Ball 8 v Ball 27

Coronavirus trumps all. 

All Scottish Cup games on hold from midnight 11/01/21 until February at the earliest. Reviewed on a rolling basis.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC 

Game off Following a pitch inspection this morning at Victoria Park, today’s Scottish Cup Second Round tie against Buckie Thistle has been postponed. The match will now be played on Tuesday 12 January 2021, Victoria Park, 8.00pm kick-off.

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That draw means that The Caley Jags will head to Victoria Park Buckie to take on olde Highland League adversaries Buckie Thistle in the second round of the William Hill Scottish Cup on Saturday January 9th, a draw predicted by one of our resident seers Gringo. Unfortunately the game will be covid restricted meaning that no fans will be allowed into the ground to witness the first full competitive match between the sides. The game is scheduled to kick-off at 3:00pm.

***A pitch inspection is planned for Saturday morning after the recent cold spell has left a lot of pitches frozen,***

It's not the worst draw to be honest as we have a decent record of putting green and white hooped sides out of the Scottish Cup. A cold winters afternoon, potential banana skin fixture with the possibility of a scalp for the Highland League side. What's not to enjoy about the early rounds of the Scottish Cup.

+++++++++++++++ Buckie Jags +++++++++++++++++

Streaming? (waiting for confirmation)

Official Preview

+++++++++++++++ Caley Jags +++++++++++++++++

Graeme Stewart's Buckie Thistle made their way to the second round of the Cup after an excellent away win at Albion Rovers, beating the Cliftonhill side 3-0. Two goals from Andrew MacAskill, one direct from a corner kick, and a Scott Adams strike were enough to inflict a sixth defeat in seven games for Brian Reid's side. Boss Stewart had played under John Robertson for the Caley Jags from season 1999 to 2003 making 38 appearances, scoring twice. Former Inverness youngsters Kevin Fraser and Andrew MacAskill are at Buckie along with keeper Martin MacKinnon who is on loan at present. Stewart's assistant manager Lewis MacKinnon is also on the books as a player, so great incentive for these guys to do well against their former club.

John Robertson has lost the services of Kai Kennedy to covid. The exciting prospect has returned to parent club Rangers as he has signed a new contract and it is believed he will be loaned out to Raith Rovers. More detail can be found at ICTFC. It is believed "he found the pandemic restrictions and the fact he was so far away from his family particularly difficult and became increasingly, and understandably, homesick". Awwww, you OK hun? He will be a massive miss at the Caledonian Stadium for the rest of this season especially on top of the news that Aaron Doran will likely miss out for a couple of weeks after suffering concussion in the game against Dunfermline Athletic just before the bells. This should open the door for Daniel Mackay to return to the starting XI as a wide forward. Maybe we would have seen the likes of David Carson if he wasn't suspended, as his energy is missed in midfield and there's no guarantee that Sean Welsh will stay injury free for a run of games. Kevin McHattie is another we have yet to see re-appear after pre-season injury.

***Latest Team News from the ICT camp***

David Carson and Brad Mckay are suspended for this Cup game. Aaron Doran is out after suffering concussion against the Pars and Kevin McHattie and Lewis Toshney are at least a month away from making a comeback. I expect that will smooth the way for Wallace Duffy to return with possibly Daniel Mackay replacing Kennedy/Doran.

Buckie keeper Martin MacKinnon is unavailable for selection despite Inverness being OK with him playing, but the rules will not be bent so it's down to third choice keeper, young Lee Herbert to tend the goals with second choice Danny Bell working offshore.

Scottish Cup Flashback.... Some strike by Duthie. Boom!