Leaderboard

Have to agree with Gregor. The aim for yesterday was to progress to the next round as are the games against Utd. Don't care if we play really badly or are outplayed as long as we progress. Team are trying their hardest to do it for the fans so let's stop the carping and get behind the team

Not our finest performance but as others have said we were clearly playing within ourselves ahead of a potentially very touch schedule so I can see why the players weren't bursting a gut as they might have been if it was a league game. Did get pretty nervous after Ayr scored and throughout most of the game as they created most of the decent (half) chances. Delighted when Donaldson / Polworth combined to seal the tie with that late goal. I think we did handle most of what Ayr threw at us pretty well. McCart again was a stand out for me. He's such a class defender at such a young age. His reading of the game and timing in the challenge is quite simply superb. Get him a contract extension ASAP please.

For those criticising the team for looking tired, uninterested or 'in holiday mode', bear in mind that yesterday was the fiftieth competitive game of the season for our small squad now coming at two a week. The remarkable thing is not that they look a bit fatigued but that they are still in the hunt at all and continue to be so. We should be proud of them all.

We knew Ayr would come out flying, as they felt hard done to on Tuesday and had nothing to lose. 3-1 is a tough one tactics wise. Do we sit in and play on the break, or try to go for it? That caused some nervousness on the pitch and safety first play, rather than anything bold. Ayr deservedly took the lead, and kept on the front foot in the first half. I thought we weathered the storm, and the second was pretty even. The equaliser settled things, and made it "job done" which was the priority. I only recall one save by Ridgers, so we handled them pretty well. Any word on Walsh or Mckay? Hope both are fit for Tuesday. As others have said, a cup semi, third in the league and now a play off semi is quite an achievement given our budget, so let's give full support on Tuesday. We beat them in the cup, so have nothing to fear! Of the players, Ridgers had no chance with the goal. Mckay and McHattie were targeted by Ayr's wide men, whilst Donaldson and McCart were solid. Trafford continues to grow in importance, although we did not see much from Chalmers. Walsh was struggling with injury, whilst Doran had a few decent moves. Polworth had a decent game, and was so close to giving Doran a one on one with the 'keeper. White was a menace. McDonald did very well, whilst Rooney was solid. Not our best afternoon, but I'd have taken a scrappy 1-1 before kick off, and we are still in contention. Well done guys!!

With a two goal advantage there is always the expectation that you should win. It brings a lot of pressure which increases when you lose the first goal. The momentum of the tie changes as Liverpool and Tottenham demonstrated with devastating effect earlier this week. In the circumstances I think we. coped pretty well and managed the game very sensibly. It would have been nice to see a bit more of a cutting edge but it wasn’t the occasion for taking risks. Another accomplished performance from Jamie McCart and a really solid one from Jordan White. I don’t expect us to beat United, but given the spirit the team has shown this season, anything is possible. Come what may, we have exceeded my expectations for the season. It’s been a good one.

Absolutely agree. Whilst there have, of course, been some failures, Robbo has proved that he has a much better eye for a player, even on a much much lower budget, than either of his two immediate predecessors.

Because we started the game 3-1 up! I made a rare trip north yesterday to see us getting through to the next round of the play-offs. Couldn't care less about the performance, we did what we needed to do and if we got through it without any injuries or suspensions then we've managed it well.

Others have suggested we played alright...doing enough to get through.... Management and Players have to think the long game, bearing in mind how small the squad is with no Welsh, and Tremarco, and Walsh looking like he needs to be managed fitness wise..... We will have to play 6 games to stand a chance of going up, Dundee Utd have had the benefit of more than a week off and have a larger squad, we'll do well to get a draw on Tuesday (given that we have only won 5 games at home in the league) to take it to a 'winner-takes-all' on Friday. So why would we expend more energy and potential bookings by going all out? Guys like Austin, Macdonald and McCauley are going to have to make a difference, we're lucky that Trafford has stepped up with Welsh out, and McHattie doing enough with Tremarco out. I kinda think Dundee Utd are a round to far but if we can get past them and not lose White, Donaldson and McCart to injury or suspense, then we do stand a chance against either St Mirren/Hamilton who finish their league fixtures on Saturday (and both play mid-week as well). I'd take a boring 0-0 home draw and a nervy 0-1 away against Dundee Utd any day, if we can do it....Tuesday's the key.

