Bigger things are at stake than the forthcoming General Election. As Broon asks the nation to get behind him, Inverness Caledonian Thistle edge ever closer to bouncing back to the SPL in one season.  

Bigger things are at stake than the forthcoming General Election. As Broon asks the nation to get behind him, Inverness Caledonian Thistle edge ever closer to bouncing back to the SPL in one season. Who would have thought that, as the kids played with their Xmas toys, we would embark on a recovery mission impossible to scrape our way to the top of the table. Well, here we are, on the verge of rubber stamping one of the greatest comebacks since Lazarus. It’s not over yet, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. A difficult task awaits Inverness this weekend and we head towards England, well almost. We stop off in Dumfries for a vital game of football which will once more test the nerves of the Highland support. While we look to maintain our cushion at the top, our good neighbours will have played their most important football match ever. County kick off at dinner time in a David v Goliath scenario. A place in the Scottish cup final awaits the winner, so good luck to the gudgies for that. Inverness have been on a terrific run recently winning their last five games as part of a seventeen game unbeaten run. We return to the scene of the crime on Saturday as Dumfries was where this unbeaten series of results commenced. An eventful match at Palmerston on the 5th December ended all square, and as the dust settled, we finished the game with nine men, Queens had one more, Butcher was sent to the stand and the points were shared. Foran and Duncan were sent off for second yellow offences, amid some angry scenes and chants for Mrs Gringo’s birthday. Jonny Hayes had scored the opener for us and as a result of Barry Wilson inviting Richie Foran to earn his red card; Bob Harris scored a tremendous trademark free kick to level from the aforementioned indiscretion. Mr Butcher then allegedly fell out with some of the Palmerston décor and all in all, it was a hectic day. Honours are even this season though as Queens trounced us when we were struggling early in the season, although we reversed that 1-3 scoreline last time out. There have been two hat-tricks in these encounters, Derek Holmes stunning Inverness in the first game, and Adam Rooney replying for us in the last one. There’s not a lot to choose from in terms of previous history, with Inverness having won ten from twenty-two games, with Queens winning eight. We have only won twice at Palmerston with Queens coming out on top four times. However, our push to the top has seen a new determination to our play and our most recent run is formidable. Queens are on a four game unbeaten run, but that has included three draws. They battled hard to get a draw at Dingwall in midweek even when reduced to ten men. Keeper Fox was outstanding as they withstood the familiar County charge towards the Jailend, and they almost held on for a win but for a deflected goal from former ICT flop Andy Barrowman. Jordan McMillan was the red card victim and will miss this game. Squad News Inverness boss Terry Butcher has no fresh injury worries, which means he has a full squad to choose from. The one question being asked by the fans is, Eric or Dani? Eric sometimes looks lost during a game but has come up with the goods recently, although by all accounts he was quieter at Greenock. Dani on the other hand gets involved and can spot an opening, but the ball has not run kindly for the little Spaniard in front of goal, preferring to hit the woodwork more often than not. It’s an interesting choice as Mr Butcher obviously sees the guys perform in training therefore his judgement has to be respected, but it is certainly a split decision on the forum. Daniel Stratford is another one up for debate, as the game passes him by at times, but with Russell Duncan back from suspension he will have to be content with a place on the bench. Suspensions are looming for Captain Grant Munro and the superb Lee Cox. Their points tally means they will sit out the Dunfermline game next week. Queens temporary charge hand Kenny Brannigan has some thinking to do before this one. Hutton, Harris, McMillan, Lilley and Adams are possibly all out. Hutton has been having a great season and will be missed although Fox looked excellent at Dingwall in midweek. Bob Harris is one of the top wing backs in the league and Queens could be without his expertise at dead ball situations, which will be a plus for ICT. Harris and Adams may recover in time but are rated doubtful. Lilley and McMillan are however, suspended. Queens have also recently recruited former player Sean O’Connor to see the season out. He may lack match fitness, but his overall play could be a danger, and his introduction against County sparked the Queens goal after his mis-hit shot fell kindly for Burns to net. McKenna starts a three match suspension from the Raith game next week. The very latest on Queens team news is that Hutton and Harris are likely to be named in the squad for ICT game. Possible Queens line up Fox McKenna   McAusland   Reid   Hamill Burns   Quinn   Scally   McLaren Holmes   Weatherson

