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Tonight is really as big a game as Saturday’s. We must win or our league season is over. I hope we get a similar crowd to the numbers who went to Glasgow and support the players to another win. I hope no one is assuming we will win. It will be a tough match with the same prize at stake for both teams. I just hope our recent attitude and form continue and we get the win that keeps our league season going. Come on ICT!

League season is sadly over. Attention for the next 4 weeks focuses on another big day out at Hampden, a chance to pull off one the greatest cup final upsets ever and earn a crack at the Europa League!

Absolute disaster of a night, no competitive football for a month and we are expected to turn up and give Celtic a game ,wtf. They have now 5 warm up games while we just kick our heels. Tonight was a huge let down for a decent crowd and all the momentum we had built up over the last couple of weeks just evaporated in a terrible 90 minutes. If you asked any ICTfan who would you take in the last game of the season (at home) Ayr would have been up there. But for some reason tonight we bottled it, big style. 2 maybe 3 shots on target in a must win game ....not good enough.

The Supporters Travel Club did a short interview with BBC Scotland this morning about the final kick off time being disgraceful

Dodds has failed in the league this season. No excuses for finishing 6th in probably the weakest Championship since we were relegated. The Scottish Cup run has been 3 good performances, Livingston was special, Killie, helped by them being poor, Falkirk, another good performance. Don't forget we squeezed past Stirling Albion and Queens Park beat us. Report card over whole season : D minus. Time for change.

Did we deserve to lose, absolutely not, did we deserve to win, probably just about, should we have had a draw, most certainly. Poor team performance for most of the game with Allardice, Devine and Deas poor. Disagree with you Johndo on not changing the winning cup team as this game was made for Carson and Samuels as well but the tactical genius that is Billy Dodds got the team selection wrong again. This defeat is really hard to take as Ayr were poor as well and won't go any further in the play offs. They were there for the taking but we let ourselves down. I have to say that Ayr were also helped by poor officiating. Billy was clearly fouled in the build up to Ayrs second goal, as he was most of the game but that clown of a referee refused to give the fouls. Stand side linesman was also poor with debatable call for Ayr's first goal and also for Samuels goal as I'm convinced it came off an Ayr player.

Let’s be open and honest here. Big backing crowd, lovely night for football, big game and we didn’t turn up. The better team won hands down. You can’t play the way we did in the first half and expect anything more than what we got for our 45 minutes. From goalkeeper to front line we could not do the simplest of thing (like control the ball). Ayr were simply competent, but that was more than enough to overcome our efforts and comfortably see them through the game. Samuels was the difference that changed our fortunes. Still don’t understand why Shaw wasn’t on the left wing from the start, but it’s a moot point now. ‘Fortune favours the brave’. A quote you couldn’t find in the home dressing room tonight! Good luck to Ayr in there playoffs

If we snuck into the playoffs then I'd give a year extension with the expectation that if we're not looking like title challengers by Xmas he's gone. To me, he's not shown to be a great tactician (too many we either start poorly or go for route 1 with Billy Mckay up top) or even a good man manager (bust ups with squad morale plummeting in both seasons)

Realistically, who would we get / want? I think it might time for a wholesale change of the backroom staff

A very busy month with 7 games played 1 draw and 6 won including the Scottish Cup Semi-final. Also a lot more votes with the team playing well including 41 for the cup game. A big thank you to all who voted. The winner for April is Nathan Shaw Our big game tomorrow night will decide if we play any more games in May before our Cup Final in June. Please keep the votes coming in as it's close at the top.

Tonight was the story of our season. Didn't turn up for half of it, then when we did finally get ourselves into a position to progress we left it too little too late ! Most disappointing thing is that this was the 'easiest' Championship for years and we've finished 6th!! Time for major changes methinks (though that'll be happening anyway as most of the squad are out of contract). Bit of a worry as to where we go from here. We don't have the means to spend our way to promotion so need to get lucky with new signings/new management? Don't think I can take another season of some of the square-passing pedestrian turgid pish we've been served up this season. We must be more imaginative and much faster. Really hope we don't play like we did first half tonight in the cup final, or it could be extremely embarrassing!

