Dens Draw on the Cards



A tough day is anticipated ahead of the visit to the City of Discovery to play Dundee, a team on the up and playing with confidence right now. The news that the incompetent Willie Collum will be in control (that's a bit of a misnomer) makes everyone's task even more difficult. The previous encounter this season saw Dundee earn a point in a midweek fixture in the Highlands with a goalless draw.

One man to watch on Saturday is former Motherwell striker David Clarkson. He is on a run just now having scored eight goals in eight games and will be worth keeping an eye on. That's a great return for the Bellshill lad whose last season at Bristol Rovers was plagued by injury

Dundee are without midfielder Paul McGowan, still suffering from a knee injury, (aye right), and Peter MacDonald who will miss out as well. Scott Bain will keep the goalies jersey with Kyle Letheren still out. Bain performed heroics last weekend in the cup win over Aberdeen.

Inverness are at full strength with captain Richie Foran the only exception to the rule.

Ginger Jaggy has been doing the homework for this Preview.............
 

Celtic have hit top spot and the likelihood is that they will stay there until the end of the season but Caley Thistle have a duty to push the champions all the way as best of the rest. John Hughes’ charges have been fantastic so far and will go out to prove to Celtic that surprises come in small packages. Next up is a tricky away game in the City of Discovery against the dark blue side of Dundee. Dundee is one of two teams in the league who have come North and taken anything away from the Caledonian Stadium, so Saturday is our turn to take the points along the A9.

Paul Hartley has had a great start to his management career. After successive promotions with Alloa Athletic, he then promoted Dundee to the top flight to make it three on the trot. With this record comes an exciting brand of football which has seen the Dark Blues climb into the top six currently.

The signing of David Clarkson has been remarkable as he has scored in 8 successive games including a last minute winner to knock fancied Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup. Dundee has recruited well in the summer and since the signing of Clarkson it has all come together to make Dundee almost safe already. The good times could be returning to the city with Neighbours United starting to compete up the table on a more regular basis. James McPake has added steel and experience at the back while additions of Paul McGowan (injured) and Gary Harkins (in his 3rd spell at the club) have added flair and guile. Harkins alongside Leigh Griffiths were the main protagonists in their side when we humiliated them by overturning a 16 point lead to win the 1st division by 12 points. Griffiths may have gone and Harkins has aged somewhat since his period as a prolific goal scoring midfielder, but he still has the class and quality to cause us problems. A lot of what is good about Dundee’s football comes through the Greenock born midfielder so if Inverness can keep him quiet then that is half the battle won.

It could have been oh so different with Hartley in the away dugout instead of the home one tomorrow. Most fans at the time were bewildered that the club let such a bright and promising young manager slip through our fingers after the Butcher fiasco. To then add salt in the wounds the club go and appoint a man with a very mixed record. But Yogi has quietened the dissenters and although there has been one or two hiccups, it has largely been one continuous rollercoaster. The players have been performing brilliantly and we go into this game on the back of a brilliant run of form with 3 wins and one draw in both league and cup. Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing of St Mirren will have given the guys confidence but we know this will be a tougher test.

The first game finished 0-0 back in the first week of the season. That game was tight and pretty turgid but both teams are flowing now and are playing some really entertaining stuff. With lots of attacking talent on both sides I expect goals tomorrow let’s hope it will be on the right side. This will be a tough match but I still think Inverness have enough to win the game and make sure we continue to keep the pressure on Celtic as best of the rest.

In Friday nights game, Dundee United held on to beat bottom club Dross County, who finished with ten men. That result cements County at the basement, but more importantly, Dundee United jump into second place, two points above Inverness. So that makes it all the more important that Inverness overcome the Dens Parkers and tuck themselves in behind Celtic once more.