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  • tm4tj
    tm4tj

    Inverness CT -V- Dunfermline - Preview

    Crucial Times Ahead

     

    The big games keep coming as we reach the business end of the season, the intensity of this one heightened in midweek after the Pars thrashed Partick Thistle 4-1 on Tuesday night ahead of their visit to the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday. The game kicks off at 3:00pm with points vital for both sides for different reasons. John Hughes is the man tasked with saving Dunfermline's season and it's not all gone to plan so far, but the midweek rout of Partick is an untimely reminder that they can cause problems to the best sides in this division. How many people, like me, had the Pars down as one of the favourites to get promotion given the depth and quality of their squad. I certainly did not expect them to be exiting the Championship at the bottom end. Crazy season heading for a tense finish at both ends of the table.

    MATCH/TICKETS/STREAMING INFO

    OFFICIAL PREVIEW

    NEW STRIP

    SPORTS BAR

    Venue Head 2 Head Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / -
    Home 22 9 8 5 28 21 +7
    Away 24 9 10 5 29 26 +3
    Neutral 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1
    Total 48 18 19 11 60 51 +9
    Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Pars
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    1 - 1
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    1 - 2
    (H)
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    0 - 0
    (A)
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    1 - 0
    (A)
    draw.png
    1 - 1
    (H)
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    1 - 3
    (A)
    win.png
    2 - 1
    (A)
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    2 - 0
    (H)
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    1 - 0
    (A)
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    1 - 0
    (H)

    The honours tilt towards us over the years, a far cry from our first taste of the big time when Dunfermline pumped us 4-0 at East End Park in our first game in Division one or the Championship as we know it now. August 7th 1999 with nearly 5,000 in attendance, steak bridies and all. At last we had made the big time....Alas, we had a lot to learn.  Click on the link below to see Ian Broadfoot's brief report as we ended the game with 10 men against an accomplished Dunfermline Athletic.

     Aug 7th League 0 - 4  (A)    4,865  

    Fast Forward to May 12th 2007 when Dunfermline were officially relegated after we beat them at the Caledonian Stadium; full report from Ian Broadfoot. Look at that crowd back in 2007, no doubt swelled by the Fifers as they tried to stave off relegation.

     May 12th League 2 - 1  (H)    6,464  

     

    All games Saturday 3:00pm

        Arbroath v Raith Rvrs

    Hamilton v Queens

           Killie v Partick 

       Morton v Ayr Utd

     Inverness CT v Dunfermline

    Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts
     
    1. Kilmarnock 30 17 5 8 41 21 56
    2. Arbroath 30 14 12 4 41 22 54
    3. Inverness CT 30 12 10 8 41 29 46
    4. Partick Thistle 30 12 9 9 42 34 45
    5. Raith Rovers 30 10 12 8 37 37 42
    6. Morton 30 8 11 11 33 40 35
    7. Hamilton Ac. 30 8 11 11 35 45 35
    8. Ayr United 30 8 8 14 30 44 32
    9. Dunfermline 30 5 14 11 31 45 29
    10. Q.O.S. 30 6 8 16 30 44 26

    As a result of Dunfermline swatting away the Jags in midweek, all teams have now played 30 games with Inverness remaining in 3rd position whilst Partick and Raith capitulate. No room to crow about it though as we have only just returned to winning ways after a horrendous run of eleven games with no wins, taking only six points from a possible thirty three.

    This season we have yet to beat the Pars. We were fortunate to draw 0-0 at East End Park in September as Dunfermline looked for their first win of the season after five games. We were top on 15 points, Dunfermline bottom with just two points after this one.

    We went down 2-1 at the Caledonian Stadium in November after having led through a Billy Mckay goal. A Danny Devine og restored parity before a superb Dom Thomas solo goal clinched the points. Under Par: Inverness opened the scoring after probing well for over twenty minutes. Michael Gardyne drifted inside and the Pars defence opened up allowing him to get a shot away. It came back off the woodwork and Billy Mckay reacted first to knock the ball into the net. However, Dunfermline got their first win of the season as Inverness fired blanks thereafter, and goals from Kevin O'Hara assisted by a massive Danny Devine deflection and a great solo effort from Dom Thomas won the points for the Pars. Another bad day at the office continued with Inverness slipping to third following wins for Killie Raith and Partick.

