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Was at the game today, thoroughly enjoyed the day, apart from the score. One thing did occur to me, the behaviour of the self styled greatest fans in the world, who invaded the pitch, fought with stewards, tore out seats and encouraged us to ?join the IRA?, and set off a flare. I know it is a minority but why do people think they can come to Inverness and behave like this? The answer to this question is that there is no perceived threat of retaliation from the home support, but today the home and away fans were separated by a walkway, some red/white tape and one steward. If away fans are allowed to continue behaving like this it is only a matter of time before something happens... what would they have done if they had lost today? I am not saying that all Celtic fans are halfwits, and it was brought to my attention today that they won an award for good behavior after the UEFA cup final although the person who mentioned it to me was unable to tell me who had won prior to Celtic and had there been any winners since.

I really don't see how what you're suggesting here is relevent? We were beaten by a single superb effort. What is being said here is that the referee was extremely poor. He's not being blamed for anything - yet you see fit to jump to that conclusion?

Lots of positives to be taken from that. I know there was a lot of talk about how Celtic might not be great when you looked at the team sheet but it was still full of internationals. They were a very slick side. Don't think anyone stood out for us as being poor. Couple of comments regarding the defence but that was down to Maloney, he took up some superb positions and his movement was excellent. He kept coming off our centre halfs into the space between the defence and midfield which left Grant and Rosscoe with the dilema of whether to follow him or not. When they did this meant McCann/Gillet had to tuck in and thus the space opened on the flanks. Odihambo has improved immeasurably- was able to find space and link up with the midfield and Rooney until he tired. Ditto Rooney, looked strong and had the legs on the Celtic defence. Just a pity he was isolated at times. Once Hayes gets fully fit he is going to tear up the SPL, Mulgrew must have had twisted blood after 20mins, just a pity it couldn't be sustained. Was extremely pleasing to see us playing football in the first half instead of this lump it up the park nonsense. On this display we'll comfortably hold our own this season.

Flares, smoke bombs etc are the sort of thing that should be allowed and introduced, aslong as they are not let off with the intent of harming anybody, to add a bit of atmosphere into Scottish football. Pitch invaders, well look at Ayr away, wouldn't judge a crowd of about 3000 due to one f@nny running on the pitch. As for singing the pro IRA songs, don't agree with it at all but it doesn't bother me and can sing what they like IMO. When they aren't singing bigoted p!sh they, and the huns, have good supports, and could only wish we would have one like that one day. Bar the knuckle dragging and unwashed jaik smell..

What a waste of money !! How much cash do Celtic spend on transfer fees and wages to get their players on to the pitch, in the first half we made them look terrible, absolutely terrible, it was all one way traffic, money well wasted, well done for that. The game reminded me of a cup which we didn't win last season,we played so well in the first half of that match too, from that day I had a real sense of belief that the team could fight their way up the table, after many tough games, they won the league cup with ease. Today I left the ground a happy man,reminded of how good ICT are and can be, for all the money which was invested in the Celtic team, ICT were by far the superior team in the first half. From what I saw today I have faith in ICT having a very good season.

I recorded the game and im just watching it now and when hayes was in the box in the first minute he was tripped first and should have got a penalty

I agree with all that. I think that was a very creditable performance on the whole. my only complaint would be against Gil. He showed nothing at all and seems to have very little game awareness. He has high game awareness it was that he pulled his hamstring or a muscle in that area

Tried out the bar after the game.The club have done a great job, the first thing that you notice as you enter is a huge picture of the team winning the 1st div cup,so you can get a photo of yourself with the champions,plenty of room, friendly staff and the drinks aren't pricey, in fact I would say cheaper than a lot of the bars in the town, good layout and good size TVs on the wall to see the match highlights. I didn't know what to expect before going in but I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I think I could quite happily make this my local on match days.Well done ICT.

I didn't see this at all. Thought they did very well but were under so much pressure from Duncan and Cox collapsing in the second half.

if you do it be prepared for people shouting paedofile at you

How about Michelle Mone, to ensure we get our hands on some cups?

