Inverness Maintain Early Form

Inverness remain top of the table with another impressive performance and another three points. This time it was Dundee United that suffered at the hands of Billy McKay who scored after flicking the ball over Dillon and calmly lifting the ball beyond Cierzniak.

Inverness held on fairly comfortably against an inept United team that boasted the return of David Goodwillie to their ranks. However, in truth, one glaring miss apart from the prodigal Goodwillie, Inverness could and should have increased their lead and sealed the win sooner before United staged a late rally. By ten to five it was three points and another clean sheet, Inverness' best start to a campaign in the top tier.

Capital Caley was at the game along with the usual suspects and he has this report for us........

This was possibly one of Caley Thistles comfiest 1-0 victories.  The score line doesn’t reflect the true difference between Inverness and Dundee United.  ICT were superior in every part of the park.  A larger than usual and very vocal travelling support descended on Tannadice with confidence high after destroying the Midden 3-0 in the opening game of the season.  The Arabs had got off to a stuttering start with a 0-0 draw at Firhill on the opening weekend.

Many of the ICT away day regulars gathered at the Centenary Bar (although it isn’t the Centenary Bar anymore!) The new management separated the home and away fans in different bars and lined the doors with bouncers. I don’t think we’ll ever be quite as intimidating as the guys in that awful football movie with a Hobbit in it though.

ICT started off the game strongly. From that moment they never lost their grip on the match. James Vincent was the first to threaten as his left foot shot went just wide. Graeme Shinnie could have opened the scoring minutes later as Billy McKay slid the ball across the box only for Radoslaw Cierzniak to save at his near post. ICT took a deserved lead after 20 minutes. Forans ball into the box found McKay who lobbed the United defender before lobbing the keeper. It was a classy goal that would prove to be the match winner.

Shortly after, Richie Foran received a caution for a foul on Gary Mackay-Steven. It was a high footed challenge but judging by his reaction, it was clearly an accident and a yellow card was the correct decision. United First Team Coach Darren Jackson has a Derek Adams moment as he seethed from the touchline before being calmed down by the referee. ICT were playing some superb football. For all the superb football played, United were crumbling in midfield. They looked disjointed and lacking in confidence. They did manage a half chance towards the end of the first half when Stuart Armstrongs shot from outside the box fell into the arms of Dean Brill.

Richie Foran and Ross Draper were bossing the midfield and this carried on into the second half. ICT were winning and holding possession with even greater ease during the second half. The Arabs fans were frustrated and boos soon broke out around the ground.  Midway through the second half there was much bemusement as a seagull landed on the pitch and seemed to be following the ball. That was until it felt the full force of a Gary Warren pass! The injured seagull soon left the pitch, although it may have been more effective than the United midfield. Ex-Caley Thistle midfielder John Rankin was substituted on the hour mark for United, much to his frustration with yet more United seethe evident.    

United nearly gained an undeserved equaliser when on loan ex-Arab David Goodwillie fluffed his shot after Gary Mackay-Steven beat David Raven down the wing. That was a rare thing on Saturday for sure! With 15 minutes left, Danny Devine came on for David Raven after the right back picked up an injury. Liam Polwarth came on for the impressive Aaron Doran with a few minutes left and looked just as creative as he did in pre-season. Caley Thistle should have doubled their lead towards the end when Graeme Shinnie tackled Calum Butcher and set up McKay. McKay then crossed in to Shinnie with an open goal, however the United defender got a small touch on the ball just before he shot. The ball went agonisingly wide.



At full time, there were cheers around the ICT support as Terry Butcher performed his famous away day celebration. We out played, and out thought the Arabs. Every man had a good game. The midfield was key but noticeable stand out was Ross Draper. The big midfielder got to everything. He was tackling and winning left right and centre. It’s early days yet, but this could shape up to be a very special season.

We are top of the league!

Date: 10.08.2013 Venue: Tannadice Attendance: 6664
Referee: Steven McLean

Dundee United: 0

Lineup: Cierzniak, Dillon, Butcher, Watson, Robertson, Paton, Rankin (Graham 59), Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Goodwillie (Ciftci 85), Erskene (Dow 63)
Subs (not used): McCallum, Souttar, Gunning, Gauld
Scorers: none
Booked: Watson, Ciftci
Sent Off: None

Inverness CT: 1

Lineup: Brill, Raven (Devine 74), Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Vincent, Draper, Foran, Doran (Polworth 86), Ross, Mckay
Subs (not used): Esson, Greenhalgh, Tremarco, Agdestein, Williams
Scorers: McKay (20)
Booked: Warren, Doran, Foran
Sent Off: none

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