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  • Scotty
    Scotty

    Inverness CT -V- Motherwell - Report

    Absolutely Brutal

     

    Inverness slumped to another defeat, this time at the hands of relegation rivals Motherwell. That's nine games without a win and this result leaves us as firm favourites for the drop.

    If this was a boxing match, the referee would probably have taken both boxers aside and reminded them they would have to show some intent or risk losing their purse. However, Clay delivered a sucker punch with a bit of a freak blow as Fon Williams did not cover himself in glory, the wind aided strike catching him unawares. Another body blow from Scott McDonald ended the contest. Despite a late flurry of activity, probably borne out of embarrassment we only had a scrambled effort from want away midfielder Greg Tansey to show for it. We had plenty of possession in the second forty-five, but similar to most games this season we were unable to capitalise on it. Ross Draper had what looked like a decent claim for a penalty turned down and Aaron Doran struck the crossbar, but as is the norm these days, nothing went for us and in the end the three points left Inverness destined for North Lanarkshire.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Old Caley Girl will have a full report for us when she thaws out and her anger subsides....................... and here it is.

    Not sure where to start here to be honest. However, the hard luck excuses this season are wearing a bit thin. The Caley Thistle line up was unchanged from the last game at Ibrox. As mentioned in the match preview McHugh returned to the Motherwell line up following a lengthy spell out with concussion.  A decent crowd, for a cold post-Christmas midweek match were in good spirits led by a noisy young team in the north stand. However, this optimistic mood was to be misplaced.

    Motherwell had the first chance of the game with a free kick from Hammell taking a deflection forcing Owain Fon Williams to make a save. However, this led to Caley Thistle having chances of our own with Polworth and Cole coming close. It was end to end chances with Tansey forcing a great save from Samson from a 25 yd free kick.

    There was bit of drama when Cole had a hefty challenge on Lucas earning a yellow card. Arguably he was perhaps lucky it wasn’t a different colour. This flashpoint kicked off Scott McDonald into a rage and it seemed like everyone on both sides piled in. Tansey tested Samson again on the stroke of halftime but without result.

    Half Time 0-0

    ICT started the 2nd half with a great chance with Doumbouya crossing the ball right across the goalmouth but Cole could not connect.  However, in 50 minutes the game changed completely with a Clay shot from the edge of the box catching the wind and finding itself right in the top corner of the net. Not much Owain Fon Williams could do about it as just a freak shot. This did however, change the game with ICT panicking and reverting to the “hoof and hope” tactic. We did have chances to pull the game back with Vigurs and Doran forcing good saves and a possible call for a penalty when Draper was pushed over in front of goal. Draper also had another claim turned down a few moments later but it would have been soft. We continued to press for the equaliser but to no avail and indeed there was the worry that we would be caught on the counter which indeed proved to be the case when Moult stormed down the right passing to McDonald who shot past a static OFW who seemed unwilling to move off his line. Motherwell 2-0 up and the home fans left in droves. Tansey did bundle the ball over the line in the dying minutes but too little too late for the home team.

    Full Time 1-2

    Worrying times. Motherwell looked a poor side but we just couldn’t get our act together. Bottom of the table with just one win in 13. Only 2 home wins this season with only one clean sheet. Apparently we also have the lowest points total at this stage, in any division, in our history as a club. The stats also show that most clubs bottom at the turn of the year go on to be relegated. Richie Foran also a bit fortunate in the lack of criticism coming his way, at the moment,  in my opinion. County up next and it really really is a must win but I’m personally not full of confidence. We do have the personnel to sort this and it really is time for some leadership on the field from the experienced players and a bit of backbone to show what they really are capable of. Bad luck maybe but let’s make our own luck. An ugly 1-0 on Saturday will do fine.

    OCG MotM To be fair to the match sponsor there really wasn’t a lot of choice. However, the choice of Iain Vigurs drew audible gasps then boos in the north stand. Personally I wish he would roll up his sleeves and stop being a passenger for most of the game. I’m going with Tremarco for the simple reason that I can’t remember him doing much wrong.

     

     

     


    Date: 28/12/16  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 3097 Referee: Barry Cook
     
    Inverness CT: 1

    • Lineup:  Fon-Williams, Tremarco, Warren, Meekings, Polworth (Mulraney 70), Draper, Vigurs, Tansey, McKay, Doumbouya (Fisher 58), Cole (Doran 55)
    • Subs (not used): Esson, Boden, King, Sutherland
    • Scorers: Tansey (90)
    • Booked: Cole (35), McKay (39), Fisher (77), Vigurs (88)
    • Sent Off: none

    Motherwell: 2

    • Lineup:  Samson, Tait, Hammell (McMillan 62), Heneghan, McManus, McHugh, Cadden (Ainsworth 25), Lucas, Clay, McDonald, Moult
    • Subs (not used): Brill, Bowman, Ferguson, Campbell, Mackin
    • Scorers: Clay (50), McDonald (87)
    • Booked: Moult (58)
    • Sent Off: none

    a




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    Re the highlights:

    That wind was probably icy and  Fon W could not play against it. He seemed baffled that the ball was in that position inside the net or even there at all? Hence the goal.  Maybe he was just frozen stiff......probably like most of the customers. No wonder the NASL plays in the summer months because the customers over here just wouldn't put up with playing in conditions like this. 

    Our team seemed to lack urgency and many of the forward balls appeared to be little more like passing the buck  than done without forward intent. Waves of attackers seemed not to exist and the fun of yesteryear where you watched in breathless anticipation when five forwards moved in a line of unison and aggression and with dynamic, obvious intent towards the opposing goal is entirely missing. Is the regimentation of positioning destroying the game and  killing flare. What we need more of is the magic of Jimmy Johnstone and less of the "stick in one position" stuff. It's the difference between eggs from battery hens and free range ones and the players  would also be much happier in the latter category methinks. 

    We have to keep up with the times, friends. The team of players is there solely to entertain the crowd and apart from the somewhat continuous odd long distance shot which caused a ripple there was little here to get the pulses pounding. If you want to get bums on seats with this relatively sterile  product try Summer football ---just once !

     

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