New Year New Hope
We face another tough encounter on Tuesday 2nd January as we visit the Excelsior Stadium to take on fifth place Airdrieonians for the fourth time this season having also faced them in the group stages of the League Cup. This one kicks off at 3:00pm, but, don't worry if you can't make the game, Airdrie have got you covered and are offering PPV Live Stream for £15:00.
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Venue | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Agst | + / - |
Home | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 12 | +2 |
Away | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 15 | -6 |
Neutral | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 27 | -4 |
Honours are even over the years with Airdrie apart from that 6-0 humping we took off them in September 2001
Last 3 Competitive Meetings are the only significant ones as previous games were back before 2002 |
1 - 0 (H) |
1 - 2 (A) |
2 - 3 (H) |
Our first win over Airdrie in recent times was the last encounter at the Caledonian Stadium where we took all three points at the end of March. 1 - 0 Duncan ferguson was looking for his first home Championship success as the Diamond's visited the Caledonian Stadium. He would be without some key players. Unfortunately Welsh, Duffy, Doran, MacGregor, Nicolson, and Samuels were all out with Devine, Boyes, Ujdur, Harper and Carson all struggling to make this one. New signings David Wotherspoon and Cillian Sheridan were in the squad. As it was, Carson, Ujdur, Devine, Harper and Wotherspoon all started with Boyes and Sheridan on the bench. Airdrie had Gallagher and Todorov up front with Player Manager Rhys McCabe on from the start. It was a decent afternoon for a game of football and Airdrie took advantage of the good conditions to control the early possession although they never troubled Ridgers, one shot clearing the North Stand into the car park. The next one went five yards over the bar. The best Inverness could offer was a blocked shot on the edge of the box after our best move of the game. We came more into the mix and David Wotherspoon spooned a shot over the bar from five yards after Keeper Josh Rae had saved from Billy Mckay. He really should have scored but he made amends five minutes before the break with a tremendously calm finish. He showed real class unlike the open goal he missed earlier. The move began on the left with Longstaff then when it came to Wotherspoon in midfield he flicked it deftly to the right side where Gilmour fed Shaw. He drove down the wing before cutting the ball back to Spoony who turned in the box to roll the ball into the unguarded corner of the net from twelve yards after making the space for himself. Class!
Half Time: 1-0
After the interval Airdrie retained the ball better but we threatened when Gilmour went down after a challenge in the box. Shaw picked up the loose ball but his shot was charged down as he tried to pick out the top corner from the edge of the box. A spate of substitutions disrupted the flow of the game and the visitors made a late push to salvage a point. However, we defended well despite half of our back four being substituted with Ujdur dominant. The big defender made a couple of crucial blocks, one in particular as Frizzell pulled the trigger, the ball deflecting over the bar. Despite the late pressure from Airdrie, Ridgers was not overly exerted although he made a couple of crucial catches and punches clear to hold on to the clean sheet and more importantly all three points.
Full Time: 1-0
The fabulous execution of his goal was a great introduction for David Wotherspoon but for me the Man of the Match and new version of Bobby Mann was Nikola Ujdur. The Aussie defender is solid, strolled through the game unflustered and can pick a pass. Good graft in midfield but Sheridan and Big Harry need some work done. Shaw picked up a booking at the end when Big Dunc sent him back onto the pitch to get treatment
All games are 3:00pm kick-off on Saturday.
Airdrieonians v Inverness CT
Arbroath v Dundee Utd
Dunfermline v Raith Rovers
Morton v Ayr Utd
Partick Thistle v Queen's Park
Last Time Out
Inverness slumped to another disappointing result and performance as we failed to score at home to Morton and had to settle for a point on a turgid encounter last Saturday. Looks like the honeymoon is well and trully over for big Dunc with many fans likening the performance to that of Doddsball, and that didn't end well. Here's hoping the January sales brings in a couple of decent players as we are creaking at the seams and displaying a distinct lack of quality, especially beyond the first XI. With David Wotherspoon looking like he is either injured or offski to Tannadice then we are in desparate need of a playmaker and out and out striker.
Last Five Games: L D
Airdrie were the only winners last Saturday as a late Todorov strike gave them all three points against a struggling Queens Park. A Dom Thomas penalty had Queens in front before half time but A bullet header from Mason Hancock squared the match before Toddy's 93rd minute winner. Airdrie stopped the rot with that one after a bit of a Championship slump since they beat Arbroath on November 11th.
Last five Games: L L
Latest Team News
Inverness might be without David Wotherspoon and he could well be finished here with Dundee United looking to get him on board. Doran, Samuels, Lodovica and Duffy are out. Carson got a few minutes against Morton but MacGregor is still being nursed back towards getting some game time.
Here's Dunc speaking ahead of Airdrie game: We were rubbish, weren't we>>>
No official team news available yet
Callum Gallagher is the Diamond's top scorer on seven goals with Todorov and Lewis MacGregor both on four. Airdrie are the lowest scorers in the League with just sixteen goals.......and we thought we were poor on twenty.
Scottish Cup Info: Broomhill (H) | 20.01.2024
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) January 1, 2024
Tickets are currently available to all Season Ticket Holders exclusively until 10am on Tuesday 9th January, after which tickets will be released for general sale.
Please note that ONLY the Main Stand will be in use for… pic.twitter.com/3ZpqG8p3dx
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