Another Fireworks Display Please

The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions. That is how they described Guy Fawkes, and it's that time of year again. This fixture last season produced plenty of fireworks. There were certainly rockets and a few bangers as Inverness fired six crackers past a stunned Kilmarnock, who managed to score three times themselves, but played like damp squibs.

Both clubs are on a high just now having respectively beaten both halves of what used to be known as 'The Old Firm'. Killie took Celtic crashing back to earth after their European adventure in Barcelona, and Inverness gave The Rangers a reality check as life in the third division looks harder than even they would have imagined.

These two clubs shared sixteen goals in the two Rugby Park fixtures last term, Inverness edging the scoring with nine of those goals. This season Inverness find themselves at the top of the SPL scoring charts after eleven games with twenty three goals and on a six game unbeaten run in the SPL, eight if you count the two League Cup games against Stenhousemuir and The Rangers.

Kilmarnock had slipped up recently with defeats to Aberdeen and St Johnstone before surprising Celtic at Parkhead where goals from Sheridan and a Kelly penalty gave them a surprising but well deserved victory. That was their first win there since 1955, and follows on from their League Cup triumph last season over the Hoops. Kenny Shiels has started the mind games early and is trying to convince everyone that Inverness are the favourites for this one, but you won't find many Inverness fans getting carried away at the moment, despite our decent run of form.

Terry Butcher has praised the team spirit this season and the camaraderie was highlighted today when Simon King discovered his car was covered in post-it's by his own team mates. I'm not so sure Simon was as chuffed as the perpetrators with the new colour scheme on his sparkling Mercedes, but it's this team spirit that has been carried onto the park and is beginning to pay dividends with the recent run of results. I doubt we will see the players coming out onto the park with post-it's covering their bodies, but if that's what makes them tick, then hey-ho.

***Latest Team News***

Inverness captain Richie Foran will not start against Kille, but he will make the bench after getting on the park at Ibrox for a few minutes in midweek, however a full game may be too early for the fiery Irishman after his knee injury. Terry Butcher seems to have his preferred starting line up playing the last few games and I would expect another unchanged starting eleven at Rugby Park. This would keep Shane Sutherland, Conor Pepper, Gavin Morrison and Ryan Esson on the bench. Simon King, Chris Hogg and Nick Ross remain long term casualties.

Kilmarnock could be without the dangerous Cillian Sheridan as he is reported to be struggling with a virus. William Gros misses out through injury along with Garry Hay and Danny Racchi who remain on the sidelines.

tm4tj Prediction:- Light the blue touch paper and wait for the fireworks to begin. These are usually open games at Rugby Park and goals are guaranteed. Given the form of both clubs then another Guy Fawkes extravaganza is on the cards and I would be happy enough to leave with a hard earned point over a sometimes difficult opponent. 2-2 draw is my shout, second guess is 1-2.

Mon the Caley Jags