Tm4tj prediction I may be pushing my luck now, but I am going for a rare ICT victory in Dumfries. Our new found confidence and staying power has seen us surge to the head of the table. With County and Raith in the middle of a plethora of difficult games, points will be dropped. Dundee have rediscovered how to win, but is it too late? Has the damage already been done by Jocky Scott or can Gordon Chisholm turn it round?. All ICT have to do is keep winning, that’s the difficult part though. If our Paddy Power Treble can keep going, then they might just see us through this difficult tie. It’s all getting very interesting at the top of the table. After last weeks cliffhanger, not many of us have any nails left, thank goodness theres only four games left. Mon the Caley Jags

Ginger Jaggy's Preview

This weekend we travel to Dumfries to take on Queen of the South at Palmerston. After our win at Morton on Tuesday night we now have a 7 point lead over Dundee even if we have played a game more. We have four matches left and arguably this is the hardest game left with Dunfermline and Dundee to come at home and a tricky trip to the west coast to play Ayr United at Somerset Park. So there are some hard games to go if we are to be crowned champions.

As for this game it is another 6 pointer at the top. We do have a healthy lead even though Dundee have a game in hand so a defeat tomorrow wouldn’t be the end of the world even though it would allow Dundee to close to within four points of us. But for our opponents Queens, it is a must win game for them. They have three games in hand but a defeat tomorrow will make it virtually impossible for them to catch us so it is a very important game for them.

Caley Thistle don’t have a bad record against our opponents even though we made a terrible start. The first game between these to clubs saw the Derek Holmes show in Inverness. Holmes scored a hat trick that day with his first goal coming in the opening minute, we replied through a wonderful free kick from Johnny Hayes but Holmes made sure all three points went back south with two goals in the last ten minutes of the game.

We then made our first trip to Palmerston and came away with a creditable point even though it could have been better. We took the lead with a good finish from Hayes yet again and we looked pretty comfortable until 13 minutes from time when we suffered a double whammy of misfortune. First Richie Foran was given a second yellow card for a petty trip on ex Caley Thistle winger Barry Wilson which led to a free kick. The red was bad enough but a second blow was made minutes later when free kick specialist Bob Harris equalising with a wonderful strike. If it hadn’t been for that moment we may have won as we just about deserved to take all three points.

But we were on the end of a better result in our last match played in Inverness only about a month ago. This game was filled with controversy as the original game was called off about 3 hours before kick off when the fans were already on their way up north. The weather was beautiful but due to the cold conditions during the night it was too late to defrost the pitch and so an angry Queens team left with the game to be replayed in a midweek in March. And it didn’t get much better for our opponents as this time it was the Adam Rooney show as he like Derek Holmes in the first game scored a hat trick with the consolation scored by Holmes from the penalty spot.

So it will be a difficult game but we will look to continue our amazing unbeaten streak after our 2-0 victory over Morton on Tuesday. Queen of the South were also in action on Tuesday taking on Ross county in Dingwall. They could only collect a draw and that puts themselves in a must win situation otherwise they will find it impossible to catch us even with 3 games more to play. Team news Yet again Terry Butcher will have a fully fit squad to choose from for the visit to Palmerston. He will hope that Palmerston will bring some more rewards after our draw there started our 17 game unbeaten run. Queens have a few problems with David Lilley and Jordon McMillan both suspended. They are also missing Jamie Adams while there is a doubt over Bob Harris even though they expect him to be fit to play.