week only…

The club are sorting free match tickets for everyone who comes along. Turn up, get involved and head to the game for free — simple as that.
We’re running every home game all season, so bring your mates, bring your energy and let’s build something class together.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC
ICT Supporters Trust
The SPFL Trust

This was our starting XI in the Broadwood bruiser. Not the prettiest of games but pretty doesn't win titles. Points do, and we came home with all three thanks to Alfie Bavidge's superb headed goal.

• Last Six League1:

• D W W D W W

Our League form picked up after a punishing January fixture schedule. Having lost the previous two games against Stenny & Montrose, we steadied the ship with a hard fought 0-0 D at Cove. We kicked on again beating East Fife (0-2) & Alloa (3-1). A hard fought draw at Palmerston next where we led twice before being pegged back in a quality 2-2 draw. We beat East Fife comfortably 3-0 and followed that with our BBC Alba extravaganza at Broadwood (0-1)

Apparently Alfie Bavidge has now been told that he will be a free agent at the end of this season as they won't be renewing his contract. Keep it quiet. Would be great if the two Alfie's followed us into the championship next season.

Tickets Available HERE

🚗 Car Parking available
🛍️ Club Shop open from 10am
🍺 Bar 94 open from 12pm

• 🍹Bar 94 will open at 1200, last orders at 1430 (the bar must be fully vacated by 1445).

• The bar reopens at full time, when we will be joined by some of the players.

• 🚍Stagecoach, buses will leave the Bus Station for the Stadium at 1245 and 1415.

• 🚍 Return to the Bus Station 10 minutes after the full time whistle and at 1800.

• 💰 £2.70 single (contactless payments or cash accepted)

• Over 60 / Disabled and Under 22 Concession passes are valid, giving free travel on the service to passholders.

The Warriors squad that dropped points against Montrose at home in a 2-2 draw. An og and one from Finlay Gray had the Warriors ahead before Calum Sandilands got his second of the game ten minutes before the end as he followed up on a saved penalty kick by Taylor Sutherland.

• Last Six League1:

• D W W W D D  

The first D was a 0-0 draw at Alloa followed by three wins on the bounce over Queens, East Fife & Kelty, scoring a total of nine without reply. Their last two D were both 2-2 at home against Peterhead & Montrose.

Striker Matty Aitken was named as League1 Player of the Month, scoring five times in January. Great season for the experienced striker. And it comes as no surprise to find Gary Naysmith picking up the Manager of the Month award.

Winger Kane Ritchie-Hosler has joined on loan from Dunfermline Athletic.

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
	ICTFC	24	28	47
	Stenny	24	14	42
3	QotS	25	7	39
4	Alloa	24	12	37
5	P'Head	23	-12	29
6	Monty	24	-13	29
7	E Fife	25	-18	28
8	Cove	25	-5	22
9	Accies	24	15	20
10	Kelty	24	-28	15

All you ever wanted to know about Liam Sole 

I said a couple of weeks ago that February could be a pivotal month.

So far so good and a win tomorrow will have us in an excellent position.

I’m missing this one but willing the guys to get us full points.

Lets hope for a bumper crowd to get behind the team. It'll been a tough game and one I am confident we get the three points. Mon the Caley Jags.

I am not able to go to this one but will be watching the scores and hoping for a big result.

What’s not to look forward to this most anticipated clash so far this season between the two best teams in the league. The leaders go in as favourites against a strong and well organised second place team.

Performance indices are thrown aside as it comes down to what team wants it more.

Forecast is for rain for this afternoon so that increases a degree of uncertainty on who will come out on top.

A victory of ICT wraps up the league as champions (in everything but name for me). A Stenny win keeps alive the top spot for automatic promotion. A draw allows both teams to walk away with some credit.

bc

Edited February 21Feb 21 by big cherly

Hoping for an entertaining game that ICT win, but I'll settle for the most boring game ever as long as ICT win.

Best of luck boys, don't let them catch up now.

1-1 FT, with Brannan red carded.

Result is ok - Stenny needed to win that more than we did.

Last 20 mins - 5 booked including Brannan's 2nd yellow.

What on earth was happening? Were we lucky to survive?

Must have been a battle

League tables and showing recent form.

26 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

Last 20 mins - 5 booked including Brannan's 2nd yellow.

What on earth was happening? Were we lucky to survive?

Just a dodgy ref, taken in by Sh*tehousemuir and their play acting.

Our boys were amazing, but yes, lucky to survive thanks to decision making.

I’m away so missed today so was relying on the BBC text updates.

TBH I’d have taken a point pre match to maintain our lead.

Referee totally spoilt the game by poor decisions, as did the stand side linesman. Very inconsistent refereeing with Brannan given a second yellow, rightly so under the laws of the game but the Stenny no 7 prevented a quick free kick for us and wasn't booked which was fortunate as he was already on a yellow. How we didn't get a penalty as well is unbelievable.

Probably didn't do quite enough to win but given the circumstances, will take the draw.

Absolute belter of a match. Loved every twist and turn, battles and no little bit of skill from both sides as the game swung in favour of either side. Brannon’s sending off was frustrating (as it was our shy) but the right call by the ref. It made the remaining minutes an anxious watch as Stenny sniffed the opportunity of stealing a win. Happened to be however the best chance fell to Alfie B, however instead of shooting when throu continued to carry the ball where he came unstuck (never a penalty).

