Festival of Football at Tynecastle

Scottish Cup holders Hearts will host Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend in the third SPL game of the season as the Edinburgh Festival gets into full swing.

Inverness have failed to hold on to a lead in both of their opening fixtures, being pegged back to draws at Paisley and Inverness although it is a better start to the campaign than last term. Things looked bright in the opening exchanges against Killie last week but failure to add to the early goal from midfielder Andy Shinnie saw the visitors claw their way back into the match and level the scores before half-time, well a couple of minutes into time added on at the interval. This lack of concentration is a worrying trend with Inverness losing vital goals at very late stages of either half with annoying regularity.

Hearts started their season off with victory at home against St Johnstone and an unconvincing draw in the Edinburgh derby last Sunday. They too have yet to establish their best line up and formation after the departure of some of their high earners at the end of their cup winning season. Notable leavers are Ian Black, Craig Beattie who has joined St Johnstone, Suso Santana and the excellent Rudi Skacel. They will be without the services of David Templeton who has been banned for two games after lashing out at James McPake in the Edinburgh derby and likewise Inverness will have the red misted Owain Tudur-Jones absent after his aberration against Kilmarnock.

Capital Caley gives us an insight into this game with this preview

We head down to Tynecastle for our second away day of the season. It’s been an interesting to the season. A draw away from home to St Mirren and a draw at home to Kilmarnock in games that we could have won if we had taken our chances. Hearts started strongly against St Johnstone with an easy 2-0 win. However, next up was derby rivals Hibernian. Most neutrals would have predicted a Hearts win, but they were surprisingly poor and could only manage the draw.

Caley Thistle are in a much better shape than they were this time last season. We had lost both of the opening games to Motherwell and Hibs. We were already plagued and the opening performances were very poor. Things are looking a lot brighter now. We have two more points in the bag. So far, the starting XI / squad is stable (with the exception of Owain-Tudur-Jones after last weeks moment of madness!!!). We still have players such as Chris Hogg to come back but the important thing is the players who have played in the first two games have done well. Aaran Doran is looking great and if he can keep his performances up, he will be an asset to the squad. Terry Butcher has also changed the style of play this season which is a breathe of fresh air. We are enjoyable to watch again. However, I do not expect us to do well in every game. Last week we certainly didn’t play well in the second half. However, the passing play was there without the need for a hoof. With Captain Richie Foran back for the Hearts game (and presumably replacing the suspended OTJ) we will have that leadership spark in midfield that will help motivate the players against Hearts.

It’s great to have Richie back but in saying that, we played well enough against St Mirren without him. But from a happy clapper perspective, imagine how well we will play with him back in the starting line up!!! I am hopeful anyway. Despite the financial difficulties within the SPL and the implications of Rangers going bust and a new team representing the city of Glasgow entering the 3^rd Division, I don’t think the Caley Thistle community has ever been so united. The Supporters Trust and Supporters Club coming together to create Caley Jags Together looks to be a success. The new Juanjo Away Supporters Group is small in numbers but it’s an exciting new project that I am delighted to be involved with. The Couriers ‘All Together Now’ campaign is helping to get more publicity for the club. It’s a shame we can’t get more people from Inverness to come along to watch the games. I’m sure if they came along to Tynecastle on Saturday they would see a great game. Unfortunately, far too many are interested in supporting teams that represent different citys. Each to their own though. However, with free offered at last weeks game and £6 entry to the Gorgie Suite this Saturday for Caley Jags Together, you cannot fault the club and fans involved with the club for trying.

Back to the match itself and I think it will be very easy to the team again. Obviously OTJ is out. He will be a miss for sure. But, I’d imagine Richie will take his place and assume the role of Captain again. After that, there may not be much need to change the team too much. Many of the CTO posters would like to see Nick Ross start and maybe Terry is thinking this also. However, my guess at Butcher's line up would be the same as last week with Richie instead of OTJ.

Caley Thistles last trip to Tynecastle resulted in a 2-1 defeat with Ross Tokely getting an equaliser just after half time before the Jambos went 2-1 up. It’s a game that we played well but our defence were caught out far too often. We have had a reasonable amount of success at Gorgie through the years. One of the more recent occasions was the 1-1 draw on 4^th December 2010. We were plucky that day. Hearts battered our goal in the second half but the defence was solid and we hung on for the draw. In fact, we could have won that game as Russell Duncan missed a one on one chance in front of goal in the last minute. But that draw was a big result for Caley Thistle as it meant we were then 13 months unbeaten away from home but also with no more away games that month, a whole calendar year unbeaten away from home. It was twenty-ten with Terry and Mo! After the great atmosphere generated by the fans at Paisley on the first game of the season, it would be great to generate the same, if not better atmosphere at Tynecastle. Judging by remarks from certain players, it would appear that they were very appreciative of the support at the St Mirren game. We may be small in numbers, but we can still make a noise. Lets roar on the team to 3 points.

Caley Jags Together, Juanjo Away, All together now, Caley Away with Terry and Mo!

CapitalCaleys prediction:-

If we keep the ball on the deck and play like we did against Coventry, St Mirren and the first 20 minutes of Kilmarnock then we could actually win this game. It will be difficult though. Hearts should contend for the 2^nd spot and could even push Celtic all the way. However, we have Foran back and on our day we can beat anyone. We are playing good football, there is an increased team morale, there is a feel good factor with (most of) the fans and if we give the team our backing, we have a great chance. If we do win though, it will be at a slim margin. Hearts have winger David Templeton out for this one which will be a massive loss for them. I’m going to sit on the fence on this one. I could be a draw, or a slim victory for either team.

All together now..........Caley Away with Terry and Mo!

Latest Team News

Inverness will welcome back captain Richie Foran after the skipper missed the first two games of the season due to suspension. He will slot straight into the side with Owain Tudur-Jones being suspended. Chris Hogg is still not back to full fitness yet. Other than that Butcher has a full squad to choose from.

John McGlynn has a couple of missing players. Templeton is suspended and young keeper Mark Ridgers is out for at least three months with ligament damage sustained in the u21 international in midweek. Jamie Hammil is definitely out with a knee injury. Mehdi Taouil may not start as he is fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and a full ninety minutes may be too much for him. Peter Enckelman has signed a short term deal as the Jambo's goalkeeping crisis deepens. With Ridgers sidelined, regular keeper Jamie MacDonald may need some time off soon as his partner is expecting their first child anytime now and the big Finn may well find himself thrust into the action soon.

Over the Bridge there is an interesting early kick off at 12:15 as Ross County entertain league champions Celtic and this will be an early indicator as to whether the new kids on the block will hack it in the SPL. So far so good for County with two draws, but no goals yet.