Totally agree. Needs a complete overhaul and fresh approach

If we have to do it, can we at least get a target man?

Couldn't agree more with you, Dodds picked the same side that beat Falkirk, and we didn't play particularly well in that game, although we scored the three goals, I really thought he'd freshen the team up, and that Carson would have played from the start, and although I think Shaw is the find of the season, he's not suited to play behind the striker, when he was switched to the left in the second half what a difference it made. I thought we looked like a tired team tonight, and we really need to cut out the needless passing across the back four, and then back to Ridgers, it's pointless.

We looked like winning it after equalizing and had a bit of momentum. Wasn't to be. Hopefully all the decisions towards the end 're Samuels- was it a penalty?- was it a goal? Are correct ? Bring on the tic

At least we have a cup final to put some lipstick on another pig of a season

I will start off with - How the feck do you start off without the original starters from the Semi Final - we have been employing the tippy tappy from the back for most of the season which the large majority of teams also employ - I dont like it and would prefer the Pele approach - but that sadly is in the past. It was unfortunately a game too far = I suspect Allardice and especially Welsh were knackered. And to end with - I actually think that a month off could be to our advantage. We would have been on our knees if we got through the play offs. This could still end up as the seasons of all seasons. And now a lot of things can be sorted out behind the scenes. And lets just pause to reflect on what we have accomplished in the last couple of months. I now would suggest that Dodds and Robbo have their swansongs at the top, at Hampden - bow out and let some new blood in at the helm.

6th place is such a disappointment after that amazing run built our hopes up - followed by 1 point from our final 2 league games, yet still be just 3 points off second place. So many what ifs…

Cup final or not. We need a massive overhaul in the summer...yes that means Esson, Wilson and Kel. Maybe changing managers isn't the issue with the club but having the same backroom staff is?

Another game of hoofball. Better in 2nd half to an extent. New Manager for the final and into next season.

Hard luck Caley.....couldnt keep the run going. Great league. From a spectating point of view I am glad we are still in it but........the irony is .....we need out. Well done to all the winners and hard lines to all the losers. We need to hold on to players now. That is key. And we are off to Hampden again..............

The Coronation of Big Ears ! It could happen tonight !

ICT 2.30 Thanks for running it this season your efforts are appreciated by us all .

ICT @ 2.30 please MrCJ… …can’t quite believe I’ve made it to the final game still in the black! Thanks very much for providing us with such a delightfully frustrating pastime this past season - it’s torture!!!

Looking forward to tonight even more than the cup final, just wish I could be there with you all. It’s quite an astonishing end to a bonkers season with so much going on up and down the country - the BBC must be delighted with how things have panned out for tonight. I’ve never been a great fan of playoffs but I have to admit it certainly stokes up the drama and minimises the end of season doldrums for so many clubs.

No place or excuses for not turning up tonight if you can. It’s time to put all reservations and concerns from this seasons poor performances or whether you believe B Dodds is not the person to manage the team next year aside. Tonight falls onto a one-off and personably these are the games is why I love the game! Tough match for sure! So it’s simple, if you support ICT tonight’s game is the one to turn up and back the team fully.

To take some of the pressure off Old Caley Girl

It's time for a big shakeup! Dodds, Wilson, Kellacher and Esson all must go. Let a young ambitious manager come in with his own backroom staff.

Yes, I'd keep Ryan, his reputation is growing. We were in line with the build up to their goal and it did look offside, the assistant ref was behind the play, but there were some really bad decisions from the officials tonight, but it was the wrong lineup, wrong formation and wrong tactics, but it had been happening all season.

