Almost there with Ayr...
It's Matchday 3 and Ayr United are the visitors to an almost back to normality Caledonian Stadium with up to 5,000 fans allowed entry to the ground. Where will we find all these extra fans? The game kicks off at 3:00pm on Saturday with masks almost a thing of the past as covid restrictions ease somewhat. Hospitality suite is open for this one, time to put on a show.
Inverness are one of three unbeaten sides in the Championship after opening wins over Arbroath and Raith Rovers. The point against Rovers was hard earned and deserved, but it took a wonderful strike from Roddy MacGregor to win the match. We sit third in the table behind promoted Partick Thistle and relegated Kilmarnock.
Here's a quick guide on what the guidelines allow as the stadium opens out for the Ayr United game. Welcome back!
Roddy's goal is well worth another look
Ayr United come North on the back of a decent performance against Dundee United in the League Cup, taking the Tannadice side to extra time and penalties before losing the shoot-out 4-3. Their Championship form shows they have one point from their opening two fixtures. They opened up with a derby defeat to Killie and followed that up with a home draw against Arbroath, coming from two down to earn a point thanks to a strike by Tomi Adeloye and a late goal from Mark McKenzie. So some positives for David Hopkin to take from that despite only showing one point for their efforts to date.
Stat Attack
Championship Table | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts | |
1. | Partick Thistle | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
2. | Kilmarnock | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
3. | Inverness CT | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
4. | Morton | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
5. | Hamilton Academical | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 1 |
6. | Raith Rovers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 1 |
7. | Arbroath | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
8. | Ayr United | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 |
9. | Dunfermline | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 1 |
10. | Queen of the South | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
First Competitive Meeting v Ayr |
Aug 28th, 1999 | League | (A) | 0 - 1 |
Most Recent Competitive Meeting v Ayr |
Apr 30th, 2021 | League (Championship) | (H) | 2 - 2 |
Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Ayr |
2 - 2 (H) |
2 - 0 (A) |
1 - 1 (H) |
0 - 1 (A) |
2 - 0 (H) |
2 - 0 (A) |
1 - 1 (H) |
3 - 1 (A) |
1 - 0 (A) |
3 - 2 (A) |
Biggest Victories |
Apr 24th, 2010 | League | (A) | 7 - 0 |
Heaviest Defeats |
Nov 28th, 2001 | League Cup (Quarter Final) | (A) | 1 - 5 |
Highest Attendance |
Aug 15th, 2009 | League | (H) | 3,297 |
Venue (Head to Head) | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Agst | + / - |
Home | 20 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 34 | 20 | +14 |
Away | 21 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 40 | 26 | +14 |
Neutral | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 41 | 19 | 14 | 8 | 74 | 46 | +28 |
So, a decent record against Ayr United, just one home defeat in twenty games. Stewart Kean scored the only goal at the Caledonian Stadium to give Ayr United a 0 - 1 win. John Robertson made his home debut as Inverness manager and It was Dennis Wyness' 100th game in a row with Barry Robson making his 150th appearance. Some memorable games against Ayr, the 7 - 0 at Somerset Park a particular highlight as the promotion party got into full swing. Some team we had then though. Ahhh, nostalgia, it's not what it used to be.
Other fixtures this weekend
Raith Rovers V Dunfermline (Friday - abandoned lighting issues)
Arbroath v Partick Thistle
Hamilton v Kilmarnock
Morton v Queen of the South
Shane Sutherland is our first monthly winner of the PotY awards. He has put in some workmanlike performances and rounded off July with the vital opening goal of our League campaign against Arbroath. Not just any old goal, but a touch of class with a dinked finish from the edge of the box in an otherwise dour struggle. Manny Duku is second with Tom Walsh in third place.
Latest Team News
Inverness have had an extra week to shake off the niggles and Billy Mckay, Lewis Jamieson Sean Welsh and Aaron Doran will benefit from that. However, Wallace Duffy is still sidelined and Anthony McDonald will be a doubt. All of our graduates that signed on this season are out on loan, so that could leave us a little thin on the ground with little defensive cover.
On the face of it, Ayr look to be weaker than they were last season. Out went the likes of Dario Zanatta, Luke McCowan, Sam Roscoe, Josh Todd and of course Tom Walsh who returned to Inverness. In comes Tomi Adeloye from Barnet and a raft of Morton players, no doubt connected to David Hopkin now being the Ayr manager. They have also acquired a couple of decent loans in defender John Maxwell from Rangers and forward Jonathon Afolabi from Celtic. They still look to be short of where they want to be but put up a determined performance against Dundee United in the League Cup, so write them off at your own peril.
These guys are great. Have a listen to The Wyness Shuffle
Jimmy Says Aye to a Killie Pie!
— The Wyness Shuffle (@TheICTPodcast) August 18, 2021
Arbroath & Raith
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