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Regardless of what cup it is , a cup run is still a cup run and out of 2 before the end of August. Poor call by Management team tonight .

Surely the club wanted to at least get through to the second round of the cup they won last season? So why did Robertson change so many players? Especially considering that we don't have a game thìs Saturday. We went all out to win this trophy last season by playing our best eleven, so why did we not give it our alĺ this time? Again, it was obvious that the team needed width, which only happened when Walsh was introduced as a sub in the second half, that gave us Calder on the left and Walsh on the right snd they started to get behind their back four and get crosses in. We had so many chances just begging for the right touch, but no, it wasn't to happen, and then Polworth gives the ball away on the half way line, and the rest is history. I know it's early in the season, but I'm having a bad feeling about this season already.

Personally, I believe that if those banned are prepared to apologise either in writing or, better still, in person to Liam Polworth then the bans should be lifted immediately. The conduct was terrible but we all make mistakes and deserve a second chance. If, on the other hand, they are not prepared to acknowledge that they did wrong and say sorry, then I would have no difficulty with those involved being banned for the rest of the season.

Manager would have been delighted to have it as a distraction from explaining the dross he's been serving up on the park.

I take your point. But exiting two cups and winning only one game in the last four isn't going to do much for the team's confidence.

Sad to say, we have had a nasty element amongst some of our younger supporters for a couple of seasons. I have seen some of them challenge away fans to fight, use disgusting language and generally behave badly. I have challenged them, and bear in mind I was wearing a club scarf and baseball cap so they knew I was an ICT supporter, and was threatened by them. Upon telling them to basically go away or else I would literally take them apart, they backed off showing what cowards they are. We have also seen fighting at Elgin and damage done to Brechin's ground by some of our younger so called fans who, when banned by the club, had posters on here saying that was harsh. At some point, these so called supporters have to be made of an example of and a true deterrent set. Just banning them for a season is, in my opinion, unlikely to cut it with these morons.

Because shes been here before!

Sadly some people just never learn .!!

Sorry I cannot agree, do you really believe that by giving or sending an apology the morons responsible will truly feel any remorse over their actions? In all probability they are of the sniggering, sneering, ignoranimous variety that revel in such behaviour who would take that as a slap on the hand and a pat on the head and laugh at the clubs lerniency. No they deserve the ban and any other punishment given. Do you afford the same response to people that you ban from here ??

Quick reminder for you lovers of fun games. The all singing all dancing NAPS Competition kicks off this weekend (4th Aug). This can be found in the Betting Forum (an add on to Gringo's NPL) The correct score Prediction League (non NPL) also kicks off this weekend and we will be using the Championship fixtures again this season. This game can be found under the Features tab. For regular users please make sure you join the SPFL Championship 2018-19 league by going into 'My Profile' > 'Joined Leagues' and ticking the box. Hope to see some new faces to add to the fun - I'm getting tired of losing to the same old gang.

Just watched the goals from our under 18s thrashing Partick Thistle 7-2. After last season's league win at under 17 level, we look to have a great crop coming through. As a small club, that's what we need, so credit to the coaches. Let's hope they continue to develop and be one the backbone of a successful future squad.

Anyone who can fecking hit the target.

Polworth was played on the right side of midfield from the start and played horrible, as did most of our team IMO but as soon as Walsh came on we had 2 wingers, this allowed us to play with pace on both wings and Polworth moved into the centre of midfield, definitely his strongest position for us and this changed the game with his link up play. He is not a wide player. I'm struggling to find reasons why he is continually getting played out wide when it is clear that his best position for us is central midfield. Also a strong showing from Oakley and White, they linked up well on numerous occasions. potentially a different result if the changes happened earlier. Disappointing to exit the cup this early.

£35 spent tonight to get in very steep and it was very poor first half not good second half much better when subs were made Walsh very good i was glad Trafford went off he was terrible and sorry but Polworth didnt have a good game. All this missed opportunities is going to haunt us i fear. Just where do they get such poor Ref's and linesmen ?

Agree 100% with the sentiment. The signs this early don't inspire confidence.

The only real priority this season is the league and we are undefeated in the Championship since March. Let's get a few more league points on the board starting with three on Saturday.

Strange that Robertson was fully behind this cup last year and yet this year totally disrupts the good team spirit he enthused about then by making wholesale changes. We really had a good chance to progress in this competition now we have little left other than the league. Saying that I thought Walsh and Welsh were both excellent as was Calder. Polworth I am afraid really looks like a player who needs a change, I said that on Saturday and nothing changed my mind tonight. Big shout out to all who attended the game, just over 1000 a great crowd.

Don't read too much into this defeat. Pretty much a reserve game. Shame it cost £15 to witness it. Riccardo Calder did his prospects no harm. Nobody else caught my eye until Oakley and Walsh came on. By the way, we always try and add a link on our own CTO Preview if it is available at time of our preview being published.

