The split has taken place and for the 4th consecutive season, Inverness CT are in the bottom six. After beating Kilmarnock 3-1 at home on the 29th December, top six was looking like it could be possibly, but after a horrendous run of results which includes a mere 2 wins over Gretna, we find ourselves down to 9th. During that run we lost to Kilmarnock by a miserable 4-1.

We might not have much to play for, but Brewster has lost a lot of fans recently and if they can pick up the majority of points in the last remaining games, he could restore a bit more confidence the fans have in his ability. With Wyness, Paatalainen and Wilson all playing for extended contracts, and McGuire out for the rest of the season, who will get the chance to shine??

Inverness CT v Kilmarnock

Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Saturday 18th April @ 3pm

SPL Referee: Alan Muir Others: Alan Cunningham, Willie Dishington (Assistants) Willie Hornby (4th official).

FIXTURES

Saturday 18th April:

Celtic v Aberdeen Falkirk v Gretna Hearts v St Mirren Inverness CT v Kilmarnock

Sunday 19th April:

Dundee Utd v Hibernian (Setanta, 2pm)

SPL DONE AND DUSTED ALREADY??

The SPL split was introduced to add extra excitement as relegation threatened teams played each other as do the champion chasers. However the league has only just split and we are looking at a bit of an anti-climax to the end of the season.

In the top six, Rangers and Celtic may be only be separated by a single point, but Rangers have 2 games in hand. If Celtic can take advantage of the hectic schedule of games facing Rangers in the coming weeks then we might just be looking at an exciting end to the top half. Motherwell, Dundee Utd and Hibernian are all competing for the UEFA Cup spot, and with only 2pts separating the three clubs, this could go down to the last day where Hibernian play at home to Motherwell. Aberdeen might only be 6pts behind Hibernian, but I will be very surprised if they achieve higher than 6th place.

What can be said about the bottom six? Not a lot really. With Gretna already relegated and losing their squad, don’t expect them to pick up much points in the last 5 games. Falkirk and Hearts just missed out on top six and will be competing for ‘the best of the rest’ in the bottom six. Inverness CT, Kilmarnock and St Mirren are the other 3 teams and they all still have a chance of raising a few places. There might not be much to excite the fans but if anyone of the 6 teams can win most of their post-split games then it will give the fans some encouragement going into the Summer, Like Inverness CT did 2 years when they won all 5 games and kept 5 clean sheets.

RECENT SPL FORM

Inverness CT: WLLLLL

Kilmarnock : DDWLWL

PAST MEETINGS

The teams have played a total of 15 times (13 League, 2 Cup) with 56 goals (25 Inverness CT, 31 Kilmarnock ) between them.

Inverness CT: 2 win (2 League, 0 Cup)

Draws: 7 (6 League, 1 Cup)

Kilmarnock : 6 wins (5 League, 1 Cup)

17/02/2001 (Scottish Cup 4th Round) INVERNESS CT Kilmarnock : 1-1

Two late goals were the topic of this game. A Barry Robson goal was cancelled out by Garry Hay meaning a replay was to be played.

06/03/2001 (Scottish Cup 4th Round replay) Kilmarnock 2-1 INVERNESS CT:

Even though Davide Xausa put the 1st Division side in front, McGowne and Wright made sure that Kilmarnock were the team to go through. Ally McCoist came on as a sub for Kilmarnock .

23/10/2004 (SPL) Kilmarnock 2-2 INVERNESS CT:

After going down twice Inverness deservedly earned their first away point in the SPL. Barry Wilson cancelled out Murray’s opener but then Kilmarnock went ahead through a good goal by Greer. Craig MacKay wrongly sent off McCaffrey after 51 minutes but even though down to 10 men Inverness worked hard and deservedly Liam Fox scored his first ever goal for Inverness with a late equaliser.

04/01/2005 (SPL) INVERNESS CT 0-2 Kilmarnock :

ICT ended their stay at Pittodrie with a loss as Killie stopped the good form the team were in. 2 goals by Invincible late on meant Inverness started 2005 off bad. The team could have played better according to some of the ICT fans on the Message Board.

• All League meetings between the teams have taken place in the SPL.
• Inverness CT were unbeaten in their first 4 SPL matches at Rugby Park.
• The last game between these sides was a 5 goal disaster for Inverness as they lost 4-1 away at Rugby Park.
• Kilmarnock were the last team Inverness CT beat aside from Gretna , and that was far too long ago, on the 29th December!!
• This is the first season since Inverness ’s first in the SPL (2004/2005) that both have finished in the bottom six.

TEAM NEWS

For Inverness CT, Phil McGuire has undergone an operation and will miss the last 5 games of the season. This could open the way for either Steven Watt who is still to play his first SPL game or David Proctor who has played in the centre of defence this season a few times. Grant Munro is back from suspension, however Russell Duncan remains suspended. Ian Black according to some papers is suspended, but according to others he isn’t, so just keep your eyes peeled for the team sheet for the answer to that. The rift between Black and Brewster has apparently been resolved. According to reports Wyness, Wilson and Paatelainen will all have a chance to win a new contract in the remaining 5 games to stay on at Inverness CT.

Kilmarnock take the trek North without Craig Bryson, Willie Gibson, Frazer Wright and ex-Inverness player Alan Morgan who all underwent operations for next season. Allan Johnston has a knock and Corrigan is 50/50.