Ayr will be this seasons first visitors to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium for a First Division match. Season ticket sales are believed to be going well with upwards of 2000 already sold and a decent crowd is expected as last seasons promoted side look to establish themselves in the First Division.

Ayr won promotion last year after beating Airdrie United in the two leg play off final.

Saturdays Opponents

The Honest Men Here are a few lines from one of Mr Burns’s ramblings. This truth fand honest Tam o' Shanter, As he frae Ayr ae night did canter, (Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses For honest men and bonie lasses.) Yes, you have guessed it, that’s where Ayr United got the nickname of the Honest Men, although I can’t vouch for the bonny lassies. Ayr will be this seasons first visitors to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium for a First Division match. Season ticket sales are believed to be going well with upwards of 2000 already sold and a decent crowd is expected as last seasons promoted side look to establish themselves in the First Division. Ayr won promotion last year after beating Airdrie United in the two leg play off final. They shouldn’t have bothered as Livingston did everybody a favour by getting themselves into administration, thus enabling Airdrie to bounce back up quicker than ICT thought possible. Ayr have had better times, being managed by the larger than life Ally Macleod on three separate occasions spanning fifteen years. Their ground, Somerset Park is one of the older more traditional grounds with terraces and boasts an official capacity of 10,128. Ayr United were founded in 1910 after the merger of Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C. The clubs record scorer is Jimmy Smith who score 66 goals in season 1927-28 in only 38 league matches, which is a British record for a single season. As a celebration of their centenary year, Ayr United will play in black and white hoops. Notable games This fixture has thrown up some of ICT’s most memorable games, and two that are always in the top ten of everyones list are the unfogettable cup game when Ayr led 3-0 at half time before Caley Jags went on the rampage in the second half to clinch a 4-3 victory.

Ayr had powered into a three-goal half-time lead thanks to strikes from Eddie Annand, Mark Campbell and Marvyn Wilson. But replies after the break from Paul Sheerin, Bobby Mann, Davide Xausa and Dennis Wyness completed a sensational comeback

The previous game in Inverness resulted in one of the highest scoring matches seen in Inverness as Caley Thistle thrashed Ayr 7-3 in a see saw game. Wyness scored a hat-trick with Teasdale, Sheerin (pen), Bagan and Xausa completing the rout. Eddie Annand, Hugh Robertson and Glynn Hurst were the scorers for Ayr. This was the third time that season Ayr had scored three goals against ICT, but they failed to win any of those games. Those were the days. However, Inverness found Ayr a tougher nut to crack in their last encounter in the Highlands, when Inverness as an SPL side struggled to a draw against second division Ayr United, and required a replay at Somerset Park before the dayglow jacketed conga dancing away support. Happy days. Team News Inverness Dougie Imrie will be the latest casualty to miss out as he took a sore one at East End Park and could well be out for a few months depending on what the knee scans reveal. Eric has just had the plaster removed and is still a long way from full training. Lionel suffered a dead leg at Dunfermline but should be OK. Johnny Hayes who came on in the last twenty minutes to good effect last week also had a problem but should be ready for this week. Richie Foran has served his one match ban and should lead the attack although Ross Tokely has to sit out another three league games. Roy McBain will be pushing for a start after an excellent display in midweek against Clach. Ayr United Bryan Prunty returns to Inverness, fondly remembered as he of the last minute sclaffed shot at Ibrox to equalise. He along with Roberts may well lead the Ayr attack. McGowan could return after suspension. Kevin James will be a problem for ICT with his six foot seven inch frame. The former Falkirk and Hearts player has plenty of experience and Grant Munro will have to watch him closely at set pieces. Ayr’s last starting eleven with subs were:- Grindlay, Keenan, James, Gibson, Andrew Aitken, Borris, Stevenson (Connolly 75), Chris Aitken, Easton, Prunty (Cawley 60), Roberts (Gormley 86). TM4TJ Prediction If Inverness wish to make a serious bid for promotion, then these are the sort of games they need to win handsomely. Ayr United on the other hand will be looking to maintain their positive start to the season after drawing with Partick. I would imagine they will not be throwing caution to the wind and this will leave ICT to try and break down the Ayr defence, something that we have trouble doing. The return of Foran will be influential, as Rooney squandered a hatful of opportunities last weekend, although his work rate was appreciated if not always carried out at breakneck speed. Sanchez might provide the trickery to unlock the Ayr rearguard and Cox will be buoyant after his superb finish against the Pars. Last week I predicted a tough opener for ICT, and I expect no different this week from the Honest Men, but ICT should have enough to see off the resistance of the Ayr men. Bring your umbrellas tomorrow, the forecast is not great, and it’s tipping it down just now. As Rabbie Burns said to me the ither day…… No, wha this tale o' truth shall read, Ilk man and mother's son take heed; Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd, Or cutty-sarks run in your mind, Think! ye may buy joys o'er dear - Remember Tam o' Shanter's mare. If only he could spell he could have made it big in literature………….Enjoy.