Just had a look at the on-line programme for tonight's game. I must say I rather like the idea of reading the programme before heading off to the game. Robbo is having a go at the fact that the English, Welsh and Irish clubs in the competition all have a bye into the 2nd round. It seems a bit unfair but all the more reason to make sure we win tonight. It would be unfortunate if we, as champions, were out of the competition before they had even come into it. Robbo also doesn't mince his words about certain off field matters. Let's hope everybody gets properly behind the team tonight.

That length of ban would seem to me to be entirely reasonable and proportionate. Those calling for lifetime bans should bear in mind that there is a despicable character who has been judicially determined to be a rapist able to earn a living as a professional footballer in Scotland. Those responsible for Saturday's appalling behaviour did a very bad thing but hardly in the same league of evil.

The stewards are utterly useless. They'll only do something if it is a very small group of fans for fear of other supporters getting involved.

100% agree with the club on this. There can be zero tolerance for the abuse that was aimed at Liam last weekend. No excuses, no mitigating factors and no wiggle room. I would leave the club to determine length of ban but at a minimum it should be end of calendar year if not the end of the season.

I've just read the chairman's statement and I agree this type of abuse should not be tolerated. There is however no specific mention of how long the ban will be so it will be interesting to hear what it is. He does however once again mention ICT is a FAMILY Club - does he really believe this? What exactly is a family club and what has he and his board done to make it so?

You said it yourself Kingsmills. “As with everything in life, there are exceptions” And sadly some people just never do learn no matter how many chances they are given.

Often if critical of a player or performance on this forum there are useless happy to tar those with the same brush as the fans shouting match abuse. I wasn't at the game but if what's written is correct then it's utterly unacceptable however nobody has stated any action taken other than internet posts. Did anyone or a group approach the culprits or stewards to address this at the time? The stewards have a duty to tackle this behaviour and should be ejecting fans based on our club policy given by the board if they are not then it needs highlighted at the top level in the club as the service being paid for is not in keeping with club policy.

A bit harsh a ban a sad indictment in fact on the atmosphere in our ground when Polworth can hear slurs against him! I never heard anything from the north stand said about him!

Disgusting indeed and bans are appropriate but for life is too harsh. We all mature and learn and we need to encourage as many young and enthusiastic fans as possible. If these people can demonstrate that they are truly remorseful then they should get back. If not, as I've opined before, they should be banned for the rest of this season but with the proviso that if they offend again in a similar manner once they get back that ban will be extended to five years.

Liam Polworth sketch by the very talented local artist and Caley Thistle fan Sophie Robb.

Absolutely the right thing to do. There is no room in our club for such behaviour.

Despite a season ban I hope they've been made to apologies to Liam and his family. They should also be made to clean to stadium toilets with a toothbrush.

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from the morons in the home end! Those involved are not supporters but mindless idiots who don't seem to realise that if a player misses a penalty he most likely needs a pick-me-up and not a torrent of abuse aimed at his family. Utter pillocks whom I hope never set foot inside caley Park again! Disgraceful!!!!

No doubt the behaviour of the idiots in the crowd was a factor in the rather lack lustre performance following the penalty and the sending off. I agree that it is extremely important for all the team that they get some proper support tomorrow. Gates for these cup gates tend to be pretty poor but hopefully fans who were shocked and disgusted at Saturday's events will make an effort to get to the game and give some loud support to the team and particularly to Liam. I very much hope and expect Liam will play. He has a point to prove and I imagine after the hurt of Saturday he will be fired up and will have the crowd with him. After the backlash, he is not going to get abuse tomorrow night and I fail to see what possible benefit there would be to him or the team in leaving him out. We are the champions and we will need to field our strongest team if we are to defend our title against strong opposition. Nobody should be in any doubt that our strongest team has Liam Polworth at its heart.

Agree with PerfICT, it is shaming and makes you wonder how we can hold up our heads when the press and other fans will now think of us as hosting a clique of hostile, abusive fans who apparently hate one of our best players so much they abuse his sister. Just unbelievable, and set to wreck years of building a reputation as a club free from the old, ugly side of neddish behaviour. The only thing we can do is make sure there is a backlash against these clowns by showing our support for Liam and the team - it must upset the other players too, which is doubly damaging. I have a feeling a lot of people will want to make that point, so let's make it clear if he plays tomorrow night - though I think he might be taken out of the firing line to calm the situation down. As far as saturday goes, yes we missed a couple of golden chances to go ahead, but in the second half they built a wall of two banks of four, as we have seen in many games, including the World Cup. You don't have to be brilliant in such a team, but Ayr stuck to their task with real discipline and energy, so they frustrated us successfully. That's football, had it been us in their position we would have been celebrating a famous backs to the wall performance. We can learn from that, but it's crazy to go overboard as if we had got a drubbing. We were the dominant team, and will have better days.

ICT have just issued the statement that all culprits of the chanting on Saturday have been identified and have issued bans to them. Anyone know how long these bans would be for? Would expect a Rest of Season ban, but if it was a life ban (highly unlikely) it would seem a tad harsh...anyone got any inside info on it (i.e. a mate who was handed a ban?)