Great Escape is still on

The great escape coninues on Friday night at the Caledonian Stadium as we host Raith Rovers in a game that will also be screened live on BBC Scotland with Raith trying to cling on to the coat tails of Dundee United and the Caley Jags looking to slither away from the play-off zone. What could possibly go wrong? Savage and Carragher will be joined in the squad by a welcome returnee in Sean McAllister who has returned fit from Everton after about six weeks out. That's a nice wee bonus for Big Dunc. However, he has the wrath from Arbroath after his "tools down" comment in his pre-match interview. As long as he has not got the wrath from Raith. Keep the faith!

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Match/Ticket Info

Bring a friend for a Fiver

Alex Chisholm

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We hold a massive advantage over Raith Rovers in all games played since the universe was created. Only 7 defeats in 41 encounters and two of them have come this season, our darkest for many a year. However, normal service resumed when we won the last game at Stark's Park on the 27th of January thanks to a 14 minute first half hat-trick from Alex Samuel. Little did we know that would be his last goal for the next eleven games until he popped up with the winner against Arbroath on the 6th of April.

3 - 2 (A)

1 - 2 (H)

0 - 1 (A)

2 - 0 (H)

2 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (A)

3 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

Cast your mind back to January 12th 2002, and the scene of our biggest win over Raith Rovers with an attendance of 1822:  Report from Ian Broadfoot:  Prior to the match the Kevin Bisset Enclosure was officially opened. The first goal came in seven minutes when Russell Duncan crossed from the right and Ross Tokely sent a looping header into the top corner. Simon Miotto had a number of good saves before, at the other end, a Darren Henderson header came off the post in 33 minutes. Goal number two came in 36 minutes after a scramble which included the ball rebounding off the woodwork. Roy McBain was well placed to take advantage and he hammered home from close range. On the half-time whistle a strong 25 yard shot from Dennis Wyness took a slight deflection and Miotto made a flying save. 30 seconds after the restart a long Nicky Walker kick-out reached Barry Robson on the left well inside the Raith half. He took a touch then crossed for Martin Bavidge to head home from six yards. Raith's best second half effort came on the hour mark when a Darren Henderson header was cleared off the line by Stuart McCaffrey. In 67 minutes Robson's inswinging corner reached a ruck of players and it went in off the head of Bobby Mann. The best goal of the game came with 10 minutes left when substitute David Bagan surged through the middle, played a one-two with Wyness and hit a low ball past Miotto from 12 yards.

Starting XI: Nicky Walker; Ross Tokely, Grant Munro, Bobby Mann, Stuart McCaffrey, Charlie Christie, Barry Robson, Roy McBain, Russell Duncan, Martin Bavidge, Dennis Wyness. 

Subs:  Jim Calder; Stuart Golabek, Graeme Stewart, David Bagan, Paul Ritchie

Last Couple

The Caley Jags claimed their first back to back wins of the season last weekend, having beaten Arbroath 2-1 a fortnight ago thanks to goals from Wallace Duffy and Alex Samuel. That was Duffy's second goal in recent weeks having also netted at Tannadice. Last weekend was massive for us as we scraped ourselves out of ninth place and above Queens Park in a huge six-pointer at Hampden. Cammy Harper made the difference with a superb free kick in the 25th minute, a strike fit to win any game at the National Stadium. Those two wins have placed our destiny within our own hands. Last Six: D L  D L  W W 

Take a bow Cammy Harper>>>

@CameronHarper01's stunning free-kick from yesterday's win against Queen's Park at Hampden pic.twitter.com/zjGYl87ZWO

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) April 14, 2024

Raith Rovers have lost ground at the head of the table in the last fortnight. They began April with a 2-1 win over Ayr United. Easton and Hamilton either side of the break with Logan Chalmers notching the United goal. That result was followed by a home defeat from Airdrieonians, going down 3-1 at Stark's Park. Josh Mullin was the Rovers scorer that night as Raith never got to grips with a lively Airdrie who scored through Frizzell twice and McGregor. Last week they had a no score draw against Partick Thistle to allow the gap at the top to open further. Last Six: W D L  W L  D 

• Friday 19th April
• Inverness CT v Raith Rovers
• Saturday 20th April
• Arbroath v Morton
• Dundee United v Ayr United     
•      Dunfermline v Queen's Park 
•     Partick Thistle v Airdrieonians 

Latest Team News

Remi Savage is back training after concussion and James Carragher missed out last week with a hamstring injury but has also trained this week. Wallace Duffy has a niggle and has missed a couple of sessions. The good news is that Sean McAllister has returned from Everton after injury and could be good to go.

Here's Dunc winding up the Smokies.... and they are biting>>>   

Immortal Howden Ender is picking the team this week and here's his thoughts: It would not surprise me that Dunc will go for the same starting X1 as Hampden. That has positives, maybes and negatives. Playing the same 5 at the back will provide the stability required and hopefully another shut out. I can see this allowing Harper to be more of a wing back but Kerr is not really that type of player. Anderson and Longstaff ran and ran and tackled and tackled. But they are stuck in the middle of the park and with only Samuel as the forward option. Starting Doran and Billy is risky. Both can produce something different, especially from free kick positions, but they need to support Samuel more. That's why I would play Doran alternating wide right and left. Billy did have a couple of chances at Hampden but I would play him closer to Samuel. As for the Tinkerville Taz then same again please. He will not give the Raith defence any breathing space and he is a cert to win free kicks. And with Billy ploughing likewise for an hour both may get more clear cut opportunities. What we can't allow to happen is giving away an early goal. Raith at home is a far more difficult task than the Spiders away. But I reckon Dunc and his dogs of War will be howling at the end of 90 minutes AND I would take a point if offered now... 

Raith Rovers may have slipped up recently as their title challenge fades. However, they are still a dangerous side.