Scotty

Xmas Cheer for Inverness Inverness returned to second spot in the SPL after a comprehensive victory over a spritely Dundee who had come to the Highlands to have a go but were turned over by the free scoring Inverness squad. The 4-1 scoreline may have flattered Inverness in October, but there was nothing to be embarrassed about this time after a ruthless display sent Dundee deeper into the drop slot. Billy McKay from the spot opened the scoring after Foran was bundled over, and Owain Tudur-Jones rifled home the second before the break. McKay showed that he can even score when lying down, nae problem, and Andy Shinnie rounded off the scoring after some deft footwork. Nicky Riley scored Dundee's counter. Dundee Stuffed It's Xmas time, the turkey's getting fat, the presents are under the tree, the reindeer are ready to go and the kids can't sleep at night. But wait. Where's Santa? Sorry kids, he might be in the nick after some festive cheer saw Santa's being ejected from the South Stand as their team, like the turkey got well stuffed. Hopefully, these were just imposters, and Xmas will go ahead as normal, but the Caley Jags got their presents early with an emphatic victory to send the home fans off to start their festivities after the final whistle. Don't worry children, Santa will be coming down your chimney soon. A chilly breezy day saw another dismal crowd of just over three thousand forgo the Christmas shopping, the long queues at Tesco and the horrific sound of endless Xmas songs wherever you go to witness an entertaining enough match with five goals and plenty to cheer. It was widely predicted that Dundee might be able to offer stern resistance to the free scoring Inverness attack, and for most of the first half this was the case. An even opening to the game as both sides looked capable of hitting swiftly on the break and Lockwood had the first attempt on target after six minutes but Reguero saved comfortably. A couple of minutes later and Garry Warren made an error of judgement as a long punt forward bounced of the slippy turf and over his head to let Colin Nish through on goal, but he tried to bend the ball into the bottom corner and Reguero smothered his weak effort with ease. It was a warning for Inverness that Dundee were not just here to make up the numbers and Nicky Riley, as expected was teasing Graeme Shinnie on the flank. However, in the twelfth minute, Inverness took the lead after some persistent foraging up front with Rab Douglas and his post keeping the ball out brilliantly from Foran and McKay before Richie Foran was taken down going wide for the rebound. Who else but he scores when he wants Billy McKay slotted the spot kick home expertly, sending Douglas the wrong way. Just the lift Inverness needed and McKay's scoring exploits continued, eleven goals in his last seven games, good by any standards. Dundee were not disheartened by this and still looked lively. Surprise surprise, an Inverness throw in broke down inside the Dundee half and they neatly transferred the ball up the left side before James McAlister switched the ball to the right wing where tricky Nicky Riley was in acres of space after Inverness had pushed forward. He controlled the ball well before advancing into the box and sent an angled drive across Reguero and in off the post for an excellent equaliser. This heartened Dundee once more and after twenty minutes Baird and Riley exchanged passes before Baird thrashed a rising shot goalwards and Reguero took no chances, tipping the ball over for a corner. Inverness went one better though as Tudur-Jones, Raven and Foran passed the ball around the Dundee defence before Jones unleashed one of his now trademark distance shots from twenty eight yards, hammering a low curling shot beyond the outstretched arms of veteran keeper Rab Douglas. Twenty four minutes gone and Inverness were back on the ascendency and saw out the game comfortably to the break. Half Time 2-1 McKay was at it again within three minutes of the restart. He does like a goal does our Billy, this time while nonchalantly lying on his side, chipping the ball home off the arse of a defender after being played in on goal, courtesy of a loose Davidson backpass which Douglas did his best to keep away from goal. Dundee were almost down and out, but not before Riley and McAlister had teed up Baird who flashed a low shot just wide, and that was about their last piece of resistance. Andy Shinnie should have scored the fourth when put through after an exquisite pass from Jones, but Douglas palmed away his curler from the edge of the box and it skewed agonisingly the wrong side of the post. He would not be denied however, and with twenty minutes left Shinnie scored a beauty after being fed into the box by brother Graeme. He still had a bit of work to do, but he effortlessly coasted past two defenders and thumped a shot across big Rab into the far corner from the left side to put Inverness on easy street. The scoring should not have ended there though as Shinnie turned provider for Draper, but the big midfielder curled his shot too close to the overworked Douglas to deny the hosts a fifth goal. Full Time 4-1 This was a pretty comprehensive gubbing from a confident Inverness side who looked as though they could score when they wanted. McKay does that anyway and notched his eighteenth goal of the season with a superb bit of improvisation and it was good to see Andy Shinnie get back on the goal trail. Tudur-Jones is showing his class now after an inglorious start to the season and his lengthy injury lay off and it really is just a great time to be an Inverness fan. I doubt it get's much better than this, which is why it must be hard for the players to motivate themselves when only the palindromic 3003 turn out to watch the most entertaining side in the SPL so far. Shame on you Inverness. The wee man talks to the Long Man after the game.....and Terry Scrooge gives