Last week the fog descended on Inverness as Adam Rooney scored his tenth goal of the season to help Inverness edge above the Pars in the league. Inverness outclassed a poor Raith Rovers side as they dominated from start to finish and ran out easy winners, although they were unable to transfer their quality of play into goals for because of too many mist chances. This week I would expect a much sterner test as Raith’s Fife neighbours Dunfermline battle it out with Inverness for the pre-Xmas present of three valuable points. Dundee should have no problems disposing of relegation candidates Morton this weekend. Which means that a draw will do neither side any favours as both teams still have an outside chance of topping the leaderboard come next spring, and the need to claw back Dundee’s 10 point advantage gets more critical.

The first game of the season at East End Park saw Inverness snatch a late winner with a superb lee Cox volley deep into time added on. Inverness had dominated the first half and looked comfortable, but the Pars turned the screw in the second half and will feel aggrieved to have lost all three points. Andy Kirk spurned the best chances and he smacked the post with Esson well beaten. Adam Rooney missed a number of golden opportunities, especially in the first half, but his new found confidence has shown the ICT fans that a different player is emerging. In the return fixture at Inverness the points were shared in another game of two halves. Inverness were settling into the familiar role of being unable to defend a lead as a looping Andy Kirk header cancelled out David Proctor’s goal on the stroke of half time. A disappointing result for Inverness but a well earned draw for the Fifers.

Dunfermline have been one of the form teams in the league since they visited the Highland capital in mid October. They have won fourteen points from a possible twenty one. Their only defeat in those games was a surprise one nil reverse down at Somerset Park. The two draws were a one all against Dundee and last weeks entertaining encounter against Ross County which ended three all. Morton, Raith, Partick andQueens, were all beaten. Their highlights amongst those games being a three one defeat of Partick Thistle, and a good away victory at Palmerston, something Inverness were unable to match. Billy Gibson has been in scoring form recently, notching four goals since the October clash. Strike pairing Graeme Bayne and Andy Kirk have a couple of goals each during this spell.

Inverness over the same period have amassed thirteen points from seven games. Disappointing defeats to Partick and Ross County along with the Alba Cup Final loss to Dundee were the low points, while big wins over Ayr and Morton boosted the Inverness goal tally. A hard fought draw at Palmerston was overshadowed by red cards for Foran and Duncan with Butcher also shown the way to the stand by ref Alan Muir. Butcher will have to watch from the stand this week but Foran and Duncan are available for selection. Inverness have not shown up too well against teams in the four positions above them since the start of the season, only winning two points from a possible twenty one. That is certainly not title winning form. The only time we have defeated any of these teams was in the cup competitions and that was after extra time at Partick and a narrow 1-0 defeat of County in the Alba Cup. We have the edge on the Fife pair although with the Pars recent good form this game will be difficult to judge.

Squads

Inverness will be boosted by the return from suspension of red card pair Foran and Duncan. Foran may well be included in the starting eleven, but Duncan may have to settle for a place on the bench after Stuart Duff impressed on his loan spell debut against a lacklustre Raith Rovers. Lionel Djebi-Zadi has also been impressive since his return to the first team and could keep Stuart Golabeck on the bench along with Duncan. With Tokely still nursing a broken hand, able deputy David Proctor will have another couple of games to stake a claim for the right back berth. Butcher now has the pleasant choice of more attacking options with Hayes on fire just now, and Rooney looking like the first forwards names on the team sheet. The others in contention being Eric, Sanchez, Foran and Imrie. Keeping with the attack minded 4-2-3-1, the likely team will be:-

Proctor Bulvitis Munro Lionel

Duff Cox

Hayes Sanchez Eric

With Foran and Imrie itching to get on and Duncan looking to get back on the park competition is hotting up all over the park and that will help to keep everyone on their toes.

Dunfermline will be without on loan keeper Chris Smith after it was revealed he will be out for up to two months as he has a stress fracture to his right foot. Smith was taken in from St Mirren after regular on loan keeper Greg Fleming was sidelined with a dislocated finger. Manager Jim McIntyre said that Chris has been in tremendous form since coming to Dunfermline and this is a huge blow for them. His foot was troubling him last Thursday, but it was not X-rayed until the Tuesday when the fracture was revealed. Stephen Glass is still out longer term, and ex-ICT favourite Graeme Bayne missed out last week but Calum Woods and Joe Cardle were on the bench after longer term injuries.

Last weeks Pars squad

Smith, Ross (Woods 73), McCann, Bell, McGregor, Dowie, Gibson, Burke (Phinn 64), McDougall (Holmes 80), Kirk, David Graham. Subs Not Used: Cardle, Paterson. Tm4tj prediction With both teams being fairly equal over the last seven games this one could prove to be a difficult hurdle for Inverness to overcome. David Graham was in tremendous form in the opening fixture and looked like causing our back line problems when he advanced towards our box. This time he will have David Proctor facing him and that could be a key tussle in the game. Andy Kirk and Graeme Bayne linked well and some neat interplay around our penalty area almost brought them some reward. Billy Gibson has been scoring freely and his wing play on the right will test Lionel to the full, hopefully his pace will be an asset against the tricky wide player. We could come out on top in the deep midfield engine room as on loan Don’s player Stuart Duff proved to be the perfect foil to allow Lee Cox the room to help out the attack. Our own wide players of Hayes and Odhiambo have shown a clean pair of heels to most defenders this season and they will provide the ever improving Adam Rooney with the ammunition he requires. Danni Sanchez and Foran will vie for the other attacking position, and either of these players can contribute in different ways depending on which formation Butcher goes with. Long ball tactic will suit Foran, while Sanchez’ groundwork might be the way forward against the tough Dunfermline back line with McGregor holding them together. Both of the previous encounters proved to be tight affairs and Inverness might have to settle for a share of the points, but I expect some goals to be scored. Taking everything into account put a cross on your coupon, 2-2.