Jump to content
  • Signup for more content

    Our main forums are visible to guests along with a few other features. Login to access more content.

  • tm4tj
    tm4tj

    Dundee United -V- Inverness CT - Preview

      Teaser Paragraph:

    On form Arabs host Inverness Nomads

    Our wandering squad visit Tannadice on Monday night (19:45) to take on a revitalised Dundee United in front of the TV cameras. United are on a fine run at the moment, winning four and drawing two of their last six games, scoring 14 goals in the process and conceding only 2. We, on the other hand, have one win, two draws and three defeats and have shipped 8 goals and scored a paltry 3, that's only half a goal a game!

    Our hopes were raised a little before last weeks game that the demise of Glasgow Rangers may have been seen as a bonus for Inverness, unfortunately they were swiftly dashed as Rangers overran us with a clinical display in front of goals and put us firmly in our place.

    We have to get that game out of our system quickly though and move on as we enter the last half dozen games before the split, which we can still achieve, but personally, I believe we would be better off ensuring that we keep at least one team below us until the end of the season, then we can write this one off and build for next year.

    Injuries, and suspensions have disrupted the continuity of the side this season and it is one we will be glad to see the back of.

    Ginger Jaggy is chomping at the bit to tell us how this game is going to unfold...............

    The season now moves into March and the start of the run in to the Split. After last week’s demolition at the hands of a financially stricken Rangers we travel to Dundee on a Monday night to play United at Tannadice. This is a huge game for any slim top six hopes that lingers for this season. But 3 points in this match will be no walk in the park as Dundee United are the form team in the league at the moment. With two games in hand following the weekend fixtures the top six still remains a distinct possibility, but we must now show the form that we produced after Christmas to ease us away from the bottom and back into the congested mid table pack.

    Just a little bit on the timing of this game. Every little penny is always welcome to our club but this game is another instance of the Television companies dictating the game as a whole. There will not likely to be a huge traveling contingent because of the timing and day of this match and just a little note that some may have made plans for the original date which was due to be a Sunday at Midday. This date was a little better but not a huge amount and I feel sorry for people who support any club that gets affected by the TV moguls who show no consideration towards the fans of the game; and they wonder why the turnstiles are clicking less.

    Rant over, now a little bit on our opponents Dundee United for this rescheduled evening match.

    Dundee United are the form side at the moment and they are an exciting team of pace and skill that give the Old Firm a tough time. In fact United knocked Rangers out of the cup with one of the most comfortable wins seen at Ibrox against the Blue half in a long time. The Arabs looked to have been crippled by the departure of David Goodwillie to Blackburn in the summer in what was a brilliant piece of business. An inconsistent start to the season saw calls for Peter Houston to be relieved of his duties but since then they have been electric and have moved themselves into contention for a Europa League spot. They are currently sitting fifth in the table and lie only 2 points behind St Johnstone in fourth. The Arabs are unbeaten in their last five SPL matches with two draws against St Mirren and Motherwell blighting the perfect record. But the wins that they have accumulated have been very impressive with big victories over in form St Johnstone and Kilmarnock as well as beating Hearts at Tynecastle. One of the reasons for this is the pace and creativity of their two best attacking options. Gary MacKay-Steven and Johnny Russell have been teasing defences all season and they will be a threat again on Monday night. Johnny Russell has scored 11 goals this season with two of them coming in their 3-2 comeback in Inverness back in December. Gary MacKay-Steven is Highland born from Thurso and has played over the bridge before getting a lucrative move to Liverpool. But he has been injury prone and he returned to Scotland where he almost joined us last season (Hayes and MacKay-Steven either side now that is an awesome thought) but yet again the injury curse struck and he went to the lower leagues before United snapped him up. He has chipped in with 4 goals but his assists has been his forte and he if he stays fit could be a really exciting prospect for the future.

    The head to head this season has been all United with 2 wins and six goals scored. The 3-1 defeat at Tannadice showed our Jekyll and Hyde form with a decent performance in the first half turning into a shambles in the second. We lost that game 3-1 when we didn’t deserve to be behind at half time, to deservedly losing the game effortlesslly. The second game we should have won when we were 2-0 ahead just after half time but it swung when United pulled a quick goal back and the panic button was pressed. We went on to lose a game we were strolling through. Overall the Arabs seem to enjoy playing us with 10 wins to our 5 from 23 games played between the two clubs. They have not lost to us in 4 matches with our last win coming at Tannadice at the start of last season when we went goal crazy and won 4-0 on the second weekend of the season.

    This game is now a must win if top six is to become reality against a rival with the same aim. David Proctor has said in the Press and Journal that we need to win all our remaining games to get there, and he isn’t wrong. It is a long shot but with all our games against teams in the same mid table scrap for top six then we have to get behind the team and believe we can do it. We have a game in hand which will bring us into play but only if we win this one. Results were kind again on Saturday so it is time to grab this position by the scruff of its neck and make a charge.

    ***LATEST TEAM NEWS***

    Inverness' young Spanish defender Roman Golobart has made fantastic progress from his ankle injury and has declared himself fit, although boss Butcher will resist the temptation to bolster his flagging defence for at least another week to enable the talented centre back to regain match sharpness. Chris Hogg has also pleased his surgeon but will not feature this season and Andy Shinnie has had his protective boot removed and is also healing nicely. Aaron Doran was reported to be close to a return, but a tear in his hamstring has set him back another month. No fresh injury worries after the Rangers game, apart from confidence injuries.

    Inverness (from): Provisional squad: Esson, Piermayr, Tokely, Gillet, Proctor, Meekings, Hayes,Tansey, Foran, G Shinnie, Ross, Morrison, Sutherland, Winnall, Gnakpa, McKay,Tudur Jones, Tuffey, Williams, Tade.

    United are still without Felipe Mentel and Scott Severin, but Paul Dixon returns after serving a ban, and Danny Swanson could force himself into contention having added another weeks training to his comeback.

    Dundee United (from): Pernis, Dillon, Gunning, Neilson, Kenneth, Watson, Dixon, Douglas, Swanson, Armstrong, S Robertson, Ryan, Flood, Mackay-Steven, Rankin, Russell, Lacny, Daly, Dow, Banks.

    Saturday's results have left the door ajar for the elite six, and Dunfermline remain eight points adrift of us at the bottom thanks to a 2-0 home defeat to Motherwell. Hibs move one point closer after their draw with St Mirren and Aberdeen forced a draw with Celtic at Pittodrie. Killie and St Johnstone both ended the game with ten men and a point apiece and troubled Rangers lost another home game to Hearts as former Inverness hard man Ian Black scored in a 1-2 reverse at Ibrox.




    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    There are no comments to display.



    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. : Terms of Use : Guidelines : Privacy Policy