Friends reunited

The CIS Cup has paired Inverness with the Blue Loon team fae Peterheid.  This will mean a return to Tulloch Caledonian Stadium for former Inverness favourites Martin Bavidge, captain Bobby Mann and the club legend that is Dennis Wyness.  Bobby Mann is unlikely to feature though as he is on the injury list at present.  Some old adversaries will also be present, ex-County manager Neale Cooper will bring Connor Gethins and Daniel Moore along within his squad.

 Peterhead is synonymous with prisons and fishing but a football team is slowly emerging from the ashes of a depleted fishing industry.  The Blue Tooners are the nearly men from Balmoor as they look like promotion candidates most seasons but fail to make the step up to the first division.

 Inverness are fresh from Tannadice after swarming all over Dundee United at the weekend.  Four goals scored and none conceded made it a great day out in the sun with some stunning goals for the vocal travelling support to wax lyrical about.  Adam Rooney is off and running on the goal trail and Russell Duncan has scored his goal for the season.  Kevin McCann scored a tremendous long range effort which left keeper Pernis with no chance as the ball swerved high past his despairing dive into the top corner from around 32 yards.  What made it all the better, was that this result was achieved without the influential Richie Foran and the defensive rock that is Ross Tokely.  However, young Nick Ross eased the pain with a busy performance and David Proctor filled Rossco’s boots admirably.  Jonny Hayes is coming back from injury and both he and Eric gave Scotland cap Garry Kenneth a torrid time.  All good news for Inverness after that game and it could well be that the same eleven start this one, although Jonny Tuffey may get the number one jersey.  Chris Innes will miss out although his suspension has been served.  Ross Tokely and Richie Foran are still sidelined with injury.

Neale Cooper will be without one of the finest players to have played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.  They don’t come much bigger or better than Bobby Mann and his reading of the game belies his lack of pace.  One of his great attributes is his unerring accuracy and ability to start an attack from inside his own penalty box and his composure under pressure would thwart many an attack.  At the other end of the park, Wyness the legend will be looking to add to the many goals he has already scored in Inverness.  Our record scorer with 101 goals for ICT has already netted for Coopers side, scoring a double on his debut against Montrose in the Alba Cup.

 Peterhead beat Berwick Rangers in the last round of the CIS Cup using an ICT connection thanks to a Dennis Wyness header from a Martin Bavidge cross.  Inverness earned the right to progress after easing past Queens Park in an uninspiring encounter.  Cox, Odhiambo and Tokely were the scorers as ICT scored three without reply.

 The Balmoor outfit have had a disastrous start to the league with three straight defeats, only Dumbarton’s inferior goal difference keeping them off the bottom.  Seven goals lost with only three scored in their three games, it looks like Mann’s steadying influence at the back is a big loss with him being injured.

 Team news

 Inverness have no new injury worries after the visit to Tannadice, although Foran, Tokely, Blumenshtein and Innes are still out. If boss Butcher makes any changes, some squad players may find themselves in the starting eleven.  Dani Sanchez, Roy McBain and Stuart Golabek will be looking to put themselves in the frame for an SPL game and Jonny Tuffey may be asked to keep goal for some match sharpness, although Ryan Esson has been excellent in his start to the season.

 Peterhead will be definitely be without Dave Ross who has a knee injury and Bobby Mann is an unlikely starter after injuring his ankle in the 3-1 defeat to Stenhousemuir.  Nicky Clark and Scott Ross will be pushing for a start to make their debuts for Neale Coopers side.  Martin Bavidge may also miss out due to work commitments as he may not get back from London in time.  How could he........

 Peterheads last team lines:- Jarvie, Donald, Stuart Smith, MacDonald, Moore, McVitie, Emslie, Anderson (Gethins 87), Sharp, Wyness, Bavidge. Subs Not Used: Bateman, Clark, Strachan, Scott Ross

tm4tj Prediction

This game will be tougher than the relative league positions of the two teams would indicate.  Peterhead with some weil kent faces will be out to upset the SPL newbies, but early league form would suggests otherwise.  However, Coopers Blue Toon loons have been scoring freely in cup games and with Wyness in their ranks the ICT back four will need to look out for the double shuffle.  You know it's coming, but you still can't stop it.  With confidence high after the drubbing of Dundee United I would expect a win over Peterhead, but it might be tight.