ICT V Dunfermline - Preview

DETAILS Inverness CT v Dunfermline Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Saturday 30th September at 3pm Referee: Calum Murray Others: Brian McGarry, John Gilmour (Assistants), Mike Ritchie (4th official).

Tickets: This match is a pay at the gate match. TV-info: Live commentary from BBC Sportsound radio. Highlights available on ITV1 Scotsport SPL on Monday evening at 11pm. FIXTURES Saturday 30th September: Inverness CT v Dunfermline Motherwell v Kilmarnock St Mirren v Hibernian (all 3pm) Sunday 1st October: Falkirk v Celtic (Setanta, 2pm) Hearts v Dundee Utd (3pm) Rangers v Aberdeen (3pm) SPL ROUND-UP The first old firm derby took place last Saturday at Celtic Park and there were no surprises. Celtic had already built up a 4 point lead over their rivals and were keen to increase it to a 7 point lead over Le Guen’s men. Gravesen scored his first goal for the club with a header from 1 yard after McGeady’s header wasn’t saved probably by McGregor. It was destiny that Kenny Miller also had to score his first, against his old side, slipping it through the legs of McGregor. Celtic deservedly won 2-0. Motherwell took the lead at Tannadice through Calum Elliot but Noel Hunt equalised for Brewsters men 4 minutes later. Brewster is still looking for a home league win I believe! Dunfermline beat St Mirren 2-1 with goals from Crawford and Young. Sutton scored for the Saints. In a tempestuous encounter at Easter Road Falkirk narrowly escaped with a 1-0 victory. Their were 4 sending offs with one player not even playing at the time. Inverness CT deservedly drew at Rugby Park. Kilmarnock went infront through Nish but Dargo equalised 12 minutes later. Inverness had many chances in the second half but failed to take any of them but they were happy with a point against Kilmarnock. On Sunday, Hearts beat Aberdeen in Aberdeen 3-1. Berra, Pinilla and Mikoliunas scored for Hearts and Daal scored for the Dons. After 8 games, Celtic lead by 3pts and Motherwell are bottom by 4pts. RECENT SPL FORM Inverness CT: DDWLD Dunfermline: WLWLD PAST MEETINGS The teams have played a total of 15 times (12 League, 3 Cup) with 34 goals (17 Inverness CT, 17 Dunfermline) between them. Inverness CT: 5 wins (5 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 al be it for two short spells. • The last meeting was on 6/5/2006. Inverness CT won the bottom six SPL match 1-0 at East End park thanks to an Alan Morgan goal after 53 mins. The attendance was 5354 PLAYERS TO WATCH Richie Hart (Inverness CT): The forgotten midfielder is starting to come alive this season after a very quiet start to the season. Some people even wondered if he was still at the club because he never featured on the bench. Although he has featured in the last few matches and may take Ian Blacks place in the starting eleven this week to shake up the midfield as promised by Christie. Signed from Brora Rangers, Hart can cause defences problems with his pace, skill and crosses. Has scored a few crackers in his ICT days and I am sure there will be more to come. Showed last week when he came on in the second half against Kilmarnock that he has the ability to fight Ian Black and John Rankin for a place in the team. 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 5 SPL goals already this season (3 with Aberdeen, 2 with the Pars) and scored last weekend against St Mirren. FUTURE FIXTURES 23rd Dec 2006 at East End Park, Dunfermline 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, Liam Keogh, Richie Hart, Barry Wilson, Russell Duncan, Craig Dargo, Rory McAllister, Dennis Wyness, Graham Bayne Injured: Nobody. Suspended: Nobody.