Scotty

Here to stay Inverness surrendered a two goal lead in Glasgow to let Celtic take a point from a match they looked like getting nothing from after thirty-five minutes, when goals from Aaron Doran and Richie Foran put the Highlanders 0-2 ahead. Charlie Mulgrew reduced the deficit just before half time and Adam Mathews completed the comeback eight minutes from time to give Celtic an unlikely share of the spoils, a result which keeps Inverness perched on top of the league. On this showing we look like we are here for the long haul. Inverness came into this match as SPFL leaders, and after a tough ninety-three minutes they are still on top. Celtic had to go chasing the game, and they did that well, but the result could have been different had Doran not delayed his decision in the box, allowing van Dijk to bundle him over without being penalised and the chance to extend the lead was lost, the rest is now history. Immortal Howden Ender sampled the delights of Glasgow prior to the game, meeting up with the usual Caley Away fans and has this report for us.............. WE’RE STILL TOP OF THE LEAGUE AND YOU’RE NO !! Q. When was the last time that ICT headed to Parkhead sitting at the top of the Premier League, went 2-0 up, scraped a point and stayed top of the Premier League ? A. Saturday 24th August 2013 – yet another fine TerryandMo AwayDay. It was also a day when the football gods were looking after us and helped our cause by creating defeats for Aberdeen and St Johnstone, leaving us three points ahead of Celtic, with a game in hand, but crucially standing aloft with by far the best goal difference. The faithful were in good numbers and in good voice in the London Road Tavern prior to the game and it was nice to see the Hoop mates of Mikey Diamond shaking our hands and joining in the tribute chant. I reckon we could have persuaded Mikey to bring along a sheep to be slaughtered in a Karagandy manner if he was still around. I am just thankful I didn’t win the raffle and have to take a framed picture of the Pope in a Cellic strip home to us. Shine bright Mikey Diamond......... As for the game I felt that it was unfortunately “shades of the past” from my perspective. I have to take in to account that it was the first time that I have walked in to Parkhead half expecting a result. In the light of the next morning, especially in wake of the other results, it was a hard won point and we really could have lost it in the end. An old cliché but I do really feel that a draw was the fairest result. Celtic may have “dropped” six players from their supposed first eleven but it was only Samaras, Commons and Forrest that were rested. The latter two may have made a difference but it only gave the likes of Watt an opportunity to shine – which he didn’t. Doran had already come close with a free kick but it was a brilliant swerving shot that took us in to the lead on 14 minutes. It was a bit of “even stevens” at that juncture and Brill had already thwarted Balde and Watt. But at that stage we were playing the better football and we really did look like league leaders. In some ways I think that Kayal getting crocked may have saved the game, even at such an early stage. Kayal and the central defenders were simply there for the taking. And we were in dream land ten minutes from half time when Foran bulleted in another header although it looked like Billy McKay had scuffed the initial attempt – but “so what?”. This is where I have to criticise because Celtic regrouped and attacked but I feel that we sat back and tried to ride the storm. As much as I had expected a point before the game my gut instinct was that they were going to pull one back. I felt that there was dithering for once in our back line which allowed Mulgrew to pop in a crucial goal four minutes before the break and we could have then gone in level when Balde should have got a header at least on target. Half Time 1-2 The second half was as long a 45 minutes as I have ever witnessed. We resorted to the “hoof” and in all honesty we never looked like doing anything. Terry appeared to explain that away after the game with the comments: “We played a slightly different way today and had to do that against Celtic. But we like to play attacking football and hopefully we can do that next week against Hearts.” So we decided to park the bus and, similar to the supporters one, a Hoop chucked a brick through the window and dented our 100% record. To be fair the Hoops volleyed bricks at our bus in the second half and we were probably fortunate in the end to escape with that valuable point. Perhaps it was the voddie and the stiffies but I can’t recall us having a real sniff in the second half. The only attacking action was a penalty claim by Doran and it clearly wasn’t. An equaliser looked inevitable but thankfully it did not come until the 82nd minute and it was bum clenching until the final whistle. I may be wrong but again I felt that the central defenders dithered to allow Matthews to net. Full Time 2-2 So it wasn’t the stylish, entertaining ICT but I suppose that we got away with playing a very defensive formation. But we took a two goal lead, away at Parkhead, and came away with a point. I bet Karagandy would be envious of that. The big positive is that the “togetherness” factor is not in any doubt. Brill was certainly tested today and came through with flying colours. I was impressed by his handling and he dealt with more crosses yesterday than the Bishop of Parkhead this morning. The back four were really tested and all gained pass marks, especially Meekings. The rest were on their back foot for most of the game and the defensive style simply does not suit the likes of Vincent, Doran and McKay. Ross was the one that tried to play football but I felt that we were missing a playmaker despite another fine show from Foran. Lets just hope that we see the real ICT next Saturday. And Terry probably summed it all up with his concluding words. "To come here undefeated and leave undefeated, we have had a happy day." Bring on the Jam Tarts. Date: 24.08.2013 Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow Attendance: 45,160 Referee: Craig Thomson Celtic : 2 Lineup: Forster, Matthews, Izaguirre, Ambrose, Van Dijk (Lustig 75), Brown, Balde, Rogic (Atajic 80), Mulgrew, Watt, Kayal (Ledley 24) Subs (not used): Zaluska, Mouyokolo, McGeouch, Henderson Scorers: Mulgrew (42), Matthews (82) Booked: Balde (60) Sent Off: none Inverness CT : 2 Lineup: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Foran, Draper, Ross, Doran (Watkins 83), Vincent, McKay (Agdestien 84) Subs (not used): Esson, Devine, Greenhalgh, Williams, Polworth Scorers: Doran (14), Foran (35) Booked: Raven (62) Sent Off: none

