Caley Thistle lost by the odd goal in seven last week and although the normally solid defence looked a little shaky, according to many supporters the midfield and forward line continued to improve. With 3 straight defeats and without a win in 8 games, the fans are hoping that this improvement continues and that this must-win battle against the Pars sees all parts of the team put in a good performance. Andrew Fraser provides the match preview.
| DETAILS Dunfermline v Inverness CT East End Park, Dunfermline Saturday 23rd December at 3pm Referee: William Collum Others: James Bee, Steve Pullar (Assistants), Anthony Law (4th official). Tickets: This match is a pay at the gate match. TV-info: LIVE commentary on BBC Radio Scotland, or highlights on Scotsport SPL on Monday. FIXTURES Saturday 23rd December: Aberdeen v Rangers (Setanta, 12:30pm) Celtic v Falkirk Dundee Utd v Hearts Dunfermline v Inverness CT Hibernian v St Mirren Kilmarnock v Motherwell SPL RESULTS Saturday 16th December: Falkirk (Martis o.g, Craig) 2-1 Hibernian (Fletcher) Hearts 0-1 Aberdeen (Lovell) Inverness CT (Dods 2, Dargo) 3-4 Kilmarnock (Naismith 2, Nish 2) Motherwell (Foran, Reynolds) 2-3 Dundee Utd (Samuel, McCracken, Hunt) St Mirren 0-0 Dunfermline Sunday 17th December: Rangers (Hemdani) 1-1 Celtic (Gravesen) RECENT SPL FORM Inverness CT: LLLDL Dunfermline: DLLLW PAST MEETINGS The teams have played a total of 16 times (13 League, 3 Cup) with 35 goals (18 Inverness CT, 17 Dunfermline) between them. Inverness CT: 6 wins (6 League, 0 Cup) Draws: 6 (4 League, 2 Cup) Dunfermline: 4 wins (3 League, 1 Cup) PREVIOUS MATCHES TO REMEMBER 07/08/1999 (1st Division) Dunfermline 4-0 INVERNESS CT: In the first meetings between these sides nothing went to plan for the Caley Jags. A 4-0 drubbing which Petrie scored a last minute goal for the Pars. 10/04/2004 (Scottish Cup Semi-Final) INVERNESS CT 1-1 Dunfermline: Inverness appeared in only their 2nd Scottish Cup Semi-Final in history although they were the only team to still be in at this stage last year as well as 2004. Paul Ritchie had put a glancing header in just before half time but Craig Brewster cancelled it out later. 20/04/2004 (Scottish Cup Semi-Final Replay) Dunfermline 3-2 INVERNESS CT (Pittodrie): Inverness left Pittodrie with a sense of what could have been. Paul Ritchie scored a spectacular goal of which the build up and the lovely floated pass by Bingham was unbelievable. Darren Young, Craig Brewster and Barry Nicholson all scored to make it 3-1 to the Pars but David Bingham got a goal of his own with a penalty late on. Inverness would be seeing a lot more of Pittodrie the next season. And little did Brewster know he just knocked out the team that he would be playing for and managing a year later!! 15/08/2004 (SPL) INVERNESS CT 2-0 Dunfermline (Pittodrie): A first SPL win for the Caley Jags on their first “home” game of the season. Stuart Golabek had scored Inverness CT’s first ever SPL goal in 12 minutes then Juanjo opened his account with his first for the club. It was a great day in a game dominated by the home side. FACTS BETWEEN THE TEAMS • Inverness CT have never lost a SPL game to Dunfermline. • Dunfermline have never lost a 1st division game to Inverness CT. • Craig Brewster has played for both teams all be it for two short spells. • The last meeting was on 30/9/206. After what sounded a dire match, it sprung to life in the 90th minute when Ross Tokely slotted home a match winner giving the Highlanders the much needed 3pts. The attendance was 3517. PLAYERS TO WATCH The starting 11 (Inverness CT): Will Christie make changes in what is now a must win fixture on Saturday? Although playing decent football in their last fixture against Kilmarnock, they have lost their last 3 games and haven’t won in 8 games. Christie will know if the Highlanders suffer another defeat on Saturday, then it looks like a relegation battle. With fixtures of Rangers at home and Falkirk away coming up before the New Year, it is important that they get the result at East End Park. I am sure fans won’t mind how they play, as long as they come away with the 3pts!! Stephen Crawford (Dunfermline): Currently in his second spell with the Fifers. Previously with Raith, Millwall, Hibernian, Dunfermline, Plymouth, Dundee Utd, Aberdeen and now back with Dunfermline. With Hamilton, McIntyre and Crawford all signed for Dunfermline during the summer, there is a strong competition for places like the midfield of Inverness CT. Crawford could be essential for the Pars in their bid to stay in the SPL. Has scored a few against the Highlanders and will be keen to add to his tally. Crawford has scored 7 SPL goals already this season (3 with Aberdeen, 4 with the Pars). FUTURE FIXTURES 17th Mar 2007 at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Squad: Mark Brown, Jonathon Smith, Michael Fraser, Darren Dods, Stuart Soane, Ross Tokely, Guy Kerr, Richard Hastings, Stuart McCaffrey, Stuart Golabek, Grant Munro, John Rankin, Ian Black, Roy McBain, Zander Sutherland, Alan Morgan, Richie Hart, Barry Wilson, Russell Duncan, Craig Dargo, Rory McAllister, Dennis Wyness, Graham Bayne Injured: Gary McSwegan (ankle) Liam Keogh Suspended: Nobody. |
| History |
| H / A / N | Matches | W | D | L | Goals | + / - |
| H | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 - 1 | +2 |
| A | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 - 2 | +2 |
| N | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | +0 |
| Total | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 - 3 | +4 |
| Date&time | Comp. | H / A / N | Final score |
| 30.09.2006 at 15:00 | League | H | 1 - 0 |
| 06.05.2006 at 15:00 | League | A | 1 - 0 |
| 08.02.2006 at 19:45 | League | A | 2 - 2 |
| 05.11.2005 at 15:00 | League | H | 2 - 1 |
| 13.08.2005 at 15:00 | League | A | 1 - 0 |
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