I missed the first 20 minutes as it took 105 minutes to get from Perth City Centre to the A9 courtesy of those blasted roadworks. Don’t think I missed much though! I thought the Ayr goal was offside but tight: need to see it again. I was proud of the guys after the break. Some were dead on their feet but gave it 100% and I think that’s why Allardice and Welsh were subbed. Devine was struggling before the break so I assume was injured. The introduction of Carson and Samuels changed things, as Shaw was excellent in the wide role and Carson showed why he’s really a central midfielder. I hoped we’d kick on and get a winner but Ayr caught us, despite seeming happy to play down the clock at 1-1. I thought Samuels was onside when he “equalised” but it was too little too late anyway. A rollercoaster of a season. Should we have done better in the league: yes. Did injuries impact our position: undoubtedly. Did our tactics let us down: yes, particularly “hoofball”. Have we a great group of players who give 100% and deserve praise: yes. Roll on the cup final. I expect a heavy defeat but in a one off game anything can happen. Hopefully planning is taking place for next season as we will have quite a bit of rebuilding to do, on and possibly off the park.

Gutted! Never at the races tonight. Dodds set us up all wrong and played right into their hands.Too many players off colour tonight too. We then ran out of luck. Their first goal looked offside. Our chalked off goal was onside. But in the end it didn't matter. Yes I'm singing now IHE..... As for above I agree re a clearout but I'd keep Ryan Esson as he does fabulous work with the goalies and more importantly the U18s. What a disappointing night and quite the comedown from last Saturday.

A real disappointing end to the league season after all the excitement, and expectation of the last couple of months. Let's hope we can get the enthusiasm back in time for the Cup Final. Onwards and upwards. Super Caley go ballistic may live again

Bingo! I fully agree with this.

First half instantly forgettable. Lacked confidence, drive ,desire.Good subs for second half and with them came the fight and desire led by Carson. Much improved half and unlucky with some shots.Standside linesman had a shocker with their first goal off side and denying us a clear corner five mins from end. Not sure about offside for our second. Shaw and Henderson are in a league of their own followed by Carson and Deas.Harper had a decent game. I just cannot comment on highballs forward to their number5.We have been doing it all season. When all said and done we have a final to look forward to and debt written off.

Imagine we could actually beat Hamilton on a regular basis ...

Nope

Cmon the Caley you deserve it and so does Dodsie

Got to go for it... Hamilton 4.00 Echoing the appreciation above for a job well done in running this seasons competition. Thank you

If we can cut out the silly mistakes at the back which are all too frequent then we should be good enough to win

I don't think anyone's assuming we'll win! Certainly hoping, though. Looking forward to getting through for it. Possibly a good thing that it's a must win for us. Maybe Ayr will play for a draw, and that doesn't work well - see Buckie v Brechin. If we do score first, I just hope we don't look to shut up shop. Can you imagine the nerves?!

