Partick Th -V- Inverness CT - Preview

On Saturday we make the trip to Glasgow to face the Maryhill Magyars at Firhill.

Caley Thistle will be hoping to pick up another 3 points as we continue to put pressure on Dundee at the top of the table.

On Saturday we make the trip to Glasgow to face the Maryhill Magyars at Firhill. Caley Thistle will be hoping to pick up another 3 points as we continue to put pressure on Dundee at the top of the table, and try to fend off runs from County, Queens and Dunfermline, with the hosts still faintly interested in the promotion race as well. Who said life in the first division would be boring? One point separates the top two teams now as Dundee could only manage a draw at home to Queen of the South in Gordon Chisholm’s first match in charge of the Dark blues against his former employers. For Caley Thistle, midweek was a must not lose match at home to basement side Airdrie and they didn’t disappoint with a 4-0 romp, to suddenly make this league tighter since the early part of the season. Caley will take on a decent Partick side, which had a great win at Dunfermline to do us a favour and dent the Pars promotion hopes. But on Saturday there will be no favours dished out as Partick look to put a spanner in our promotion works. The clubs have met three times so far this season with the Glasgow club having the upper hand two games to one in the league. They recorded a decent 3-2 victory in Inverness early on in the season. Partick striker Liam Buchannan scored a couple that day with Alan Archibald getting what turned out to be the winner. An Adam Rooney penalty and a bullet Ritchie Foran header in reply for us wasn’t quite enough as we frantically searched for an equaliser. It finished 2-1 in the first game in Glasgow when Caley Thistle had taken the lead. Ross Tokely with a rare goal for Caley Thistle put us ahead but as so often around that time we let the lead slip with two goals in the 2nd half one scored by ex Aberdeen Striker Steve Lovell. Incidentally that was the last time Caley Thistle lost in the league. But this amazing run that the lads have been on has been helped by a last gasp Adam Rooney penalty in January in the last meeting. This was the game where accusations were thrown around by the Partick players after the award of the penalty that the linesman had sworn at them. We are now at the business end of the season where all can be won and lost, and ICT will look forward to hopefully carrying on the momentum and take all three points back up to the highlands. COMEON THE Caley jags Team news For Caley Thistle it is a strong squad with no suspension or injuries worries as we look to avenge our defeat in the last game at Firhill. Terry Butcher will be able to pick a strong side in one of the toughest games left to play, although he hinted at freshening up the side after the hectic schedule has kicked in. The Airdrie eleven seemed to be our best line up available and I wonder if Dani Sanchez will get the chance to atone for his unfortunate lack of goals, the only thing that is missing from his game. Partick meanwhile have defensive problems as Greg shields and Martyn Corrigan are both out injured. Also up front Striker Steve Lovell has left the club and will take time out to have an operation to get fit again. GingerJaggies prediction Partick are almost out of the running now but anyone who thinks that will mean Caley will have a walk in the park is foolish. Firhill will be a difficult game for us as winning three points at Partick is a rarity, similarly County on Tuesday night. These games are now all cup finals and the players will have to give 110% in each game if we want promotion. Partick still have some very good players and will be on a high after winning at East End Park last Tuesday. It will be difficult but with another top class away support urging on the team, I think we will edge it 1-0 or even 2-1. Even a draw would not be the end of the world, as the big game at Dingwall today will see one or both of our rivals dropping points.