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Roasted for 45 mins each side Inverness were like Turkey's in the first half as County held the upper hand and roasted us. Stuffing would have completed the menu but Inverness managed to turn the heat up after the break and once Marley Watkins levelled Yoann Arquin's opener, there was only going to be one winner, but Mark Brown was in sensational form and single handedly kept the score level and a share of the points it was. We can't complain really after a hideously poor first half where Dean Brill kept the score respectable as County outplayed their shambolic hosts. What is it about us and first half rubbish. Maybe it's the South side of the park that's the problem. Whatever it is it's starting to grate as we continually turn in terrible performances over the first 45 and end up chasing the game. Never before has there been such a contrast between the two halves. County v Brill first half, Inverness v Brown second half. Inverness as expected were unchanged and James Vincent was on the bench with Danny Williams and Nick Ross. Ross County had a late change with Michael Gardyne failing a fitness test and he missed out, but Scott Boyd was back at the heart of the defence. The early kick off and live TV coverage ensured there would be a low turnout of fans at this one. Our Dingwall visitors alleged dislike of our stadium was stronger than the lure to support their side as a less than half full stadium saw Inverness kick off in the first Highland derby of the season. The first few minutes gave a false impression that Inverness were going to take the game to the travelling side as Billy McKay danced towards the box, but he shot tamely at Brown and the former Inverness keeper saved easily. Thereafter, it was Brill who would be the busier keeper as County outplayed Inverness for the next forty minutes making a mockery of their lowly position as they made the home defence look laboured. The possession game has been monitored closely by most clubs now and as in the Dons game, we fluffed our lines on more than one occasion. Rocco Quinn should have done better as he tried to guide a volley goalwards after a poor headed clearance from Gary Warren who would soon be involved in the next goalmouth action. He played a poor ball to Draper in the possession game and he was woefully short with an attempted pass back to Brill. Kiss took advantage but Brill blocked his shot and the rebound was knocked back at the goals but Kiss was left offside. A let off for Brill who was none too happy with the guys in front of him. Lesson not learned as County grew in confidence and Inverness were being made to look like the team at the bottom. Another poor clearance eventually made it's way to Quinn on the left. His looped cross was met by Yoann Arquin and he attacked the ball seven yards out with the static home defence spectating. First blood to County as Inverness struggled to cope with the powerful running and drive of the basement club. Brill blocked another angled drive from Quinn after he was set up by some tidy skill from Jackson Irvine who had flicked the ball over the hapless tackles to tee up Quinn on the left edge of the six yard box. A few seconds later and another chance for County. We continued to concede possession too easily and in the next surge forward Kiss laid it on a plate for Arquin who should have scored, but Brill pulled off a magnificent save as the big lad whacked the ball from ten yards, Brill diving to his left to palm the ball away, the struggling Meekings completing the clearance. A rare foray forward saw Ryan Christie flick out a boot at a bouncing cross and Brown tipped the ball over the bar, but other than that it was practically all one way traffic. The Inverness turkey's had been well and truly roasted and they almost fell two behind before the interval, but once more it was Brill who came to the rescue as he dived full length to his left to make a finger tip save from a netbound Carey free kick. Superb execution from Carey and equalled by Brill's save. I doubt many home fans applauded the team off at the interval, and they left the field with boos ringing in their ears. Half Time 0-1 It only took County ten seconds to carve open the home defence again and once more Arquin was the danger. He latched onto a long ball on the edge of the box, skipped inside Warren and hit a curling effort with his left peg, but it dipped just over the bar. The home support started groaning again and there was little evidence that anything was about to change. However, it did. The short passing was binned and the longer ball became fashionable once more. Maybe the boos had the desired effect for that was the last time in this game that County would threaten the home goal. A Brown clearance was wrestled away from the County midfielders by Christie and Tansey. The youngster sprinted towards the box and whipped a cross towards the far post. Boyd stooped and deflected the ball but only succeeded in teeing up Watkins who coolly prodded the ball past a wrong footed Brown. Game on! Inverness had woken from their slumber and began to believe in themselves. The tide had turned and Inverness now surged forward at every opportunity with