    The third encounter was a 1-1 draw at EEP: More points thrown away in our wasteful period in January. Inverness wasted an opportunity to put pressure on the top of the table after squandering a first half lead through Shane Sutherland. Steven Lawless levelled from the spot in the second half with ten minutes remaining after David Carson was adjudged to have blocked a cross with a flailing arm. Another drab performance after a first half full of promise. No surprise really given recent performances, but frustrating nonetheless.

    So, time to redress the balance for this season as Dunfermline begin to realise the severity of their plight. 

    Last Time Out

    We came away with an unlikely three points after Logan Chalmers scored two spectacular goals in the dying embers of a game we looked like losing, even against ten men. Raith took an early lead through Aidan Connolly before Shane Sutherland stabbed in the equaliser. That was short lived as Poplatnik restored Raith's advantage before the break. A couple of enforced changes weakened Raith but we still struggled and even after Kyle Benedictus was red carded with twenty minutes to go we looked spent on ideas. Up popped Chalmers with two sweet left foot strikes to take the points North. That result came on the back of us ending our drought with a 3-0 win over Arbroath the week before to revive our flagging play-off hopes.

    On yersel Logan

    As said before, Dunfermline helped us out in midweek by thumping Partick thistle 4-1. More importantly they helped themselves massively and climbed off the foot of the table in doing so. Partick had opened the scoring with a strike from distance through Ross Docherty. They fought back and deservedly levelled with an og from Lewis Mayo. Mathew Todd scored a second for a rampant Pars in the first half followed by Josh Edwards. Man of the Match Dom Thomas scored a spectacular fourth in the second half to put the icing on the cake. Great result for the Pars led of course by none other that John Hughes, our former Scottish Cup winning manager. Dom Thomas' name has cropped up a lot recently and he will be worth watching as he has bagged a few special goals this season and is also well up on assists.

    Latest Team News

    Scott Allardice is out long term with Roddy MacGregor rumoured to be returned to full training. Possibly as you were if no fresh injuries are thrown into the mix, however some late fitness tests required according to Dodds. Sam Pearson is on international duty with Wales u21.

    Billy Dodds ahead of Pars fixture

     

    Steven Lawless had stitches inserted in a head wound picked up against Partick Thistle. Lewis McCann should come back into contention after being injured against Morton but the injury is not as serious as first feared (dislocation). Keeper Jakub Stolarczyc was on international duty with Poland's u21's in midweek and they have another game on Tuesday night although stand-in Deniz Mehmet did little wrong when called in to replace him against Partick.

    Dunfermline last starting XI: Mehmet, Todd, Ambrose, Donaldson, Edwards, Pybus, Chalmers, Lawless, Polworth, Thomas, O’Hara

    Some familiar names in there, with Toddy coming off the bench against Partick.

     

    Eric the Stats Pars roundup

    Changes to Dunfermline squad since we last met at East End Park

    Departures

    Owain Fon Williams - the one time ICT and Welsh international painter goalkeeper has left the East End Park club. In press release from DAFC on 28th February. " Dunfermline Athletic wish to announce that we have agreed to cancel Owain Fon Williams contract with effect from today. Owain wishes to leave for family reasons."

    Vytas Gaspuitis - The defender left the club on the 18th March on a free transfer to play in his home country Lithuania with FA Siauliai

    Kyle Macdonald - a right back who is now on loan at Airdrieonians.

    Iain Wilson - Midfielder left on a free to join Greenock Morton.

    Players in

    Jakub Stolarczyk - Goalkeeping cover on loan from Leicester City U23.

    Efe Ambrose - the centre back is on loan from St Johnstone

    Liam Polworth - Well known Invernessian is on loan from Kilmarnock.

    Joe Chalmers - Another familiar name to ICT fans, central midfield player joined DAFC from Ayr United for an undisclosed fee.

    Bobby Kamwa - The 22 year old forward is on loan from Leeds United U23 for the remainder of the season

    NEW STRIP INCOMING

    May be an image of 1 person

    • Soft feel new texture finish – made from 100% Recycled Polyester mesh.  
    • Wicking finish, keeps you cooler and drier for longer.
    • Recycled rib contrast cuff detail.
    • Raglan sleeve construction to back of shirt.
    • Contrast elasticated tape hem detail to co-ordinate with shorts
    • PUMA Cat Logo at right chest and on both sleeves.

     

    The words of the song on the strip. Oh well, it's the thought that counts I suppose😂

     

    Pic: Trevor Martin




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    We got lucky in Kirkcaldy. Yogi returns to Inverness. Pars on form. Should I be worried? Yes! 

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