Inverness keen to finish with a flourish 

After the euphoria of midweek, the mundane challenge of playing St Mirren could be less attractive for some, but Inverness will need to show the same pulsating performance if they want to gain revenge for the Christmas week defeat at the hands of the Buddies.

It's easy to raise the game when the big boys come calling, but it's equally important to maintain that level of performance if you want to stay ahead of the pack, and that is what Butcher's aim will be this weekend.

A heart warming display against Celtic on Wednesday evening was in stark contrast to the lethargy shown at Pittodrie the previous week.  Celtic flew out of the traps but the Caley Jags took up the chase and were soon leading their illustrious opponents, albeit only for a couple of minutes.  However, from the second half  whistle we took the game to Celtic and went 3-1 ahead, which could easily have been five or six, such was our determination and pace on the counter.  A late penalty flattered Celtic somewhat, but all credit to Inverness for the way we tackled this match.

There were some fantastic performances, none moreso than Grant Munro, who could force Butcher into a rethink of his personal position at the club.  A solid defensive display capped with a superb goal must have given Grant immense pleasure, knowing that he was letting nobody down, and boy did it feel good.  Adam Rooney was another who gave his best display of the season, teasing the Celtic defence and chasing down everything that came his way.  He opened the scoring, or to be more precise his flick cannoned off of his close marker, Mulgrew.  Gillet, Duff, Sutherland, Esson and Innes all worked their socks off, in fact the whole team looked up to the task.  With these guys showing this kind of form it would be pleasing if they could all be retained for next season, maybe playing for your contract has brought the best out in some players, who knows, but long may it continue.

I will now hand you over to ginger jaggy to tell us what's happening this weekend.........................

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We are almost there, the end of a successful season is nigh with next week's game at Hamilton bringing down the curtain on a great return to the top flight. Terry Butcher's men are almost guaranteed 7^th place which could be worth as much as £80,000 more than finishing in 8^th. It has been a very strange week for Caley Thistle supporters, with the doom and gloom of hearing that 10 players will be released at the start of the week. In Particular the releasing of two Caley Thistle stalwarts ex captain Grant Munro and Midfield Maestro Russell Russeldinho Duncan have shocked and confused many especially in Grant Munro's case. These two shock calls and the other eight names had left more questions than answers of what next season will be like. Many feared that this news would lead to a heavy defeat against Celtic, but as it turned out the majority of the starting eleven, who are mostly contracted or been given one for next season pulled out a performance that can only be described as sublime. It was a special evening with Grant Munro playing a colossal game at the back and then scoring a beauty past the helpless Celtic keeper Fraser Forster in the second half. Chants of Terry sign him up reverberated around the Caledonian stadium and like the majority of fans here on Caley Thistle Online we hope that the message will sink in and get Terry to change his mind, only time will tell.

Celtic is Celtic though, a match which we always seem able to raise our game for even if it was meaningless for us. It will be St Mirren on Saturday that will tell us a lot about the Munro situation and also hopefully guarantee 7^th in our first season back. It was a great team performance and the individual performance by Munro but if he wants to turn Terry's head he has to show that St Mirren isn't a meaningless game and perform like he did on Wednesday, another goal may help.

As for our opponents it has suddenly become a bit sweaty palms at St Mirren Park. A Michael Higdon hat trick against Hamilton in Paisley put the Saints 12 clear and almost guaranteed Hamilton's relegation prior to the split. But since the split Danny Lennon's side has started looking over there shoulder with Hamilton hitting a decent period of form in their unlikely survival act. St Mirren's fears were confirmed when Hamilton turned the tables in paisley with Mickael Antoine-Curier's header the difference and now just 6 points difference in the table. So Saturday is pivotal for them which may just suit us as we can again play on the break.

