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6 of their last 8 games have been at home, on a pitch that is nothing short of diabolical and gives them a clear advantage against all visitors. The 2 away games were against Dundee when they were at rock bottom, and before the "new manager bounce" and Aberdeen who's pitch would have felt like home to them. Also need to keep in mind that two of those games should have been played before they were able to strengthen in the transfer window....games postponed by state of their pitch, so another advantage from it being screwed up. Let's see how they perform next week on a proper pitch where their opponents can get the ball down on the deck and play some football against them. My prediction is that we'll well and truly put them back in their box with a lesson on how the game is played on a level (quite literally) playing field.

I suspect that many, like me are scared stiff of how this might all pan out, and people react to that in many different ways. Some will downplay the significance and then enjoy an explosion of relief (ooer...) when and IF things go our way. Some will just enjoy the journey and some (like me) will have bitten their fingernails to the elbow by the time the split and then the end of the season comes! But just nip back to August/ September's forum posts and look at the ambitions we had for this year of armageddon. We've fulfilled them all and more and even if we didn't win another game this season that would still be true. I know that expectations adjust as circumstances change but I tell you what, it's now more than ever that this team need a positive vibe around them to get them to the finishing post. They need us, the supporters, to get right behind the team - especially this week. Every ICT supporter worth his salt needs to bust a gut to be there on Saturday and to leave without a single vocal chord intact. We need to outnumber, outsing and outsupport our neighbours if we are to get where we want to be. We need drums, we need flags. Saturday will get us into the top six for the first time ever and after that, who knows. Maintain third and anything is possible without any real pressure. We need unconditional, unequivocal support all week. We need CTO, P&B and OTB to be flooded with our agenda, our team and we need everyone there on saturday. I'll be there, doing my best to crank it up in the local media with a Caley Thistle agenda right at the front. I confidently predict Caley D will stir the pot to boiling point on the day and that Terry and the team will be jumping for this one. You never know, it might just work.

With us playing the bottom side today and County playing the top side, for them to get two more points than us and leapfrog us into third has to make it a bad day. But let's look at the positives. The teams in mid table seem to be doing all they can to avoid being in the top six. If we win next week and other results go our way we could confirm our top six slot. If we win next week then we will have the longest unbeaten run in the league. And who would ever have thought that the two Old Filth teams would be gubbed by such small town teams as Ross County and Annan Athletic on the same day. Now that just has to be good for Scottish football.

Well whoop de feckin do! We can't win a raffle and Cunty are above us in the league..... Excuse me if I don't get too excited.

^^^^^^^^^^ What Caley D said!

As stated already, players can only move if the club accept payment for the remainder of their contract. However, I don't think that's the point here...the point is we now have some of our most influential players stating that they WANT to be here by signing extensions. Just as important is the fact that there's others who are stating that they WANT new contracts. You then have the cherry on the top with a manager who refused (substantially) more money to go manage elsewhere and who is positively talking about what he is going to do with his guys next season. How/Why anyone would see that as a negative and choose to try and put a dampener on it is beyond me. I'm not naive and I appreciate that there's the potential for offers to come in for players...but I'd far rather we were in the position we are where offers would HAVE to be made, than in a position where players were looking for pre-contracts for next season and/or walking away for nothing!!!

After todays result we are now mathematically safe from relegation. That is the first objective for this season achieved. Next is top six

Congratulations Grandad - I just hope Ruby is a girl and please tell me that she wasnt named cos of an anagram of some hole in Lancashire ?

Why should any of us be worried about what Tinkerville may or may not achieve this season. At the end of the day all we should be interested in is what ICT achieve this season. Of course we should be feckin expecting to take three points away to Dundee. We should be expecting to take three points at home twice before the split and at least one from Easter Road. Just think where seven feckin points might take it. And next Saturday is not the six pointer that a lot are talking up. After the split there is going to be a chance for ANY of the five surviving teams to get second, third and fourth places. We just have to start thinking about making the Top Six first and nowt feckin else. Lets face it - it aint over till the fat lady sings - I do feel that we have blown a huge chance to get to the League Cup final and to soar away at the top of the SPL. It aint defeatist to point out that we have been sussed cos we have - is there another explanation for our 2013 slump. But there is still time to make ammends - We have the team to do it, we have the motivation to do it - but do we have the tactical know how to change ?

I like the banter with the C*unty fans, but it is just that...banter. Ultimately I couldn't give a toss what they achieve this season (or any other season) and I'm certainly not letting it have any bearing on how I go about supporting ICT or enjoying what we are doing. For those who are concerned with our near neighbours, or want to hold their achievements in high regard......bear in mind that they are achieving thanks to Uncle Roys wallet, although the existence of side companies which hold in excess of £2.5 Million of debt suggest he's maybe not dipping as far into his pocket as some might have you believe!!! People seem to have short memories...a quick look at the rise and fall of teams like Livingston and Gretna should be warning enough that such things are not sustainable. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them - Ephesians 5:11

I think Doran should be next up. No-one else can provide that width. He won't score as much as Hayes but he's more interested in crossing than Hayes. We' struggle to get someone that fulfills his role. He's key to the team. Without him, it's probably route one.

Im sure she is beautiful on the insides :P

Anyone got a match report for me????????????

Gary Warren by a nose

100% agree with this CD. The only (present) disappointment for me is that we are in a bit of danger of this special season being overshadowed by our neighbours over the bridge. It niggles me that our teams outstanding season is potentially going to be bettered by them! We need to step up just a little bit, to try to keep them "forever in our shadow".

Didn't look so bad when watching the highlights. We had chances. So did they.

What an impossible task picking the best player, theres loads of quality in the team this season, do you pick one of the leagues top goal scorers, a player until recently had the most assists in the league and scores a couple against Italy, captain Foran, any of the highly rated midfield or defense, a player getting a Scotland call up whilst playing for us for the first time, or perhaps the up and coming local talent, picking only one player from a team that comes back from being 3 goals down against United, beats Rangers and Celtic on their home turf, have won every home game against the shadows or many other numerous games to choose from. Maybe the final furlong will produce a clear winner.

Shinnie, Scotland international and maybe a championship player next season, what a joke. Hasnt played anywhere like he can since all the transfer talk about him around the turn of the year, to many of the players do a lot of talking in the papers but fail to deliver on the pitch, lets see if they can do their talking on the pitch next Saturday !!!

[quote I guess some would prefer we were in Aberdeen's (and a certain Mr Hayes) position ;-))

George Brislen-Hall

Doran isn't even in my top 5.

If we win a European place then it will be an early start to the season and we will need to be at our best if we are to get through one or even two rounds. The more of the current squad we can retain the better the chance of this so recent contract signings are really good news. Hopefully they, and the prospect of a wee European adventure will persuade other key players to sign up for at least another year. There is the makings of a team that could come a clear 2nd next season.

Is it really such a hard decision for players like McKay? I dont think there are many players who've come here that haven't found the area and the club to be a very enjoyable experience. The ones that dont want to stay are usually those who've been brought up on central belt football and who prefer the bright lights and ignorant beings of big city life to the relaxation and friendliness of the more rural setting.

So we now have our back bone for next season sorted. With Esson, Meekings, Warren, Draper, Mckay, Foran and Graeme Shinnie all signed, if Tudor Jones, Raven, Devine, and Doran sign, id say we are in a great position for next season given the quality there, and the fact these lads have played together whereas other clubs will be bringing in new players for next season who wont have played at this level before, and wont know the league, it could also give us a head start on the rest of the league. ict for the league 2013/14

Barrowman missed a penalty yesterday