the visitors looking ragged and throwing bodies in front of the ball, blocking with any part of the body they could get in the way. Warren was denied by a combination of Brown and Boyd and Doran shot wide as we searched for the winner. Watkins chased a ball wide on the right and deftly back heeled the ball into the path of McKay who sped into the box. He held of the bulkier Frempah but he slid his angled shot across the face of the goal and just the wrong side of the post. Heads in hands all round. Christie, Doran and Draper all came close as we pressed County back and Mark Brown saved the day with a miraculous acrobatic stop as he twisted and clawed away a point blank flick from McKay after Warren had headed on a long ball. Ross Draper hit a piledriver at Brown and once more the keeper knocked the ball away from danger. Draper turned provider on the touchline as he slipped a ball into Christie. His quick feet flummoxed the defence and he burst into the box only to be thwarted once again by the brilliant Broonie. County were clinging on and put up the shutters as Inverness marauded forward, the visitors offering nothing in attack in a role reversal of the first half. It was probably a fitting tribute to both keepers that no more goals were scored and the game drew to a close with Inverness desperately trying to get forward one more time, but after 94 minutes, Thomson closed the game by sounding the final whistle in a tale of two keepers. Full Time 1-1 Not sure if the highlights do the second half onslaught justice, but have a deek............. tm4tj MotM:- Two contenders for this accolade and it was a joint award this week with Dean Brill and Mark Brown taking the plaudits. Fantastic saves from both keepers . Brill kept Inverness in the game in the first half and Brown did likewise for County in the second period, that instinctive save from McKay drawing some disbelief and applause from the North Stand. Others who showed up for Inverness in the second half were Watkins and Doran. Christie also came alive in the second half and his twinkle toed runs are becoming suitable for the showboating videos on Sky Sports' Soccer AM. Can't complain really about a point apiece with both side having their moments. It would have been some game if it all happened at the same time instead of separate half's, but, it's a funny old game as they used to say. Date: 04/10/14 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 3741 Referee: Craig Thomson Inverness CT: 1 Lineup: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Watkins, Doran (Williams 68), Draper, Tansey, Christie, McKay Subs (not used): Esson, Vincent, Ross, Polworth, Devine, Tremarco Scorers: Watkins (49) Booked: Tansey (19) Sent Off: none Ross County: 1 Lineup: Brown, Toshney, Boyd, Irvine, Carey (Barr 68), Brittain, Frempah, Quinn (Jervis 48), Cardle, Kiss (Boyce 77), Arquin Subs (not used): Reguero, De Leeuw, Maatsen, Balk Scorers: Arquin (21) Booked: Kiss (7), Carey (52) Sent Off: none

Old boys benefit from Highland Hospitality Former Inverness players Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes were the benefactors as Inverness dished out presents at Pittodrie. Shaleum Logan scored in between these two and Inverness had Josh Meekings scoring his first for the club and Marley Watkins adding a second just after the break, but it was never going to be enough if you give away goals to a side of Aberdeen's calibre. Aberdeen having scored seven goals in their last two games unsurprisingly went with Rooney and Goodwillie up front as they looked to climb into the top six and Inverness went with continuity which meant no place in the starting eleven for James Vincent, Nick Ross or Danny Williams. Blustery conditions at Pittodrie saw an even start to the game as both sides settled into the match and Adam Rooney had the first snippet but he headed over after five minutes from a Goodwillie cross. Marley Watkins was first to trouble the Dons defence but his run was crowded out before he could pull the trigger as Inverness settled down for a testing afternoon. Goodwillie did have the ball in the net, however his acrobatic overhead strike was ruled out as the whistle had already gone. However it would not be long before a legal goal was scored and it came from an unlikely source. Watkins was fouled some thirty yards out and Tansey took the free kick perfectly as he found Josh Meekings unmarked and he powerfully headed his first goal for Inverness from around ten yards. Goodwillie had a chance to level things but he shot weakly at Brill who stopped his effort low down to his left. Inverness were starting to sit deeper as the Dons went looking for an equaliser and they didn't have to do too much to get it as Warren was woefully short with a headed pass back and Rooney needed no second chance as he tucked the ball away after rounding the keeper to bring parity to the proceedings. Gary Warren almost made amends immediately but his header crashed back off the post from a Doran corner as Inverness responded to that set back. As the game went into the second phase of the first half Aberdeen were beginning to look more dangerous and Inverness had to deal with a series of swift attacks, Pawlett and Hayes looking in the