Inverness Brush Well Aside Inverness kept their excellent start to the season going after brushing Motherwell aside with some sweeping moves in a scintillating first half that gave them a cushion to defend in a more even second forty-five. Two superb goals from the head of captain Richie Foran and the foot of Billy McKay made it three out of three to maintain our 100% record and another clean sheet was an added bonus in a highly entertaining match. A blustery day saw Motherwell visit Inverness with a much changed squad from the one that ripped us apart in the early games last year. Gone were Jamie Murphy, Michael Higdon, Henrik Ojamaa, Chris Humphrey, Nicky Law, and keeper Darren Randolph. James McFadden remains, but new signings Iain Vigurs and Paul Lawson will need to show more, although Henri Anier looks a useful addition and John Sutton should fill the Higdon shaped hole up front for the Steelmen. As expected, Inverness were unchanged from last week with Dean Brill once more in the nets and James Vincent pulling the strings. Agdestein, Polworth and Williams would come off the bench in the latter stages as Butcher freshened tired legs up and a disappointing crowd of just over 3,000 settled in their seats ready for action, some 250 of them in the away end. It was the home fans who were given the opportunity to get off their bums first and with only four minutes on the clock, the brisk Inverness attackers scored the opener, and what a goal it was. Motherwell boss McCall might well be disappointed with his defence, but when Graeme Shinnie's curling free kick swung into the box, Foran bulleted a diving header across the keeper and into the net from around twelve yards. Brilliant start to the game for Inverness and just what the home fans needed to erase last seasons drubbing from the memory banks. Inverness turned the screw and Vincent had a shot charged down with the goal at his mercy and the lively McKay likewise, McManus and Hutchinson doing their utmost with last ditch blocks. However, it was one way traffic and the dazzling attacking display from the home side was a joy to behold. With Inverness very much on the front foot, a brilliant team goal ended the scoring, but not the entertainment. Doran and Raven combined beautifully to tee up Billy McKay who finished superbly by stroking the ball into the bottom corner from fifteen yards. McKay was causing the big Well defence all sorts of problems with his darting runs and clever flicks and one such move saw him set up an opportunity for Vincent who spectacularly volleyed narrowly wide of the mark. Inverness were rampant now and Motherwell worked hard to contain the eager home side and but for some timely interventions we could have been looking at a cricket score but the referee intervened and blew for half time for McCall to get to work over the interval. Half Time 2-0 McCall rang the changes after the break and introduced Carswell and the strapping Henri Anier who looks a decent player and it was the latter who was denied by a crucial Raven block as he was about to pull the trigger on a McFadden cross. The game was more even now and Inverness had a lucky escape as Hutchinson headed over after Brill missed a cross from the Well left. Another scare soon after when Vigurs crumbled in the box as Raven slid in but Brines was not interested. Shame. Anier almost scored a consolation with five minutes left but he hammered a close range effort just over the corner of the bar, and that was the closest Motherwell came to breeching the Inverness rearguard. But, it was not all about Motherwell and Foran and McKay passed up glorious chances to extend the lead as the Steelmen chased the game. Aaron Doran forced Hollis into making a great save to deny the Irishman as he sprinted into the box, but his high angled drive was pushed away by the keeper. Full-Time 2-0 Motherwell had run out of ideas before the end and Inverness held on for a well deserved win to keep them at the right end of the table. Make no bones about it, this was an excellent performance from Inverness who stroked the ball around confidently and scored a couple of cracking goals. I expect Celtic will offer a much stiffer test next week, but lets just wallow in the glory of our opening three games for now. tm4tj MotM:- Well, I concurred with the sponsors who had Richie Foran as their pick. He scored a fabulous goal and was dictating the flow of the game. In the second half when Well pushed for a foothold, he was at the heart of the defence mopping up everything, great captains performance from him. Mckay and Doran caused all sorts of problems for Motherwell and in the second half Warren got better and better as the game wore on. Overall just a great team performance Date: 17.08.2013 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 3031 Referee: Iain Brines Inverness CT: 2 Lineup: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Foran, Draper, Ross, Doran (Williams 90), Vincent (Polworth 82), McKay (Agdestein 84) Subs (not used): Esson, Devine, Greenhalgh, Pepper Scorers: Foran (4), McKay (36) Booked: Shinnie (43), Meekings (54) Sent Off: none Motherwell: 0 Lineup: Hollis, Hammell, Ramsden, Hutchinson, McManus, McFadden (Francis-Angol 66), Lawson (Carswell 46), Sutton, Vigurs, Lasley, McHugh (Anier 46) Subs (not used): Nielsen, Erwin, Kerr, Moore Scorers: none Booked: Vigurs (80) Sent Off: none