 Head to Head

Previous encounters this season stands at one each with one draw. Overall we have a slender lead with 6 victories compared to the Buddies 5 in 15 encounter between the two clubs. The first of this season was our victory in the middle of our unbeaten run back in September. Two goals from Eric Odhiambo - who is also being released - was enough that day to give Caley Thistle all 3 points in Paisley and continue our great start to the season.

The first game up in Inverness was a reversal of the score line in that game in Paisley. It started so well with Lee Cox giving us an early lead on a very cold Boxing Day afternoon. The performance then went down hill and we allowed the Paisley saints back into the game which cost us the game. First Steven Thomson with a belter that beat a despairing Ryan Esson to bring the score lines level just on half time. Then in the last 5 minutes Thomson again got on the score sheet with a deflection to beat Esson who had no chance. This game was the first game we had lost in a while and contributed to the start of decline in the second half of the season.

The final installment so far produced by far the best game played between these two this season. The Caley Jags really needed a win to kick start our ailing push to remain in the top six. It wasn't to be as it ended up in a 3-3 draw. Attack was definitely on top in Paisley as we took the lead through top goal scorer Adam Rooney. This was cancelled out mid way through the first half when Michael Higdon converted a 28^th minute penalty. The home supporters had been barely able to catch their breaths when they were celebrating again. Thomson it was barely a minute later that scored again with another magnificent strike from just outside the box – he has been a bit of a thorn in our side this season has the ex Falkirk captain. Inverness though made almost an instant response with Aaron Doran getting his first Caley Thistle goal and making 3 goals in a crazy 6 minute period of the game. With the scores tied it was anyone's game at half time and it was us that struck first with Rooney scoring his second of the match. The scoring wasn't completed though and there was time for Darren McGregor to nod home another equaliser with 15 remaining. The game ended up all square, lets hope we get the same entertainment tomorrow but with an Inverness win of course.

Form Guide

The form guide has shown Caley Thistle to be on a decent run. Caley Thistle has come into this with 1 defeat in our last 5 matches. We picked up points against Killie and Hearts before the split but that was not enough to get a top six place unfortunately even though they were decent results. After the split we have completely hammered St Johnstone but that was followed up by a poor performance and deserved loss to Aberdeen at Pittordrie. But of course we come into this match off the back of battering Celtic and there title hopes on Wednesday evening. As with us on Saturday the score line was a bit flattering if you were of a Hoops persuasion.

As for saints well their form has not actually been too bad. They beat the Dons 3-2 in Paisley which looked almost certain to finish off Hamilton. But a few hard matches coupled with a late spurt of form by Hamilton have dragged them back into the battle for survival. They performed valiantly against both Old Firm clubs away from home and pushed them close losing 1-0 and 2-1, but at this stage it is all about points. They got a decent point at Easter Road and with Hamilton at home to come looked good to confirm survival. But that defeat last week has made them nervously look over their shoulder even though there 6 point advantage should still be enough.

GingerJaggy thoughts and predictions

After Wednesday the players should be buzzing and looking to finish the season very strongly so that we can go into the next campaign ready to fight for a top 6 spot. As for St Mirren they will want to get something. A draw maybe good enough but they will play to win the game and guarantee Hamilton goes down. I was gutted to miss Wednesday but what I want from my last home game of the season is the same performance and to watch an entertaining win which I think we will get

Prediction Caley Thistle 2-1

 ***Latest Team News***

Richie Foran is free from suspension and should return to bolster the midfield and attack, and sometimes the defence too.  Shinnie, Proctor and Hogg are still out although it was good to see Dani Sanchez on the bench in midweek.

Hugh Murray, the veteran Paisley midfielder will be sidelined for a few months after damaging knee cartilage in the Hamilton match.  Juve Travner is suspended after the same match.

 Other SPL News:-  They may not have been overtaken by the Greens, but Rangers have been taken over by The Whytes.  Craig Whyte has at last completed the long drawn out takeover of Glasgow Rangers .

See BBC article:-  http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13292829.stm