mood to have a go. It was probably no surprise then when Aberdeen got their noses in front after Hayes did the spade work. The ball eventually being fed to Logan by Goodwillie and he fired home with aplomb to turn the game around with five minutes to go before the break, somersaulting his way towards the fans in gymnastic celebration. Still time for Brill to make a save from an angled Rooney strike, the keeper turning the ball over the bar to keep Inverness interested just before the interval. Half Time 2-1 No changes at the half time cuppa but it took Inverness only five minutes to get back on level terms. Ryan Christie played a big part driving at the Dons defence and feeding McKay. He was blocked and the ball broke to Watkins who slipped into the box and knocked the ball calmly over Langfield. Barry Robson and Ross Draper come together as things got a bit tasty. Brave lad Barry, or maybe just the old Robson niggley whinger showing through and he would eventually get booked for continually having a go at Draper. McKay sets Watkins into the box and he finds Christie but he was unable to get a shot away as the move breaks down. However, we don't do anything the easy way and gave away another sloppy goal. Draper lost possession in a tangle with Warren and the ball broke for Goodwillie who forced Brill to make a great diving save, but the palmed ball landed neatly for Jonny Hayes and he ends up with a simple goal to restore the Dons advantage. Two bloopers from Inverness that they won't want to see again. Meh! Hayes was prominent again as he raced forward from the half way line, seconds after a Christie snapshot went wide but Inverness recovered to block as Rooney lurked with intent at the near post. Draper seems to be a target for the Aberdeen thugs and Logan brought the big midfielder down to earn a booking, but Tansey crashed his free kick straight at Langfield. The game is still open at this point with over an hour gone and our ball retention has turned into ball give away, Inverness need to be more careful, considering the way we have conceded a couple of the goals. Alleged Aberdeen target Graeme Shinnie is doing his utmost to drive the Highlanders forward in search of an equaliser as Yogi makes a double substitution, replacing Ryan Christie and Aaron Doran with Danny Williams and Nick Ross with fifteen minutes left. Maybe a ploy to keep the width to the Inverness attack which had become too narrow. Aberdeen make their first changes with Cammy Smith coming on for Goodwillie with twelve minutes left. The Dons seem content to hold what they have as Inverness play the game in the final third without any real penetration though, but it's not for the lack of trying, although the home defence look fairly comfortable. Dead ball expert Barry Robson forced Brill into a good save with a superb free kick as the Dons tried to extend their lead going into the last ten minutes, the keeper diving low to save. Draper gets a ball into the box but it lands at the feet of the wrong man if you like and Nick Ross scoops his shot high, no, very high over to the joy of the Aberdeen fans. Another surge by Inverness as the clock runs into over time. Shinnie almost squared the game in the ninetieth minute but he pulled his shot wide and the game ended with Inverness' generosity enabling Aberdeen to keep all three points in the Granite City. Full Time 3-2 This was a tremendous opportunity for Inverness to cement their position at the top of the table but I'm afraid we gifted Aberdeen a couple of goals and in the end we never did quite enough to get back on level terms. Disappointing result given the manner of the gifts considering Yogi has built the team around ball retention and playing it out from the back. Today that backfired and our once reliable defence is creaking as the goals continue to be difficult for Billy to find. On the plus side, Meekings got off the mark and Watkins scored again. We never played badly if you remove the errors, and on another day could have left Pittodrie with something. tm4tj MotM:- Dons target Graeme Shinnie was always available to drive the team forward and he was well assisted by Marley Watkins, but Graeme just shades it for sheer effort. This result hoists Aberdeen into the top six and Inverness drop to third in the table behind surprise chasers Hamilton who trounced Motherwell in the Lanarkshire derby. But, top of the table goes to the impressive Dundee United who beat St Johnstone in the Tayside derby. Highland derby next week as County travel to Inverness on the back of their first win of the season. Should make for an interesting Sunday brunch. Keep the faith. Date: 27.09.2014 Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen Attendance: 11414 Referee: John Beaton Aberdeen: 3 Lineup: Langfield, Logan, Taylor, Reynolds, Considine, Hayes, Pawlett (Jeffrey Monakana 90+), Flood, Robson, Rooney (Lawrence Shankland 90+), Goodwillie (Cammy Smith 78), Subs (not used): Scott Brown, Craig Murray, Nicky Low, Craig Storey, Scorers: Rooney (24), Logan (40), Hayes (59) Booked: Robson, Logan Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 2 Lineup: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Draper, Tansey, Watkins, Doran (Ross 74), Christie (Willliams 74), McKay Subs (not used): Esson, Devine, Tremarco, Polworth, Vincent, Scorers: Meekings (16), Watkins (50) Booked: Draper, Tansey Sent Off: none

