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Another frustrating performance from ICT today. The same issues that have been evident on so many occasions this season were yet again on show today. A clear lack of clinical edge, poor play in the final third, lack of width, slow in closing down the opposition and defensive errors leading to a goal. We really do know how to make it hard for ourselves. St. Mirren were quickly out of the traps and whilst we were able to knock the ball around a bit at the back their forward line worked so hard to close us down we often ended up battering the ball in the vague direction of Austin / Oakley or seeing our shorter passes being pounced on by the Buddies players harassing our every move. A slack ball out of defence by Warren was seized up on by Saints and a couple of quick passes later Reilly burst into the box, delaying his shot leading to Tremarco going flying past him with his attempt at a heroic last ditch tackle, before rifling the ball into the roof of the net. Saints continued to look a threat for most of the first half and they easily cut open our defence with some clever balls in between full back and centre back which left us woefully exposed at times. Our attempts on goal were largely restricted to long range efforts which didn't really trouble Samson. Doran (I think) had a decent chance when he sent a half volley wide of goal. Disappointing to be behind at half time but Saint Mirren thoroughly merited it and they were unlucky not to be further ahead when Stelios cut in from the right flank and sent a cross / shot in which bounced off the bar with Ridgers looking beaten. Second half was a real improvement from us. When we got the ball down on the floor and passed it around utilising the wide areas (especially when Mulraney came on and Chalmers pushed further out on the left) we started to create some excellent chances. Unfortunately, as seen so often this season, we wasted every single one of them thanks to some limp finishing, some good saves and a bit of luck for the Buddies. Oakley missed perhaps the best chance of the game for us when he somehow failed to turn in a neat cut back from Trafford (again I think) who had raced along the goal line and picked him out just outside the six yard box. His tame effort went straight to Samson. Oakley also wasted a good header towards the end of the game. Bell saw his fierce shot blocked by Samson at close range, Doran curled a shot wide of the post from just outside the area, Mckay headed straight at Samson from a corner and Polworth saw his effort scrambled off the line by Samson. Saints also had some opportunities to extend their lead in the second half but were often snuffed out by some desperate last ditch defending from the likes of Warren and we looked to get a break from Collum when Ridgers failed to collect a crossed ball dropping it at the feet of a Buddies player who tapped it into the net but somehow we were given a free kick for a "foul" on Ridgers. A very lucky break for us there. Definitely disappointing to come away empty handed given the chances that we passed up but if you don't take these chances and continue to waste them then we can't complain much. Polworth had a good game for us today although he was at times wasteful with the ball when attacking he covered so much of the pitch both defending and supporting the attack he gets massive respect for his effort. Doran also had a decent game as well despite being subbed. He swanned past opposition players like they weren't there at times. I think he'd be really useful as a number ten playing behind the striker (as many others have said before). Warren had some heroic blocks but was also culpable for some pretty dodgy passes out of defence which put us under pressure. Most players did fine but nothing amazing. Man of the day Raven spent a fair chunk of the game being roasted by Morgan and was lucky not to be booked on a few occasions after hauling him down. Despite this he also chipped in with some great challenges and blocks at the back and was an excellent support down the right flank when we were attacking. With Falkirk on Tuesday we need to seriously sharpen up on our finishing. Missing four or five guilt edged chances a game simply cannot go on.

Steady on folks. This is a season of rebuilding and we were very narrowly beaten away from home by the league leaders. Hardly a disaster.

I agree with you. He makes mistakes and they can be some realy frustrating errors but the amount of hate he gets from the stands is absolutely ridiculous.

Its getting like last season on here - every game people are criticising ref decisions. Whether it be cards, set pieces or disallowed goals, its reasonable to look for why we aren't performing as everyone wants so blaming someone is natural however the real reasons are that we are not creative enough or scoring goals. If you analysed every match there would be some contentious decisions yet when the team wins nobody is too bothered its when we loose people look to question. Right now its in danger of becoming tiresome after every poor result - facts are still the same, while we may have improved defensively we still make mistakes and are too toothless in attack to compensate for that. Until we can create and score more goals we wont win too many games unfortunately. If we keep on berating officials we will get a rep as the Celtic of Championship - this relates to management and fans

Does that really constitute 'best dressed' ??? I've gone to my bed dressed better than that !

We have only managed 2 wins against full-time sides this season, which is nothing short of pathetic. The last was in October. We have no wins at all against the 3 sides we need to overtake if we are to get 4th place, even though we have a much higher wage budget than any of them. Putting aside the games against a side who are hopelessly out of their depth, we are having a pretty abysmal season.

