ICT V Aberdeen - Preview

Caley Thistle go into Monday night's game against the Dons on the back of a seven game unbeaten streak, a streak that has been recognised in the form of the Manager of the Month award for October that is now sitting proudly on Charlie Christie's desk.

Can Charlie and the lads extend the run to eight by getting something from this game ? Andrew Fraser provides the match preview.

DETAILS

Inverness CT v Aberdeen Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Monday 6th November at 7:45pm Referee: Dougie McDonald Others: Neil Brand, Brian McGarry (Assistants), Colin Brown (4th official) FIXTURES Saturday 4th November: Celtic 2-1 Hearts Dunfermline 0-3 Falkirk Hibernian 2-2 Kilmarnock Motherwell 0-0 St Mirren Sunday 5th November: Dundee Utd v Rangers (Setanta, 2pm) Monday 6th November: Inverness CT v Aberdeen (Setanta, 7.45pm)

SPL ROUND-UP

Again, only 4 games took place on the Saturday; with the SPL fixtures now spread over 3 days. It was the same fixtures that took place on the opening day. Craig Brewster’s reign as Dundee Utd manager ended quicker than Santa Clause could save him. He lasted from Janurary to November so he didn’t even survive a Christmas or a whole year showing that he couldn’t break the ICT curse. Anyway back to last Saturday, Dundee Utd were thrashed 5-1 at the Falkirk Stadium. I really feel for Malky Thompson who was happy at Inverness and now has no job. The highlight was Anthony Stokes hat-trick which won him young player of the month for Falkirk. If that wasn’t enough for a weekend, Hearts were told by Romanov that the whole team would be put on the transfer list if they didn’t win against Dunfermline. The game ended 1-1 but no Hearts players have left this week. Although with the comments of the chairman and a caretaker manager who needs an interpreter on the touchline, Hearts fans aren’t very confident. Motherwell became the second team in a row to leave Ibrox with something. Boyd scored for the Gers but Kerr equalised for Motherwell, giving the Well a valuable point against a lacklustre Gers performance. At Love Street, St Mirren and Inverness CT fought out a 1-1 draw aswell. Dargo got his 5th goal of the season for Inverness in the first half but Kean deservedly equalised in the second half. Inverness are now 6 games unbeaten in the SPL which has won Charlie Christie manager of the month for October. To Sunday, and Celtic came from behind to beat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Nish opened the scoring but Nakamura and Miller got the 3pts for the Celts. And on Monday night, Aberdeen scored a last minute winner with a potential goal of the season for Scott Severin. Aberdeen won the game 2-1 after Hibernian had been in the lead through Killen.So in other words, not a lot happened last week!!!!!!!! PAST MEETINGS The teams have played a total of 11 times (7 League, 4 Cup) with 19 goals (5 Inverness CT, 14 Aberdeen) between them. Inverness CT: 0 wins (0 League, 0 Cup) Draws: 5 (4 League, 1 Cup) Aberdeen: 6 wins (3 League, 3 Cup)

SOME PREVIOUS MEETINGS 08/08/1998 (League Cup 2nd Round) INVERNESS CT 0-3 Aberdeen: In the first game between the sides it was a Billy Dodds hat-trick that gave the top-flight side the win. Inverness CT was a 2nd Division side at the time. 20/02/2000 (Scottish Cup 4th Round) INVERNESS CT 1-1 Aberdeen: After the excellent achievements of beating Celtic at Parkhead in the previous round, the gift was a home-tie against Aberdeen which was screened live by Sky-Sports. Bobby Mann’s header looked as if it would have taken the Caley Jags through but Cato Gunviet scored with 10 minutes remaining meaning a replay was to be played. Both scorers got yellow cards during the match. Aberdeen won the replay 1-0. 16/10/2004 (SPL) INVERNESS CT 1-3 Aberdeen (Pittodrie): With all the media hype about Aberdeen playing away at Pittodrie was a joke before this game. Inverness were paying Aberdeen £30,000 for the day plus Aberdeen didn’t need to travel to Inverness. And plus they still got the victory thanks to 2 penalties. Roy McBain got the goal for Caley Thistle which was a great goal.

FACTS BETWEEN THE TEAMS • All League meetings between the teams have taken place in the SPL. • Aberdeen are unbeaten in all fixtures between the teams. • The biggest win in the fixture was when Aberdeen won 3-1 on 16/4/2004 away to us at Pittodrie! McBain scored Inverness’s solo goal. • Inverness CT are currently on a 7 match unbeaten run. • Aberdeen have lost their last 2 away matches in the SPL.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Barry Wilson (ICT): The Caley Thistle right winger is a key member of the Highlanders side. He hasn’t scored since Inverness last played Aberdeen but his contribution is vital to the team. An experienced player, who, on his day, can still produce a few effective, runs down the right hand side causing defences many problems. He is looking to enter coaching after his playing days are over and hopefully he will join the ICT coaching staff. Lee Miller (Aberdeen): The ex-Dundee Utd striker has still to find his scoring boots at Aberdeen since his arrival on the last day of the summer transfer window. He currently has only 1 goal to his name and wants to get a run of goals going to cement his place in the starting eleven.FUTURE FIXTURES13th Jan 2007 at Pittodrie 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, Roy McBain, Zander Sutherland, Alan Morgan, Liam Keogh, Richie Hart, Barry Wilson, Russell Duncan, Craig Dargo, Gary McSwegan, Rory McAllister, Dennis Wyness, Graham Bayne Injured: Nobody. Suspended: Ian Black (6 cautions)