Cup of woe for Livi

Inverness had a surprise inclusion on the bench in the shape of Robbie Deas, who has been out since breaking a bone in his leg last October in a 1-1 draw with Raith Rovers. Other than that, no major changes.

Both keepers were tested early with Livingston's Stephen Kelly first to test Mark Ridgers as he shot from outside the box in the third minute. Nathan Shaw responded for the visitors a minute later with Shamal George denying him after his shot deflected off Billy Mckay. Ridgers did well to save a Stephen Bradley free kick at the expense of a corner. From that, Obileye met the ball at the back post but slammed it wide. Bruce Anderson was replaced early by Cristian Montana after an injury to the striker in the 13th minute. Substitute Montana shot high and wide from the edge of the box after twenty minutes. He would shoot over again after half an hour as Livi began to boss the game with Inverness looking for the bell to get them to the interval level. Five minutes before the break Inverness survived a double spike when Obileye's header from Kelly's free-kick blocked on the line before he sent the rebound wide of the post. Close shave for the visitors and Obileye headed wide just before the whistle to keep it all square.

Home 63%------Possession-------Away 37%

Half Time: 0-0

Livi made a change at the interval with Kurtis Guthrie replacing Bradley and were back on the front foot immediately with the visitors defence blocking a couple of early efforts from Penrice and Devlin, Sean Welsh with a great block. Kurtis Guthrie then saw his shot saved before Billy Mckay opened the scoring with a sensational strike after we broke forward in the 51st minute, shooting high into the net with an assist from Jay Henderson's ball over the top. Guthrie then headed wide as the Lions responded but it was the Caley Jags that increased their lead through captain Sean Welsh who headed home via the post from a Nathan Shaw cross. Kurtis headed over again as Livi looked for a way back into the tie and Bahamboula saw his shot blocked. Ridgers saved from Joel Nouble as the pressure increased on the Inverness end. However, once more it was Inverness that were sharp in front of goal as Billy Mckay scored a third into the top corner, his 95th goal for Inverness. Ridgers saved low down to deny a bullet header from Obileye with six minutes remaining. That's how it finished and Inverness go into the draw for the Quarter Finals.

 

Full Time 0-3

What a result!

 

Two fantastic Billy McKay goals and a single strike from Sean Welsh sees Championship side @ICTFC upset @LiviFCOfficial to earn a Quarter-Final place.#Scottishcup pic.twitter.com/L0qZtq8Wxd

— Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) February 11, 2023

 

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Match Reaction

Livingston boss David Martindale: "Everything that could go wrong went wrong in the second-half. I've got to give credit to Inverness, they came here with a game plan and executed it very well. "It didn't look like a Livingston team. We started well but they scored and we chased the game. Our shape was all over the place for the first two goals and I need to reflect on that."

Inverness manager Billy Dodds: "It's the best performance since I've been here. We've had some big results but performance-wise, looking dangerous and solid in shape, helping one another out, being ruthless in front of goal. It was all there today. "It's the first time I've been able to sit there and not bite my fingernails. It was nice, we were decent and deserved to go through. I asked them to take the final step at half time. Take one goal, you'll spook them, and Billy has come up with two belters."

Top Quotes so far on CTO

Snorbens_Caleyman: One for the historians - has anyone ever won the cup after being knocked out of it? 

CaleyCanary: Well my gast is well and truly flabbered! Don't know where that came from, don’t really care where it came from, was not expecting anything like this result. A huge well done to everyone, definitely one to add to our classics. 

Championship Player of the Month for January Billy Mckay scored two superb goals against Livingston in the Scottish Cup today and was MotM.

Billy is now on 95 goals for Inverness and is closing in on Dennis Wyness' all time record of 102 goals.

Sean Welsh chipped in with a header to complete the scoring as Inverness go into the Quarter final draw along with Hearts, Ayr United, Kilmarnock, Raith Rovers and Celtic, with two ties still remaining. Rangers v Partick Thistle and Darvel v Falkirk.

 

 

 

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