Seems a bit harsh to criticise this performance against a team at the top of the table and ourselves without a few regulars for whatever reason. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

The biggest attitude problem he has is the attitude of some fans who are supposed to support him and the team. Every week someone on here regurgitates this nonsense. (usually the same clique) I wonder how these fans would cope with the bile he has had to put up with on the pitch? Here's some clips from the last couple of games, you all might need to take your glasses off so you can see the number 7, clown shoes and red nose optional. And for all the wannabe managers, this is what you should be concentrating on and not the tired old "attitude" nonsense. Even better, get behind the player and we might see him for another season? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYGwQdx8M8E&t=23s

I found today quite encouraging on the whole. St Mirren clearly deserve to be top of the league - no great shakes but do the easy things well. Really good second-half shift from ICT but lacking in front of goal. Of course, there was the 'disallowed' goal. Same linesman as didn't give that Hibs one the other week, apparently. Several players got touches and it was all very fast but my impression was that Samson hoicked it out from behind the line. Generally, I thought today was a great advert for the championship - big crowd, good game (pity about the result). What a shame there'll be minimal press coverage and nae telly. In other Championship news - whit in the name o the wee man happened at Falkirk?

As they say on Wikipedia.... "Citation needed".

Then, well done to both clubs.

Decent striker urgently required (22 goals in 20 games) : in with a shout in most matches but lack of firepower is costing us dearly. Need to turn draws into wins and narrow defeats into draws.

Disappointed to see Baird start ahead of Oakley.

I suspect that most of the refs like the teams we play from down south don't like coming to Inverness, or Dungwall for that matter. That seems to have been the situation since we came into the Senior Leagues in 1994. Add to that the standard being poorer when dropping down a level then it's no surprise we are getting a raw deal. Robbo is quite right to demand an explanation for the performance of the ref on Tuesday v Livingston on the Vigurs second yellow incident.

No idea but I sincerely hope it doesn't happen again on Tuesday.

Gets a lot of unwarented stick. However I do find him a frustrating player. Takes everything to heart and head goes down very easily at times. Still Id rather play him than not have him in the team

The less said about that the better!

Before today they had only scored 12 all season in the league.

Spot on my friend. As things stand, we are as close to the relegation play off as we are to promotion play offs. Very disappointing that we are not at least safely tucked into the promotion play off positions (higher the better given the PL weighted system). Far too inconsistent and struggling to beat teams like Brechin and Dumbarton (no disrespect intended).

Maybe so, but Falkirk evidently can score goals... Playing good or bad, we play good and still can't score.... Not wanting to state the obvious here but goals win games

Falkirk had a good day utd had a bad day so what one game doesn't mean they are now the best team ever. We have had similar scorelines in the past but been playing crap. We have competition for places we are a much improved side from the start of the season and continue to improve. Bring on Tuesday and three points.

A red dot for praising sensible pricing in the interests of fans, really ?

The most frustrating aspect of this today is not the result, to be fair given our opposition and location and team we did well to get that, my worry is the fact that we again today had too many "just wide, just over, inches away, straight at keeper". It's this type of thing that's losing us matches and now to add to the worry the one game upcoming i felt we were favourites to win we now look to go into as underdogs. How Falkirk managed to put 6 past DU today is unimaginable and I really pray that was more to do with a "poor" DU side that an energised Falkirk side. If it's the latter, we are in for the biggest battle of 2018 so far. We could be looking right over our shoulders at Falkirk on wed morning and staring into a month of difficult fixtures to keep ourselves slipping into playoffs position

Quite...I'm more annoyed that we didn't get 3 points last week against Livvy

1st half pish. 2nd half a bit better. Could have scored but a fair result. Could be worse, we could be Dundee Utd.

Agreed. But some folk love a wee moan regardless.......

It was a joint club decision.

I was one of them but have now to admit that it now appears that he bears a fair share of the blame together with Hughes, Foran and the other members of the board at the time.

maybe , just maybe, the decisions were made by a bit of a renegade chairman who seemed to be very popular with a rather large number on this forum?

As long as he doesn't sign for us again I'll be happy. Our discipline is bad enough this season. Imagine what it would be like with him (Ian Black) back in the squad!

Some of the poorest refereeing this season has been from the refs who also referee in the Premier league. Let's face it the standard is the poorest it has been for a long long time.

Sadly inevitable, but let's give him a great send off. Harshly treated by the club at times, he always gives 100%, and his celebration after the semi final win with the look of sheer pleasure and surprise is one of my all time memories. Thanks and good luck for the future!

Can't help feeling that we are being a bit short sighted in implying that we need to 'free up his wages' to help fund a goal scorer. As well as scoring goals we also have to protect the goals against column. I would suggest that Raven's contribution to this over the past few weeks, since he has been played regularly, has been considerable. I would have kept him till the end of the season. If we want a proven goal scorer who, I suspect wouldn't cost the earth, why not go for Rory McAllister. He, year on year, tops our ex ICT goal scorers table (30 already in 2017). I know that when he was with us, he got a tough time from certain sections of our support, but, for me, he has proven himself as a goal scorer, and, although reaching the end of his career, could , I feel, still do a job for us in the Championship.

I wouldn't expect the Inverness courier to mention an ICTFC game unless it was against Cunty.

The officials can't give the goal unless they are sure the whole of the ball crossed the line. Perhaps a bad break but hardly worth a thread of it's own.

what sensible prices. well done Dundee F C?