WINNER TAKES ALL WEEKEND We have had Helicopter Weekend, it's now time for Winner Takes All Weekend. It all boils down to the last game of the regular Championship season at both ends of the table, unless of course you are Raith Rovers, the only club with nothing left to play for. Promotion will be confirmed on Friday night when Queens Park host Dundee. Jostling for a play off place will end and someone will be relegated. But who will it be, that is the $64,000 dollar question? After the excitement of last weekend at Hampden Park, it would be extremely disappointing should we miss out on the play-offs after a tremendous late run from the Caley Jags has put us within touching distance of a few extra games for promotion. It's a massive ask after the schedule the team has faced in April, but we are the form side at the moment with most of our key players back in the squad. Only victory over Ayr United will be good enough. A draw keeps Ayr above us on goal difference. Huge game, let's get behind the boys and roar them into the play-offs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OFFICIAL PotY VOTE CUP FINAL DATE CUP FINAL FARCE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It really is a must win game on Friday night at 7:45pm. Anything but a win and we are out of the play-offs. It's as simple as that. Get behind the guys for this game, it's massive. Ayr will have a sizeable travelling support, let's give some noise to the Caley Thistle Boys This Season v Ayr Two wins and a draw. First game at Somerset Park was 1 - 0 for the Caley Jags. Despite Ayr dominating possession, Cammy Harper glanced in the only goal of the game a couple of minutes after the interval. Return fixture in the Highlands ended all square at 2 - 2. Inverness came from behind twice to earn a draw. Mark McKenzie opened the scoring early before Nathan Shaw levelled. Akinyemi looked to have given Ayr all three points with a late strike but Shaw did it again with an even later strike to save the day. The last one at the beginning of March saw Inverness take all three points with a 2 - 1 win after Akinyemi had put Ayr ahead only for Sean Welsh and Jay Henderson to win the game for the visitors. Not a lot between the sides, but so far we have found a way to win two of the three encounters. Venue - H2H v Ayr United Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 23 10 11 2 38 24 +14 Away 25 12 6 7 47 31 +16 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 48 22 17 9 85 55 +30 Historically we hold a big advantage in H2H's with Ayr United since we first met back in 1999 at Somerset Park. That one ended 0 - 1 to Ayr with Glynn Hurst the scorer in the 90th minute: Caley Thistle came within a minute of gaining their first league point of the season but a Glynn Hurst goal denied them. They spent virtually the whole game defending against a spirited Ayr attack, Micky Reynolds and Glynn Hurst in particular caused many problems. Just when it looked as if Caley Thistle were going to hold out Hurst struck. Danny Lennon sent over a lob from left to right, Hurst chested it down then shot home from a difficult angle. Fridge got a touch but it was not enough. Ayr achieved the victory they deserved and Caley Thistle remain pointless. Report by Ian Broadfoot Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Ayr United 2 - 1 (A) 2 - 2 (H) 1 - 0 (A) 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 2 (H) 2 - 2 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 2 - 2 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 1 - 1 (H) Some memorable games have been had between the sides. Who can forget the incredible Scottish Cup Tie in 2001, 4 - 3 at the Caledonian Stadium, or the Dennis Wyness hat-trick inspired 7 - 3 win in December 2000, also in the Highlands. My pick was the Championship winning side demolishing Ayr 7 - 0 in April 2010 at Somerset Park. Best day out ever: Caley Thistle went out and had fun today... 7 goals from 7 different scorers meant ICT recorded the biggest victory in the SFL for the season as the large travelling support partied in style. Apparently, there was a match yesterday that briefly interrupted a day long travelling party. A thousand or so highlanders settled(!) down at 3pm. to be treated to as fluent a display of celebration football as you are ever likely to see, and it was important that they did get there at 3pm, because the game was effectively over by quarter past. Ayr United played their part by providing one of the best playing surfaces that I've seen at this end of a season and leaving their defence somewhere else in Ayrshire. They also gave our fans a huge terracing playground that was utilised to the full. Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table ahead of Friday nights title decider and relegation crunch. 1. Dundee 35 16 12 7 61 37 60 2. Queens Park 35 17 7 11 60 47 58 3. Partick Thistle 35 16 8 11 63 43 56 4. Ayr United 35 15 10 10 59 42 55 5. Inverness CT 35 15 10 10 51 45 55 6. Morton 35 14 12 9 51 42 54 7. Raith Rovers 35 11 9 15 44 47 42 8. Arbroath 35 6 15 14 29 47 33 9. Cove Rangers 35 7 10 18 37 73 31 10. Hamilton Ac. 35 7 9 19 31 63 30 Friday night 7:45pm Arbroath v Accies Cove Ran v Morton Inverness CT v Ayr United Queen's v Dundee Rovers v Partick Last Time Out Forget the Cup, that's different gravy. Our last Championship game was a hard fought draw against Dundee. Lyall Cameron had given the visitors the lead on the hour before substitute Austin Samuels salvaged a point for us fifteen minutes later. It's been an electrifying month for Billy Dodds and the players. Six wins and a draw which includes the semi-final win over Falkirk. Championship wins starting at Cappielow, then beating Raith Rovers, Arbroath, away to Cove and Hamilton before the draw with Dundee in the Highlands. April results in Championship. W W W W D Ayr have also clawed their way back into contention after an April crisis with a series of draws that saw them drop below Inverness before they beat Raith Rovers 1-0 whilst we were at Hampden thanks to a Frankie Musonda header. Last six results for Ayr starting with a win at Cove and ending with that win against Raith Rovers. Sandwiched in between were a loss to Arbroath followed by draws with Morton, Partick and Queens Park. WL D D D W Latest Team News We had pretty much a full squad at Hampden although we were without the suspended David Carson and cup-tied Lewis Nicolson. Shane Sutherland and Tom Walsh will miss the rest of the season. Get the finger out Billy, where's the match preview??? Ayr United had this starting XI against Raith Rovers: Albinson Hewit Musonda McGinty Reading Mullin McAlear Murdoch Ashford Maguire Akinyemi Subs: McAdams; O'Connor, Mitchell-Lawson, McKenzie, Bryden, Smith, Jenkins Dipo Akinyemi is the major goal threat with 20 goals and 8 assists and he is not afraid to offload with 94 shots. Josh Mullin and Ben Dempsey are both on 7 goals. Frankie Musonda will be a threat at set pieces with his power in the air. Sam Ashford is a willing runner and provider and is also not afraid to shoot on site. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Have you voted in the official Player of the Year/Goal of the Year Poll??? Here's the choice of Goals>>> Vote HERE

