Big Trouble Down the Dump

Billy Mckay was back in the starting XI along with Samson Lawal with Pepple dropping to the bench and Shaw out for the season. Both teams had seven on the bench with Roddy MacGregor getting a rare seat.

Scott Robinson scored the only goal of the game just before the break. Inverness were reduced to ten men after Cammy Kerr was sent off just after an hour. Despite creating more opportunities, the win just evaded us.

Meh!

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

Partick got the game underway at Firhill and Alex Samuel was first to have a go in the fourth minute but his effort was blocked. Cammy Kerr was also blocked ten minutes later and Cammy Harper shot over as the visitors saw the better of the opening exchanges. Billy Mckay shot wide before Mark Ridgers was brought into action to deny a Brian Graham glanced header. Samuel had another attempt blocked before Wallace Duffy hit the bar with a header following a corner kick. Mckay saw his shot from the edge of the box saved by Mitchell and at the other end Scott Robinson clipped the post from close range before Brian Graham shot over  five minutes before the interval. The pressure was building on the visitors and after 41 minutes Robinson opened the scoring from the centre of the box after the first effort from Ben Stanway rebounded back to him. Disappointing end to the half with Kerr booked for alleged simulation which upset Ferguson and some promising openings went begging.

HALF TIME: 1-0

After the break Mckay was blocked in the box after good work by Max Anderson and Kerr was unable to get his shot away from the rebound as Inverness looked to get back on level terms. Fitzpatrick responded at the other end but shot just wide and minutes later his shot from a tight angle was saved by Ridger's. On the hour, Kerr shot wide from the right side. That would be just about his last contribution to the cause as he was sent off after 66 minutes for fouling Aidan Fitzpatrick. Samson Lawal had an effort held by keeper Mitchell as we looked to get back on level terms. Samuel was denied by Mitchell with fifteen minutes left and Lawal had another effort saved by Mitchell. After 97 minutes, the game ended in defeat for Inverness.

FULL TIME: 1-0

Good effort from the ten men but effort doesn't translate into points. With Queens Park losing to Morton, no ground has been lost to them, but there are only five games left to save our season. Dunfermline also beat Arbroath so no change in the bottom three.

Some visiting fans expressed their frustration at our plight after the final whistle when Ferguson came over to them. It didn't end well after an angry exchange. It didn't end well for Gary Bollan either as he was red-carded after the whistle.

Here's what the managers said on BBC Sport:

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan: "This stage of the season it's about results, not performance. You want performance and results but I think what we've done is we've played a lot better and lost. I would give credit to Inverness because they played some good stuff. It's a massive three points."

Caley Jags manager Duncan Ferguson: "I'm not sure if it's inside the box or it's not inside the box, but it's absolutely a free-kick. It's an easy decision and then they counter attack and that's it, they score from there. It should have been a penalty if it was inside the box or it's a free-kick on the edge of the box and then [the referee] compounds the problem by then saying to Cammy Kerr that he's simulated the first yellow card. It's a clear free-kick."

Here's Dunc>>>

Big week ahead for the Caley Jags...

Tuesday 2nd April

       Arbroath FC v Airdrieonians

Saturday 6th April

•      Airdrieonians v Greenock Morton
• Dunfermline v Partick Thistle
•    Inverness v Arbroath FC
• Queens Park v Dundee Utd  
• Raith Rovers v Ayr United    

a