Second Half Show An instantly forgettable first half where nothing happened was soon erased from the memory banks with decisive goals from Marley Watkins and Ryan Christie setting Inverness on easy street, but we gave St Johnstone a glimmer of hope allowing Brian Graham a free header and ended up hanging on to our slim lead to claim all three points. Ross Draper and Graeme Shinnie returned after serving their suspensions in the League Cup game at Ibrox pushing Tremarco and Williams onto the bench and Simon Lappin started for St Johnstone who had Murray Davidson on the bench as his return to full fitness gathers momentum. The first half was memorable. Memorable for the fact that it was a total non-event where both keepers could have gone to Tesco's for some shopping and nobody would have noticed. Small crowds are part and parcel of the Scottish game just now and a paltry 2,770 turned up to watch nothing happen. People were staring around in silence trying to generate their own entertainment as the folk on the pitch moved the round thing about the park. It was a weird experience and the two way de-motivation continued until Calum Murray had enough and ended the first half with unsurprisingly, no goals scored. Half Time 0-0 Words must have been exchanged at the interval and we showed a bit more purpose after the break. Draper was cautioned inside two minutes of the restart. Still it took until the hour mark for the game to ignite when Inverness broke rapidly down the left flank. Aaron Doran did all the leg work sprinting down the flank and his low cross picked out Watkins who took a touch before squeezing the ball through Mannus in the Saints goal. No more than we deserved really but it took a long time coming. We looked to have more buzz about us now and Billy started running again instead of forlornly kicking blades of grass as pass after pass were going astray in the previous hour. Doran was buoyed by his successful rampage and hit a dipping shot which Mannus turned over the bar as we now had the bit between our teeth. Five minutes after the opener, we scored again through Ryan Christie. Some comedy defending from St Jojnstone helped to set up the next goal. Doran held the ball up well right on the bye line. The defenders seemed to nick it off him then parted like the Red Sea which allowed Shinnie to set up Ryan. Again, Mannus won't want to see too many repeat videos of this as Christie hammered a low shot goalwards from the left edge of the box, the ball once more going through the normally reliable keeper and into the net. Christie was starting to run the show up front for Inverness and the goals prompted a double substitution by Tommy Wright as he introduced O'Halloran and Morgan for Lappin and Wotherspoon as we looked like going on to increase our lead. Unfortunately our defence had other ideas and on more than one occasion we managed to carve out openings for St Johnstone who were finding it difficult to create their own. Christie had won a free kick in a dangerous position but Shinnie showed that we need to do more practice on the training ground as he fired it well over. We created our own downfall after 77 minutes as slack play on the left allowed Millar to send in an innocuous looking cross, but big Brian Graham was unchallenged as he nodded the ball low past a diving Brill. Game on again and Perth sensed that we might create another opportunity for them and they weren't wrong. David Raven was caught out a few times today, losing the ball cheaply but he wasn't alone and Brill's rushed clearances were none too clever as we sat deeper and deeper as the game neared a conclusion. However, despite having to give away a series of corners in the last few minutes we did hang on and the home fans were able to remove their fingers from over their eyes to applaud as the final whistle sounded. Full Time 2-1 The highlights show that maybe something did happen in the first half, but it was all a bit Sunday League for my liking, more urgency after the break though and that has to be applauded ......... Similar to the Kilmarnock game, the first half was dire, but having kept a clean sheet we then moved up a gear and should have won this game without conceding, so one paced were St Johnstone. However we gifted them an opening they greatly accepted and we looked a bit rattled and relieved as the game ended with St Johnstone trying to get a point they barely deserved. We rightly won the game and I am thankful for the three points, but we will need to perform for ninety minutes against better teams. And can we please stop faffing around at the back, it almost cost us. That's all. tm4tj MotM:- It's not often that the sponsors get it right but they managed to pick the right boy today, and that boy was Ryan Christie, one of only three contenders today. He looks a class apart and his creativity is starting to even baffle his own team mates. He was best assisted by Aaron Doran and Marley Watkins. I have to say, that the award is only for the second half as the first half never happened. (what first half I hear you say) Here's the view from the Perth camp.................... Date: 20/09/14 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2770 Referee: Calum Murray Inverness CT: 2 Lineup: Brill, Raven, Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, McKay, Draper, Doran (Ross 90), Watkins, Tansey, Christie (Williams 80) Subs (not used): Esson, Polworth, Devine, Horner, Tremarco. Scorers: Watkins (61), Christie (66) Booked: Draper (47), Watkins (72) Sent Off: none St Johnstone: 1 Lineup: Mannus, Mackay, Lappin (O'Halloran 67), Wright, Anderson, Millar, McDonald (Davidson 78), Wotherspoon (Morgan 70), Graham, Croft, Easton Subs (not used): Banks, Caddis, Miller, Kerr Scorers: Graham (78) Booked: McDonald (64) Sent Off: none

