Inverness looking for seventh heaven

Inverness host St Mirren in a Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League match where entry to the top-six is the possible prize for the victor. With Inverness unbeaten in their lat six games, a seventh undefeated would set us up nicely for the visit of Celtic on February 4th.

Last week was a good one for Inverness on the park with three important wins and two clean sheets in the SPL. All this was achieved despite yet more casualties joining the walking wounded after the tough cup battle at Dunfermline. The Hearts game was played out in swirling gale force winds and driving rain that washed across the surface as the match wore on, but Inverness were up for the battle and deservedly halted Hearts six game unbeaten run. This was a very satisfying result considering Inverness made seven changes to the side that played in the cup and the determination to win showed that they are up for the battle. Ryan Esson also achieved his second consecutive clean sheet, something that gave the team a great platform to build from.

St Mirren had been strolling along nicely in the SPL until they beat Rangers 2-1 on Xmas Eve. Since then they have only managed one point in four SPL games, a draw at home to Dundee United, the low point being a 5-2 thrashing by ten man Hearts. In fact since we beat them on 3rd December, they have only won once in seven games and now find their early season form has deserted them and they have been drawn back into the mid-table pack chasing that elusive top-six dream.

The two games already played this season have been narrow 2-1 victories by the men from the North. McAusland headed the opener at Inverness before man of the match Andrew Shinnie and Gregory Tade made the final score 2-1 for the hosts. This was a game where the Buddies played second fiddle to the home side for long spells, but were always in with a chance of snatching a point, and a disallowed goal in injury time saw them lose out. A similar scoreline at Paisley saw Andrew Shinnie once more score for Inverness after eleven minutes. Thompson scored in first half stoppage time to level the scores as he rose unchallenged to nod in from two yards. However, man of the moment Jonny Hayes scored what proved to be the winner with a superb 20 yard effort. That win moved Inverness off the bottom of the table with 15 points and St Mirren were seventh on 22 points.

The SPL table now shows St Mirren sitting one point above Inverness although we have a home game against St Johnstone to come yet. What has changed dramatically is that Inverness are no longer the poorest defensive team in the league. Dunfermline(-26), Hibs(-17) and St Mirren (-11) all have worse goal differences than us (-10). What a difference keeping a clean sheet makes, remember a better GD is like an extra point at the end of the season. Our home form is very similar to that of the Buddies with four wins and five defeats. Saints away form shows only two wins, five defeats and five draws. Their away wins have come at Perth and Easter Road. On their travels they have scored twelve goals whilst conceding twenty-two. Ten of those goals against have come in the last four away games.

A bit of extra spice thrown in for this game. Not only will the St Mirren fans have Ross Tokely to shout abuse at, but Dougie Imrie has joined the Buddies from Hamilton and he usually gives the Inverness fans something to holler about. None moreso than when he scored a stunning goal for the Accies inside the first minute to give Accies all three points in August 2010. What a strike that was from around thirty yards, as it flew high into Esson's top left corner to stun the home crowd. That was Accies first goal and first points of that season.

Despite his season ending injury, Chris Hogg has been offered a contract beyond the end of this season. The terms have still to be thrashed out but Hogg will be offered the contract to keep him at Inverness when he returns from his knee ligament damage. He has had his operation and is expected to be in rehab for at least six months, with nine months being a more realistic target. Good luck with that Chris, and remember, you can all follow Hogg the Blogg's progress at http://chrishoggthef...k.blogspot.com/

Captain courageous Richie Foran has signed on again at Caledonian Stadium until the summer of 2014. The Irish midfielder has taken on a new lease of life playing deeper in the centre of the park and has flourished there, able to see the greater picture and his tenacity and leadership from that area has benefited the team. It is no surprise that results have improved since he dropped deeper as he was wasted out on the flank. Good signing for Inverness and a good decision by Richie.

***Latest Team News***

Inverness have plenty of problems once again as Hogg, Golobart, Andrew Shinnie and Owain Tudur-Jones are all out longer term, although Jones has begun training after a season long injury. Doran may have to be content with a place on the bench as this might be too soon for him and Lee Cox is the subject of transfer speculation that Swindon Town are keeping an eye on him. Butcher may be forced to play the same team that performed so well against Hearts last weekend, with an addition to the squad in the shape of Sam Winnall, a loan signing from Wolves. Sam is a 21 year old striker/midfielder and has already trained with his new team mates and could find himself thrust into the action as the injury crisis deepens. Another man who could find himself the centre of attention is Claude Gnakpa, signed till the end of the season from Walsall. The 28 year old Frenchman is primarily a winger but can fill a number of positions and will be a useful addition to the squad. ***News just in; Steve Williams may have to sit this one out with a minor knee injury, although he should be fit for next weekends cup tie.

St Mirren are without Darren McGregor, who will be out until March. A training injury has sidelined Scotland u21 international midfielder Kenny McLean. He has broken his collar bone and will be out for around six weeks. In demand Jim Goodwin could return after missing the Celtic game. Hibs were showing a lot of interest in the former Republic of Ireland midfielder but he has signed on again for the Paisley club in a two year deal. *** Jim Goodwin may also have to miss this game out as he is struggling to regain full fitness.

tm4tj Prediction:- Despite the injury problems rearing it's ugly head once more, we were able to cope with the weather and Hearts last weekend reasonably comfortably, and I see no reason why we cannot repeat the result once more. Another clean sheet would be a welcome bonus and given the way that Williams and Proctor complimented each other last weekend then there is the chance that we can pull it off once more. I will be disappointed with a defeat, so it's a narrow win again for me, clean sheet and Inverness seven games unbeaten, woohooo! 1-0.

Other SPL News

Relegation rivals Hibernian have loaned in former Livingston defender Jake McPake and Stoke midfielder Tom Soares, a former England u21 international. The Hibees are assembling a pretty useful bunch of individuals that should be capable of steering them clear of the drop zone, but they are not a team and that is the task facing manager Pat Fenlon.

Relegation favourites Dunfermline's revival did not last long. After a surprisingly easy win at Rugby Park last weekend they were brought back to earth by Motherwell on Tuesday night, losing 3-1, despite Motherwell playing most of the game with ten men. Loan keeper Ian Turner continued the Chris Smith theme and should have done better at the opening goal. Motherwell go back into third place while Dunfermline stay rooted to the bottom of the table, eight points behind Inverness, and one point behind Hibs.

Some guys never learn. Hiya Leigh, hiya pal. Hibernian's loan signing Leigh Griffiths has been handed another ban for a one fingered gesture made to his own fans during last weeks game with St Johnstone. He already has a one game ban for a similar offence, but our Leigh seems to have missed the point and continues to push his luck. He now misses the next two SPL games and the Cup game with Kilmarnock.

And down south, former Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder Don Cowie will play in the Carling Cup Final after helping the Welsh side beat Crystal Palace to reach the Wembley finale. Cardiff will play Liverpool who knocked out favourites Manchester City.