Unfortunately the production of atmosphere is left to us youngsters - I am fed up trying to get the old gits to join in.

Even for ICT fans this must be a new record to write off recent signing. Whoever plays instead of Foran tomorrow will get my full backing.

:D

FIRST HALF: Well we are on a par with the Mighty Tims and if it was a boxing match we would be just ahead on points. The first 20 minutes was the first time ever that I have witnessed us totally dominate a game against the Old Filth. Then we took the foot off the pedal a little bit, ten minutes of midfield possession for both teams but the Tims looked stronger as half time loomed. We had a big fright after 22 seconds when it looked like Hayes was going to be carted off but it looked like a kidney knock and he was only really winded. The TV suggested that the initial foul took place outside the box and it was Hayes momentum that carried him in to the box. I have seen penalties given for that before and I suspect that if it was the 22nd minute it may have been given - harshly probably but what the feck. But the ref sinalled against Hayes. Hayes then went on to torment Mulgrew and everything was going through Hayes - The Telly showed the "attempts" after 15 minutes - 4-0 ICT. Rooney volleyed over in 5 mins after good interchange by Eric and Mccann; Hayes went close on 9 mins; Mulgrew should have had a yellow in the 12th minute for blatantly taking Hayes out of the game; Cellic then nearly scored against the run of play in he 14th but McCann put in a great saving block; Russeldhino hit a wqeak snap shot on target in the 15th; Again why didnt Samaras get booked in the 16th min for a blatant hand ball; Eric headed over a Hayes cross in the 17tyh minute but he was moving away from the goal on impact; Maloney hit the post on a 1:1 with Esson and I felt Rosscoe played him onside; Rooney headed over a difficult chancs from a Ross cross in the 26th minute; Ledley had a good chance in the 36th minute but rosscoe got a toe to a shot that may well have hit the net; Lennon gets a talking to by Callum Murray after gobbing off about a Samaras challenge wich the ref ignored - even though Cox clearly fouled him; Nick Ross saved a goalbound header from a corner in the 41st and Fortune hit Esson with a strike in the 47th. Positives are that most players are trying to play football and Cellic look disorganised - where the feck is Fortune playing ?, Ledley is anonymous and their defence looks really heavy legged. Negatives are that Maloney looks a real threat but fortunately at the moment is playing too deep; Nick Ross has held his own but looks a bit taken in by the atmosphere and Hayes is looking knackered plus Rosscoe and Granty are winning nearly everything but they are getting caught out of position too often - especially Rosscoe. And PLEASE, PLEASE learn the lesson of playing really tight for the first five minutes of the second feckin half as Cellic will be coming out of the box with a vengeance. Back to the game, the Boddies and the voddie !! SECOND HALF: Well we totally dominated the second half for 70 seconds and then played goals and byes. We almost turned the tables with a Rooney run down the wing and Eric close to getting on to the cross and then Russell, off balance scuffs a 20 yarder. But then Cellic upped the pace and simply took over. Cox clumsily took out Brown on 47 and Esson did well to turn the Mulgrew free kick round the post. Esson saved the day again with a good stop from Ledley two minutes later after a defence splitting pass by Maloney. Again Samaras could well have been booked in the 53rd and then Nick Ross had a real half chance to score. Cha misinterpreted the cross but Nick heahed weakly in to the keeper. To be fair he probably didnt expect Cha to misstime it but he could have chested it down. McCourt scored the onl goal of the game in the 55th minute and weaved across the 18 yard line before smashing it home whilst most of our players stood off him possibly worrying that he was going for the pen. McCann was blameless cos he was covering the overlap but Rosscoe dived in, Cox stood off, Munro stood off and Duncan could have clattered him. McCann then sprained his neck by running in to Maloney and had to go off. Brown had a chance in 60 when again Munro and Rosscoe stood off him; Gil came on fer Nick Ross in 61 and went wide left; Maloney had a chance to score in 62 but Rosscoe tidied it up in the 6 yard box. Samaras fortunately went for goal when a cut back to Maloney would have made it 2-0 a minute