I normally am critical of Danny D, but today I thought he was outstanding! Commanded the centre of defence throughout the match and along side Remi were solid. We gifted Stenny their goal. Our equaliser was a cracker.

A draw the right outcome IMO.

bc

Edited February 21Feb 21 by big cherly

Definite penalty if the ref gives Stenhousemuir similar fouls, McIntyres booking for example. That was no different to the foul on Bavidge, don't think he had the chance to really shoot and trouble the keeper before he was fouled.

26 minutes ago, Huisdean said:

Definite penalty if the ref gives Stenhousemuir similar fouls, McIntyres booking for example. That was no different to the foul on Bavidge, don't think he had the chance to really shoot and trouble the keeper before he was fouled.

We’ll be able to see on the highlights. Happy to be corrected, but it looked like Alfie B made a mess of it IMO.

bc

NB Tepid to cold bovril in Bar 94. Could resole my boots with the pie base.

Edited February 21Feb 21 by big cherly

Naismith had a rant to the referee just after half time. The rant suggested Stenny were not getting enough decisions in their favour. To my mind the referee lost it second half. Brannan showed immaturity with his sending off and will have been hammered by Kell behind close doors. Kell was quite brutal in the open air. In some ways you have to have some respect for Stenny who had just three subs excluding the sub keeper. Ultimately I think the referee was swayed into some respect for them too!!

5 hours ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

Last 20 mins - 5 booked including Brannan's 2nd yellow.

What on earth was happening? Were we lucky to survive?

Stenny led the bookings 3-0 before that and there was always the chance of more, even a red for them. They carried out their game plan well and were the better side for the first quarter of an hour but tbh they would get football stopped.

We seemed to lose our discipline after Brannan had a headsgone , and we started giving away fouls. Any chance of winning the game evaporated with 10 men and Stenny went for it. They never looked like scoring though imo. Ref was weak though. The penalty claim was probably a bit soft but Bav really should have shot earlier anyway.

That was a definite 'don't lose' match, with Stenny in good form, having beaten us twice already in the league. So coming back from an early goal and surviving a red card a definite plus , that's the two most recent games Stenny have failed to beat us in and sets us up for the final crucial away match with them. Will they run out of steam before then?

five goals in 7 games is excellent from Bavidge and comes at a great time

We have an interesting run in, …March 4 home games out of 5 then April 3 away games out of 4, helpful that this season our stadium has become a fortress, dropping just 7 points in the league and a league cup loss to St Johnson the only other damage

Kellachers post interview he said we need to move the ball a lot quicker, I hope he means forward.

We seem to have a deal with other teams that when they break quickly forward and nothing comes from it, we allow them to get defensively set up again playing passes along our back 4 intill they give us the signal to come forward.

I maybe glanced across to the bridge a few times but I don’t remember either goalkeeper having to make any saves. Both caught a couple of crosses.

Right behind bavidge for his chance and I thought he could have put the laces through the ball quicker or even a toe poke shot rather than waiting for the ball to settle perfectly for him.(Highlight probably show me as wrong)

We equalised on 19 mins so 71 mins plus added on time to get a winner. 64/36 possession.

Surprised sole was not replaced at some stage by longstaff or willox before the 77 min sending off.

At the end though take a point, but that is 1 out of 9 v stenny in the league this season. Are they that much better than us ?

Ps…….. I think Allan and Stewart are too similar. Both want a lot of time on the ball. For me Stewart is controlling the game better. Maybe time for alonge or mackinnon to have a go.

Ps again…. When billy came on, a few passes into his feet, he controlled and laid off. Zimba next to none as he seems to be fighting/scrapping with the defender. Get it, control it, pass it, old cloughie saying.

16 hours ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

Last 20 mins - 5 booked including Brannan's 2nd yellow.

What on earth was happening? Were we lucky to survive?

No just normal league 1 officiating.

2 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

At the end though take a point, but that is 1 out of 9 v stenny in the league this season. Are they that much better than us ?

No, but I think they must have a better manager.

This one?

You know, I think Kels sums it up very fairly. We weren't at our best and we were too slow at times. 2 or 3 players were definitely off it yesterday and could have been subbed a bit earlier. Dreadful performance by the match officials. But, whilst it is disappointing to draw and have a below par performance when we get our best crowd of the season, a draw still suited us better than them. Onwards and upwards!

43 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

No, but I think they must have a better manager.

I really enjoyed the match as it was uncertain for the full 90 + minutes who would come out on top.

At the end of the day we’re still top of the league with a clear 5 points and in pole position to be there come the end of the season. This has been achieved by winning most of our games.

The question remains however was the preparation, team selection, game plan/strategy and execution the right one for this opponent. Given things weren’t working to plan was the substitutions and timing of them the right decisions?

Ultimately it is the players that cross the line. They alone can influence and deliver the result. I agree with bbb neither goalkeeper was really tested. Both defences were dominant (out with the goals conceded). The attacks (throw in the midfield in part) were less effective. Something to work on for the remaining matches.

Let’s get into the Championship. Right now IMO that is /should be our sole objective.

bc

Edited February 22Feb 22 by big cherly

Two or three decent chances missed...

Great strike from wee Alfie...

That was a very soft goal to concede.