Caley Thistle will be looking to build on their fine win at Cappielow when they travel to Lanarkshire to take on Airdrie United, in their first league game against the new model Airdrie club.

Boss Terry Butcher will be hoping that the gradual improvement and gelling of his young squad continues at New Broomfield whereas his opposite number, Kenny Black, is still seeking the Diamonds first win of the season.

Black’s cause hasn’t been helped by the farcical close-season situation which saw Airdrie reprieved from relegation to the Second Division only a matter of days before the season kicked off thanks to Livingston’s relegation to the 3rd Division as punishment for entering administation. This delay saw several of Airdrie’s best players leave in the close-season, with Stephen McDougall and Joe Cardle signing for Dunfermline and Stephen McKenna moving to Queen of the South.

Past Meetings

Caley Thistle have only played the current incarnation of Airdrie United on one previous occasion and the Inverness fans will have fond memories of that. The sides met in the Challenge Cup final in 2003 with ICT running out 2-0 victors, with goals from David Bingham and Steven Hislop. A healthy crowd of over 5,000 at McDairmid Park saw what would turn out to be Caley Jags’ title winning campaign receive a real boost by lifting a national trophy following a run which saw John Robertson’s men defeat Raith Rovers and Ross County. Airdrie United also had a happy ending to that campaign, with Sandy Stewart’s side lifting the Second Division championship.

While this is the only meeting between ICT and Airdrie United, the previous incarnation of Airdrieonians played ICT and the pre-merger Caley on several occasions. One of Caley’s great Scottish Cup shocks saw a high flying Airdrie dumped from 1990’s Scottish Cup on penalty kicks at a snowy Telford Street. Wilson Robertson equalised Alan Lawrence’s early goal but it was goalkeeper Hamish Morrison who was Caley’s hero, pulling off a crucial save as the penalty shoot out went into sudden death to win the tie for Caley.

After the merger of Caledonian and Thistle and the subsequent advance up the leagues of ICT Airdrieonians and ICT shared three season’s in the first division from 1999 until 2002. During this time the clubs met thirteen times, with Caley Jags just edging the encounters 6-5 with two draws. There were several high scoring encounters between the teams, most notably on the 22nd of September 2001 when Airdrie, then flying high in the First Division title race, inflicted ICTs worst ever defeat by putting six goals past the Highlanders without reply. The Lanarkshire side were 5-0 up at half time, including an 18 minute hat-trick from Airdrie legend Owen Coyle. Stuart Golabek, Russell Duncan, Ross Tokely and Roy McBain all played for Caley Thistle that day and will be keen to avoid any repeat on the near eighth anniversary of that disastrous performance.

The last ever meeting of the two sides came a few months before Airdrieonians sad demise when Martin Bavidge scored his last ever goal for Inverness Caley Thistle to help douse the flames of the Diamonds title challenge. After leading Partick Thistle for much of that season cash-strapped Airdrie fell away in the home straight and in the close season the proud club became the first Scottish League side since Third Lanark in 1967 to go out of business. They were replaced in the league set up by Gretna FC, who were considered a better bet than the reincarnated Airdrie Utd. United, led by prominent Diamonds fan Jim Bannatyne, then moved to buy up Clydebank FC, change their name and move the club to Airdrie. The Bankies have since been reformed as a Junior Club, enjoying success including a Junior Cup final appearance.

Players to Watch

Caley Thistle fans have spent much of this season trying to get used to a reshaped squad – after years of having a familiar spine to the club the new management team have thrown in several young talents to the first team pool as well as some interesting imports. Last weekend at Cappielow two of these players came into the limelight – Johnny Hayes and Dani Sanchez.

Hayes is a pacy winger who can play on either flank. Having impressed in spells pre-season the former Leicester City man set up two of last weekends goals to build on promising showings against Dunfermline and Dundee. The ability to hit the by-line and the positive attitude and belief shown by the Irishman is beginning to endear him to the Highland support.

Sanchez was brought in after several games on trial with ICT, in which he bagged a couple of goals, including one against Dundee Utd. While his form has been mixed in the league, with impressive displays against Dundee and Morton being balanced with ineffectual showings against Ross County and Dunfermline, the nippy Spaniard has an eye for goal, netting five times in all competitions already this season. A ‘big man, little man’ partnership with Richie Foran is obviously what Terry Butcher is aiming for and on current form that dream is becoming a reality.

For Airdrie, the task of assembling a squad at the short notice given this season has been a tough task. Manager Kenny Black will look to experienced faces such as Paul Lovering, Kevin MacDonald and Scott McLaughlin to guide his young squad through what will undoubtedly be a tough season. Black could have picked up a gem though in young forward John Baird, formerly of St Mirren and Clyde, who bagged 20 goals for Montrose the season before signing for Airdrie. The youngster, highly rated when coming through, will be looking to finally fulfil his promise at the age of 24.

Prediction

While Airdrie have shown doughty determination in their start to a campaign beset by difficulties, it is difficult to see them overcoming a Caley Thistle side with growing confidence. Provided the discipline shown over the past two games is maintained Terry Butchers men should run out comfortable winners.