later. Maloney almost scored in the 66 and Fortune was too lat and hit the side netting. Rooney then shouldered Hooveld off the ball and a promising move ended when the ball hit Hooveld and went out fer a touch - but we were soon defending again. Maloney had another chance which Rosscoe blocked in 74; Forrest misssed an absolute sitter in 76 - by that time the TV was showing 75/25 % possesion to Cellic !! Proctor came on fer Gil on 77 and Gill looks as if he has a tweaked, hopefully not torn hamstring. Sutherland came on far too late for a struggling Hayes in the 86 minuted, Esson saved from Cha and then Forrest hit the post. MATCH SUMMARY: We missed our chance in the first half where we dominated and outplayed Cellic fer long periods but Cellic upped the pace in the second half and it always looked more likely that they would grab a second goal instead of us stealing an equaliser. Maloney was immense in the last 60 minutes, Brown and Ledley took control of midfield and Fortune wide all of a sudden became a real threat. I may now sound harsh - as not many teams wil live with Cellic if they play like they did in the second half but we really did capitualte. We looked to have run out of legs - Hayes and Ross were passengers and we had no outlet. We start losing all the 50/50's and I felt that Rosscoe and Munro played far too deep - evidently worried about pace. I hope TB plays the video as the goal was terrible defending and Rosscoe and Munro did not appear to be communicating and Rosscoe is still playing as a full back which you cant afford to do in the SPL. SMILEYMOMETER - Evidently I had the advantage of the telly and the replays and some peeple at the game may find this harsh but I am going to rate it as I saw it - taking away the fact it was against Cellic. ESSON My MOM - kept the score down to 1 and was always looking to start off attacks. Tuffey will be warming the SPL bench for at least another game. McCANN I have criticised him but he was pretty solid and looks to play football. ROSSCOE May well have looked effective with his aerial prowess and spectacular blocks and clearances but I feel he simply does not have the pace for the SPL. Got caught out of position on a few occasions, tends to jump in to tackles and surprisingly appeared not to be on the same communication level as Granty. And can Terry and Mo plese feckin show him how to cushion hoofs and headers. GRANTY I thought thta he did well in spite of having to cover for Rosscoes faults. GILLET First look and impressed. He had fortune wrapped up in the first half and probably came out level in the 2nd when his cover from left midfield went missing. HAYES Looked the best player on the park for the first 20 minutes but then simply faded in to obscurity. he wasnt gettting the ammunition but he looke far from fit. COX Quietly effective - Coxy and Russell ran the midfield in the first half but were always on their toes and going backwards in the second RUSSELDHINO as per Cox - some great cross field passsing in the firts half ROSS Had his moments but looked a class below everybody else on the pitch. Suffered from having to play on the left and never really looked comfortable there. ERIC Much improved and put in a good enuff shift - has to concentrate on improving his first touch in training and how to control the ball when dribbling. ROONEY Ploughe a lone and lonely furrow - held the ball up well and worked his socks off but never had a sniff GIL Why put him on the feckin wide left - didnt do anything and limped off PROCTOR I would have taken him on fer Ross at half time. SUTHERLAND Should have been on 15 minutes earlier for Hayes who was a passenger TERRY AND MO I bet that they are kciking themselves that we didnt go in at least 1-0 up at half time but not much they could do to change it in the second - only criticism is that they could have gambled with Sutherland and kept Ross and especially Hayes on fer too long. CALLUM MURRAY: :_wink: :_fart: No complaints overall but the Hayes attack in the first minute was a free kick at least and he bottled out of booking Mulgrew and Samaras. OVERALL : We showed spirit and enthusiasm and were by far the better side in the second half. We can only improve and we would have beaten the majority of SPL teams on the day with a performance like that.

Here we are again, when all else fails, blame the ref. If you really thought he was shocking today, prepare yourself for a very long, disappointing season. There will be much worse to come. For my money, the ref today had a good game.