The Saints are coming.

The last time these two sides met on league business, it proved to be an historic occasion with Inverness winning promotion to the SPL.  It capped a sensational last couple of weeks in the 2003-2004 first division title run in as Inverness overhauled leaders Clyde in the penultimate game at the Ice Station in Cumbernauld with a fantastic 1-2 scoreline and held that advantage with a 3-1 victory over the Perth men on the final day to ensure promotion, albeit after some legal wrangling, but promotion it was for Robbo's lads on helicopter day as the first division trophy ended it's journey in the pubs and clubs of the Highland Capital.  What a night that was.

The game itself was the culmination of a hard season, a season where Inverness came from nowhere to snatch the title in dramatic fashion.  Clyde had squandered a ten point lead, sounds familiar.  Come kick off time, news was already filtering onto the terracing, yes terracing, that rivals Clyde were already ahead of lowly Brechin.  Pat Keogh scored a hat-trick for the Bully wee, his opener came in the first minute.  They would go on to hammer the Angus club 2-5, but it was all in vain as Inverness recorded a tense victory over Perth to win the title.  Brechin for their troubles were relegated, with St Johnstone finishing third some thirteen points adrift of the champions.  Goals from David Bingham, a Barry Wilson penalty and a Paul Ritchie header sealed the victory over Saints, who's goal was one of the best seen at the Inverness stadium.  Keigan Parker collected the ball inside his own half.  He drifted forward on the left wing then cut inside before unleashing a venemous dipping shot on the run from all of 35 yards that flew high past a despairing Mark Brown.  Still it was to be Inverness' day as we eased to vicory and ultimately into the SPL for the first time in our short history.  Not many of the players still at their respective clubs from that sunny May day.  Note one Darren Dods was a sub that day for Saints.  Incidentally, St Johnstone were the last team to beat Inverness before we went on a ten match unbeaten run to clinch the title in 2004, happy days.

Here were the teams:-

Inverness CT: Brown, Tokely, Golabek, Mann, McCaffrey, Hart, Wilson, McBain, Ritchie, Keogh, Bingham. Subs: Munro, Proctor, Thomson, Hislop, Fraser.

St Johnstone: Nelson, Baxter, McQuilken, Forsyth, Weir, Fraser, Stevenson, Fotheringham, Parker, Donnelly, McLaughlin. Subs: Hay, Malone, Dods, Reilly, Cuthbert.

Anyway, I digress..............davie has been doing some homework and here is this weeks preview.

Saturday at 3pm is our return to real football. The horrors of Prague and the hope of Hampden have receded and are replaced by the visit of our SPL brethren from “just down the road”, St. Johnstone. It’s 106.8 miles from TCS to our last opponents ground, which we regard as a derby game. It’s only 115.1 miles to MacDairmid Park, so the brethren title is probably justified for the farmers. ICT and the Saints have bypassed each other in SPL membership, it taking Saints seven years to get back up instead of our one, so there’s nothing to base any hopes and/ or fears about this one. It could go any way. There is a history of meeting in the lower leagues, but hey – we’re big boys now. Managed by Derek McInnes (ex- ger/baggie/arab) Saints sit 9^th in the League, with both teams recording 2-0 wins in their last fixtures. Saints beat Hibs, who was it we beat again……? Their last few games have given them a W-L-W-L-L record, with their wins coming at home. In terms of players to watch, Alan Maybury (ex-Leeds & Hearts) and Michael Duberry (ex- Chelsea and Leeds) have real pedigree and Jennison Myrie Williams has points to prove up front. Midfield is bossed by Jodie Morris (ex- Chelsea and, yet again, Leeds) They have absentees for tomorrow, notably Gartland and Anderson (both central defenders) and doubts over Peter MacDonald. ICT on the other hand are in fairly rude health after an injury blighted start. Full back Kevin McCann and forward Dani Sanchez have recovered from injuries, giving Butcher a selection headache for the first time in ages. He might not be complaining. Kenny Gillet, David Proctor, Chris Innes and Lee Cox are all still out, but their deputies have proved more than able. Ryan Esson heads into his 80^th game for the club, and has so far been immense this year. If Ryan and the team are as chuffed by recent results as the supporters are, we will go into this match on a real high and with real expectations. Three SPL wins on the bounce? Why not, and celebrate with a £5 hospitality deal in a school holiday special. It’s a difficult one to call tomorrow, but I reckon Derek McInnes might regret not talking to Jonny Hayes for longer during the summer come 4.45pm tomorrow. I’m going for a cheeky wee 1-0 home win. Real football – you can’t beat it!