Inverness going for the treble




Motherwell are the visitors this weekend as Inverness look to continue their fine start to the season, and the home side will be looking for a hat-trick of straight wins. A Motherwell side dumped out of the Europa League at the first time of asking will be hoping to stop that run and be the first side to score against a confident Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

We were momentarily displaced at the top of the table, well for three minutes to be more precise, as Partick Thistle took the lead against Hearts in Friday nights SPFL match but a fine goal by Jamie Walker some three minutes later squared the match and put us back on top.

AJS has put his guitar down long enough to write the preview for the visit of Motherwell ...........and you can repay him by turning up at Nellie Deans to see The Caspians play after today's game at 9:30 pm.

ICT welcome back their bogey team from Lanarkshire, in Motherwell FC. Stuart McCall's men have had an indifferent start to the season. A hard fought victory away to Hibs on the opening day was followed by a surprising 3-1 defeat at home to Aberdeen. ICT meanwhile remain happily perched at the top of the table having maintained their 100% start to the season. Many including myself viewed the trip to Tannadice as a stern test this early in the season but to see the boys come away with another win and clean sheet was a terrific result and a very encouraging sign for what lies ahead. 

Motherwell will provide just as stern a test and with good reason. Since Caley Thistle returned to the top flight in 2010 they have only managed three victories in ten games with them being evenly spread out as one per season. Last season was rather damning with the Well notching 4-1, 5-1 and 3-0 results consecutively but Caley Thistle came out victorious in the most recent encounter in what was an enthralling 4-3 win at the tail end of the campaign. A double from Billy McKay either side of a strike from Andrew Shinnie fired ICT into a 3-0 lead but a Higdon penalty and a double from James McFadden left both teams scrambling frantically for a winner but when Henrik Ojamaa paid the price for seeing two bookings ICT seized the chance to capitalize and Billy completed his hat trick with a late winner. Billy also squandered a penalty and plenty more chances were created by both sides in what was arguably the most entertaining game of last season. In all honesty i will settle for a boring 1-0 win this time round. 

Like ourselves Motherwell have had quite a turnover of players over the summer with household names such as Darren Randolph, Chris Humphrey, Tom Hateley and Nicky Law all leaving for pastures new, as the club aimed to trim their budget. Another name on the list of departures was Michael Higdon which will no doubt please most home fans ahead of Saturdays game. We always seemed to catch the big man at his best last season as he helped himself to seven goals in the four games between both sides. A man who will definitely not be missed by our back four. Despite the losses Motherwell have recruited impressively in the market. Paul Lawson and Iain Vigurs were two of the best performers in County's debut season in the top flight and bringing John Sutton back was a shrewd move to fill the void left by Higdon. The club also did well to retain James McFadden who has shown his class since returning to the club and will continue to do so if he stays fit. 

Given the good early form Terry and the boys will no doubt be relishing the fixture and will look to maintain the 100% start and improve our stats against The Steel men. Our opening games have seen us get results, stay solid in defence and play some good attacking football. The fans have also been top notch since the season kicked off, the presence at United last week was incredible and there is no doubt that can transcend onto the pitch and give the team that added boost to get a result. With two former County stars in Motherwell's side it will add some extra spice to what will already be a closely fought encounter. 1998 was when we last won our first 2 games on the bounce. Anyone know how long it was since we won our last 3?

AJS's prediction:- I see the match being very tight but as long as we can keep McFadden nullified and keep up the attacking football I believe we can make it a hat trick of victories to start the season. For me I see a cushdy 2-1 win with Billy getting a double.