Many thanks to MrCaleyjag for continuing this most annoying and frustrating competition. Your efforts are appreciated by us all. Mrs Gringo Alloa v Pars draw @3.40 Gringo Queens v Kelty draw @3.50

You said you wouldn't attend the Semi-final because tickets prices were too high, and then criticise the Supporters Trust for suggesting the SFA should reduce ticket prices for the final. Make your mind up! Do you want lower prices which make going to games more affordable for fans or do you want higher prices so the club gets more from gate receipts? I can't answer for the Supporters Trust as I'm not on its Board any more, but I read the comment about reducing prices as a tongue in cheek remark. We all know that the SFA aren't going to reduce ticket prices just because our Supporters Trust has made that suggestion, nor is there any serious prospect of them putting the kick off time back to 3 O'clock. But at least the Trust is speaking out on behalf of the Supporters and getting a bit more publicity about the SFA's shameful decision.

Having downloaded a ChatGPT app yesterday, I asked it for a poem in the style of William McGonagal about ICT winning the cup final. Within 20 seconds or so, this is what it gave me and I’d say it met the spec pretty well. Enjoy! Oh, listen well, good people all, and hear my tale today Of Inverness Caledonian Thistle's most triumphant play For on the third of June, in Hampden Park so grand They faced the mighty Celtic, the best team in the land The air was thick with tension as the two teams took the field And all across the country, fans were watching, hearts congealed But Inverness Caledonian Thistle had a secret ace His name was Billy Mckay, and he would soon take his place The game began with Celtic on the front foot, full of fire But Inverness Caledonian Thistle would not tire They held their ground, they made their mark, they fought with all their might And then, at last, the moment came, the moment of delight For Billy Mckay, that hero brave, had found his chance at last He scored not once, not twice, but thrice, and all the fans amassed Did cheer and shout and sing his name, as Celtic hung their heads For Inverness Caledonian Thistle had won, and Celtic's hopes were dead Oh, what a day, what a glorious sight, to see the underdog win To see the joy on faces, to hear the mighty din For Inverness Caledonian Thistle had done what none thought they could They'd beaten Celtic fair and square, and proved their mettle good So here's to Billy Mckay, that hero of the hour And here's to Inverness Caledonian Thistle's awesome power For on that famous day in June, they showed us all their might And won the Scottish Cup, a victory oh so bright!

I will still be going, as people say you don't get these opportunities for finals often but it just makes things , travel etc more tricky to arrange

He's young enough to be able to play long enough to take the record. Get him signed up for next season.

I’m fine with Dodds for one more year.