No Cup Run For ICT Two days to go in the Yes No and the Union Jacks were out in full force at Ibrox. Many Bluenoses had disguised themselves as plastic seats as the game kicked off. As suggested, Ross Draper and Graeme Shinnie were suspended and Liam Polworth and Carl Tremarco filled the gaps with Ryan Christie resting on the bench, his place taken by Danny Williams. The Rangers fielded the same team that crushed Raith Rovers, which meant that Jon Daly and David Templeton were on the bench. Inverness were comfortable to play a containing game and keep the ball away from the home side which seemed to be working well in the early stages. If I'm honest, it was an instantly forgettable first half of few opportunities. Kris Boyd probably had the best chance when after Inverness lost the ball in midfield, he found himself one-on-one with Dean Brill, but the big keeper stuck out a leg to block the ball and the chance was gone. As forgettable as the game was, it was also interesting as Inverness frustrated The Rangers for long spells and our best chance of note saw Watkins latch onto a ball as he ran towards the box but his effort was easily stopped by Simonsen. Half Time 0-0 The second period began with Inverness keeping good possession and Tansey had a long range shot saved in the top corner. Mohsni almost got in a fankle as he dithered on the ball, losing concentration allowing Watkins to almost find a way through, as he clipped a ball to McKay who was also losing interest in the move, but it was just out of the strikers reach. It was Inverness who were controlling the pace of the game with the Ibrox club chasing shadows, but as the score remained goalless, then the game was finely poised with The Rangers relying on breakouts from defence. Midway through the half and still neither side were able to make the breakthrough, Inverness mopping up any sporadic attacks comfortably and forcing The Rangers into changing their plans. They did this by bringing on Templeton and Daly for Boyd and Aird in a double substitution, putting their cards on the table . Inverness reacted by bringing on Ryan Christie for Williams. Templeton hit a rasping shot from the left corner and Inverness never heeded the warning as The Blues attacking intent became clear and a loose ball fell to Macleod whose shot was wickedly deflected behind Brill for the opener. Inverness responded by forcing Simonsen into action, saving from McKay, with the game hotting up and at the other end Brill gathered a header from Daly with ease. Inverness now had to throw caution to the wind and almost paid the price as Templeton surged forward, after Watkins appeared to be tripped outside The Rangers penalty box, but Brill managed to claw the ball away superbly. A long range effort from Tansey trundled wide as the game slipped away from last seasons beaten finalists, the game now raging from end to end. Another superb save from Brill as Black struck from outside the box and Inverness went up the other end, McKay winning a corner which was wasted as the game entered the last couple of minutes. Mohsni gave away a free kick in the last minute but again the wee team held on as Black cleared off the line from Christie and a Warren headed 'goal' was ruled out, the cup shock was still on. Despite Inverness' best efforts, it was all too little too late and they could not take the game to extra time as the referee blew for full time to end the ICT interest in the competition for this season. Dean Brill did his best to keep out a keen Ibrox side and it took a wicked deflection off Meekings to beat him and he is my MotM. Full Time 1-0 So there you go, cup shock at Ibrox as Championship side go into the next round at the expense of Premiership challengers. Four bookings in a game that took a while to ignite and a miserable crowd for Ibrox that won't best please the accountants. Date: 16.09.2014 Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Attendance: 15208 Referee: Crawford Allan Rangers: 1 Lineup: Simonsen, McGregor, McCulloch, Mohsni, Wallace, Aird (Templeton 72), Black, Law, Macleod, Clark, Boyd (Daly 71) Subs (not used): Robinson, Smith, Peralta, Shiels, Zaliuskas Scorers: Macleod (78) Booked: Black (25), Macleod (43) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 0 Lineup: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Tremarco, Polworth, Tansey, Williams (Christie 72), Doran, Watkins, Mckay Subs (not used): Esson, Devine, Horner, Ross Scorers: none Booked: Doran (29), Tansey (41) Sent Off: none