It has been a good one. Four more games and it could yet be a great one.

I just want to better the youth players and if we can do that by having a colt team in the highland league then lets do it.

Seriously It really must hurt you to give the team praise Certainly something holding you back from giving a bit of praise, however yes it wasn’t a great silky performance yesterday but it got the job done It was an excellent performance on Tuesday night. It’s a two legged game and the result over the two legs is all that matters. But if you never venture to away games and just want to be part of the Caledonian Stadium Critics then fill your boots.

No feckin wonder you failed your recent Seer assignment - unless this is your BA (Hons) Sarcasm dissertation ?

Thanks for all the kind words, folks. Having listened back I got a bit excited when Donaldson scored and I hope I didn't damage anyone's eardrums! It'll be back to BBC and BTSport coverage on Tuesday night - not much point in us doing it as well, and the professionals will be using all the tech for their transmissions anyway! Hopefully there'll be more of this next season though, fingers crossed.

If the Gruesome Twosome want to enter colt teams in the Lowland League, they can knock themselves out. It’s the expansion of the league to allow them entry I object to.

Might have something to do with the fact that they're majorly financially backed and would dominate every single season. Our Colt side would be relatively fair opposition...

At least let's make the effort and try. Cultivating our own players has to be the future and this would certainly help.

Just like the majority of your posts

Having just watched the goals from yesterday's game I am very surprised the crowd was listed as 2323 as it looked a good bit more than that!

Great to see our under 18s parade their trophy this afternoon and get the applause of the crowd.

Question is : can caley beat Utd Answer is : yes Evidence to support : they have already dunnit. Further evidence ; for those who need it. None needed. Do it again. Simple.

Who is progressing to the next round?

Put your rod away lol

Sensible post unlike some others who just criticise for the sake of it. We finished third in league reached a Scottish cup semi final and have now reached semi final of play offs The critics really need to have a word with themselves.

I actually thought we were gonna win the league and keep a hold of the challenge cup poor season by my standards!

We did not create enough today and we won't get by on Tuesday without creating more. Crawford had a great chance to make it two nil Ayr but opted to blast it wide. If we were in game management mode we were cutting it a bit fine. MacDonald made a difference when he came on and should start Tuesday given Walsh hamstring issue. Mcmullan getting sent off on Tuesday would do for starters ? pressure is surely on Utd so hopefully the boys will get in about them.

Job done - this far anyway. Would folk seriously have rather us play well and lost? Oh and to the bloke behind me no we were never losing as its the agregate score that counted ffs. Players look tired and 4 games in 11 days is a toughie. However we march on and what will be will be...

Really looked like we were playing within ourselves today, likely with Tuesday in mind? Maybe that was the tactics or are the players just exhausted? Was an anxious spectacle for us fans and might have been very worrying had Ayr got a second goal before we got ours! Still we're through and that's what counts. Impressed by MacDonald when he came on. Would be great to get him back in on loan again next season.

What !! Ffs we were Shyte. Looked second best to Ayr all afternoon. Attitude was lazy and so many of our players looked like they were on holiday mode, That was eye torture and the goal must have been our only attempt on goal in the second half. If we have any aspirations to progress in this play off the players and management need to have a big long look at themselves.

Job done next please.

You could tell from some of the moves Ayr made, to get the ball quickly up the park - they have practised these in training, the way everyone involved knows what is coming and where to run. Seldom do you see the same coherent plays from us - what do we work on in training??

I have been a Jaggie since late 60's. Over the years, I have kept some personal records, especially the title wins In the early 70's and every stat from 89 till 94. Programmes are like gold dust, and trying to get any INfo, especially from ICT Is Impossible.

simple. clach need players, have a ground etc etc. it's about time the inverness football community got together and build from the foundations up.

Doolan. Bad season this year but over the previous 9 has proven to be a consistent goal threat for PT and played at the highest level. Deffo a guy who can recover from where he is and improve a team like ours.

You had to edit that!?? Seriously, the first draft must have been pure guff as well.

Yep. But it only needed 1 goal from Ayr to cause a panic in our team. Think Robbo got tactics wrong! We should have pushed from the start. Ayr did not look jaded, quite the opposite in fact, they looked more up for it tan us and only poor finishing prevented extra time / pens We surely need to up our game for next week.