Inverness CT -V- Hamilton - Preview

Back to Business

After a weekend of Cup action it's back to League duty this weekend as the hunt for points at both ends of the table intensifies. Forget the previous twenty-odd games, the season begins in earnest now with most sides having recruited in the January sales and squads should now be optimised for the last third of the season. For Inverness that's not so much about bringing new players in, it's more about getting injured players back on the park and it was great to see Robbie Deas in the squad at Livingston, a sign that we are slowly getting back to full strength with Scott Allardice and Cammy Harper also having taken part over the last three games. This is a home game on Saturday and is scheduled for a 3:00pm start at the Caledonian Stadium. We then visit Hamilton three days later in a re-arranged fixture from before Xmas on 21st Feb at 19:45.
 

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Match/Ticket/Info

Scottish Cup v Killie

Raise the Roof

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Historically we have a decent record against Accies although in recent games when we should have been the dominant force we have struggled to cope having won only one of the last six encounters, and that was an end of season fixture when Accies were winding down and we were gearing up for the play-offs. It's only two wins in ten if you stretch further back.

0 - 2 (A)

0 - 1 (H)

4 - 0 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 2 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

2 - 1 (H)

0 - 3 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

This time last year we played out an entertaining 1 - 1 draw at Hamilton:  Accies took an early lead through Josh Mullin after a defensive blunder by Reece McAlear. Great finish from the Accies player though as he arrowed the ball high into the net from twenty yards (Josh Mullin). We levelled when Sam Pearson scored his first goal for the club on the half hour and that's how it stayed at the break, although David Moyo almost got a touch on a low ball fizzed into the box just on the whistle. No further scoring after the break despite plenty of opportunities at both ends and Joe Hardy almost snatched it at the end with the last kick of the ball. Good point, but ten games without a win now 

FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY (19:45)

Morton 1-0 Dundee

Queens Park 1-1 Raith Rovers

SATURDAY 18TH FEBRUARY (15:00)

     Ayr United v Partick Thistle

Cove Rangers v Arbroath        

Caley Jags v Hamilton  

Last Time Out

It was cup action for both sides last weekend. Accies acquitted themselves well against Hearts after a shaky start but went down 2-0 with the Jambos scoring in each half through Humphrys and Devlin. In their last Championship fixture Accies drew 1-1 with title candidates Dundee. An early goal from Hearts loanee Connor Smith put Accies ahead only for Jordan McGhee to level before the interval and that's how it stayed as Accies gained a valuable point at the foot of the table.

Inverness dumped the Livi Lions out of the Cup with two sensational strikes from on form Billy Mckay and a Sean Welsh header to progress to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup. That has earned us a home tie against Kilmarnock on March 11th. Our last League game saw us come from behind twice to earn a point at home versus Morton. Second half goals from Billy Mckay and Ethan Cairns saw us grab a late point. That was Billy's 92nd goal for the Caley Jags whilst Ethan has a long way to go after notching his first goal with his first touch after coming on as a substitute.

Cup Goals

Accies have already beaten us twice this season although one of those games was against a weakened Inverness side in the Challenge Cup where the youngsters performed well despite going down 0 - 2. Great Effort by Young Team: Accies took an early advantage of the young squad Inverness had assembled and opened the scoring after only three minutes through an own goal.  The young team responded well when Calum Mackay did brilliantly down the left and his cross made it's way to Keith Bray but his diving header was tipped round the post by Jamie Smith. Minutes later Mackay went through on goal but his shot caught the side netting.  Tiehi and One replied for Accies with Ridgers gathering Tiehi's effort and One heading wide before a deflected shot from Winter earned a corner for Accies. Aaron Nicolson shot just wide midway through the half. Accies doubled their lead when Reegan Mimnaugh turned in Andy Winter's low cross. Mackay and Nicolson came close again. Just before the interval Mark Ridgers denied Gabe Forsyth from 25 yards. 2-0 at the interval with the young guys performing brilliantly and Jamie Smith the busier keeper, but Accies with the all important goals. H/T 2-0 Just after the hour Ryan One did well down the Accies left and his shot was parried by Ridgers and Caley Thistle get clear. Inverness made a couple of changes with twenty minutes left. Alistair Nixon & Calum MacLeod on, Ryan Barrett & Duncan Proudfoot off. 83rd minute Daniel MacDougall & Lewis Mackie on, Jack Walker & Aaron Nicolson off. 87th minute Danny Gillan on, Mark Ridgers off. Accies ended the game with ten players that had come through their own Academy as the game ran away from the Inverness XI who had acquitted themselves very well.

Latest Team News

Probably still too early for Robbie Deas, but great to have him back involved with the squad. Allardice, Harper, Shaw and Welsh have all returned and will be heading towards full fitness. Still some doubts over the whereabouts of our man of mystery, Austin Samuels. Not much information coming from the club surrounding his availability or otherwise. Sutherland, Walsh and MacGregor are still to come so we can maybe look forward to a wee surge towards the end of the season. Here's hoping.

Hamilton's January business

In: Reghan Tumilty, defender (Hartlepool United).

Loan in: Connor Smith, midfielder (Heart of Midlothian); Dylan McGowan, defender (Kilmarnock); Tom Sparrow, midfielder (Stoke City).

Out: Miko Virtanen, midfielder (Cove Rangers).

Loan out: Michael Doyle, defender (Alloa Athletic).

Good bit of business by Accies to bring in Reghan Tumilty on loan. Dario Zanatta is also a handy man to have in your locker and Lewis Smith has caused us problems before. Young Ryan One is developing into a great prospect. Accies are always up for a battle and points are usually difficult to prise away from them. The loans in of Connor Smith and Dylan McGowan will bolster the Accies defence who have conceded forty goals. However it's up front they have really under achieved scoring only nineteen league goals this season compared to our thirty-four goal haul. Billy Mckay has twelve league goals to his name.

The prize for beating Livingston>>>

After last weeks heroics, we face Kilmarnock on Friday 10th March 7:45pm. This tie will be screened live on BBC Scotland.

As well as scoring two peaches against Livi, Billy Mckay was in the team of the week for his performance. That's Billy's 8th goal since the turn of the year.