us his views of the proceedings as well tm4tj MotM:- A few contenders, easier to say who is not in contention. Aaron Doran seems to be out of sorts these days, not able to get to the byeline often enough, but an honest days work from him and Garry Warren won't be wanting to make more errors of judgement like that one today. But we can forgive these guys who have done their bit over the last few weeks to lift Inverness into second spot in the SPL, just in time for Xmas. Plenty of candidates as I said, and Jones, McKay and Foran were superb, but for his close control and excellent link up play from midfield, not to mention a stunning goal, Andy Shinnie get's my vote, although McKay get's a special mention for his laid back approach to goal scoring. Another man worthy of a mention was Dundee keeper Rab Douglas, at 41 still able to perform heroics and he kept the score down with some fantastic saves, but was helpless with the ones that counted and not helped by his tiring defence. 22nd Dec 2012 Scottish Premier League Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness C.T. 4 - McKay (pen12, 48), Tudur-Jones (24), A.Shinnie (70) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, G.Shinnie, Warren, Meekings (Cooper 73), Doran (Pepper 87), Draper, Tudur-Jones, A.Shinnie, McKay (Roberts 86), Foran SUBS: Esson, Sutherland, Morrison, Polworth Booked: none Sent Off: none Dundee 1 - Riley (19) TEAM: Douglas, Irvine, Lockwood, Benedictus, Gallagher, Riley (Conroy 83), Davidson, McBride, McAlister, Nish, Baird (Stewart 65) SUBS: Baird, O'Donnell, Boyle, Toshney, Easton Booked: none Sent Off: none Referee Kevin Clancy Attendance 3003

To Hell and back Inverness staged a remarkable comeback at Tannadice to almost take all three points in a nail biting four all draw against the Tangerines. We found ourselves three goals down after an incredible opening eight minutes where bloopers were the order of the day. Josh Meekings was unfortunate to bundle the ball into his own net after five minutes and Jon Daly scored an equally bizaare goal as he blocked a Graeme Shinnie clearance, the ball rebounding into the net behind a raging Reguero. It got even worse after eight minutes when Skacel stroked home and the game looked beyond a shell shocked Inverness. We are, however, made of stern stuff these days and a typical poachers double from Billy McKay gave us hope before half time and then the incredible happened. McKay scored his hat-trick from the spot and then Garry Warren looked to have won it with a terrific header, four minutes from time, but a hotly disputed penalty saw Daly level the scores and bring the curtain down on a memorable match...........meh, eat yer heart out Derek Adams. Dundee United were quick out of the blocks at Tannadice and before you could say wow, they were three goals up inside eight minutes. A speculative long ball to the back post saw Daly slide in to meet it, but he made a hash of it and knocked it square across the six yard box, unfortunately the inrushing marker Josh Meekengs could only hold his head in his hands as the ball cannoned off him into the net behind a stranded Reguero. It went from bad to worse moments later. Graeme Shinnie did well to intercept a through ball, but he delayed his clearance until the following striker stuck a leg out as Graeme completed his clearance. He was waiting for the keeper to come out, wrongly I have to say, and Reguero was waiting for Shinnie to clear it. Result, comical goal number two and disaster for Inverness. Number three came about much more clearly. Skacel was afforded the freedom of the box and he buried the ball low past a stranded and forlorn keeper. No way back surely! Incredibly, United could and should have gone five up before Billy Mckay intervened. Gunning headed harmlessly over when he should have scored, and that was just after Reguero had made a good save, low to his left to deny a Rankin strike. Finally, Inverness started the game. Andrew Shinnie drew an excellent save from Cierzniak, tipping his 25 yard effort over the bar. The fightback had begun. In the 25th minute, on form striker Billy McKay made an impact nodding in a Foran volley from six yards to reduce the deficit, and astonishingly two minutes later scored with another close range header from a Doran corner. Half Time 3-2 As in the first half, it was United who came out all guns blazing looking to kill off the visitors and Stuart Armstrong went wide from the edge of the box. Reguero kept Inverness interested with an instinctive save after a Garry Warren block almost found it's way into the net and as the Spanish keeper kept the ball out, Flood flashed the ball into the side netting. He was to feel worse soon after as he bundled over Ross Draper to hand Billy McKay the opportunity to complete his hat-trick. He duly obliged, tucking the ball away with ease. The game had evened out now and Tudur-Jones tested the keeper with a header. Inverness amazingly went ahead with barely five minutes left. Garry Warren met a Graeme Shinnie corner flush on his napper and the ball sped into the back of the net via the base of Cierzniak's left hand post. The unlikely had happened, Inverness had gone ahead, but could they hold on to that lead. The answer would be revealed shortly, but not before Reguero once more showed his worth, denying Daly from close range. However, United would not be denied, although the jury is out on the decision to award the penalty. Foran adjudged to have committed an offence and Daly putting the resultant spot kick straight down the middle, unfortunately, Reguero had already made his mind up and dived to his left, the ball almost clipping his heels, and that was the goal that ended the scoring at four apiece. Full Time 4-4 Well well, that was some game. From the depths of despair to the brink of victory and back to all square again. Maybe it's a bit of Karma after our cup heroics against County, Derek Adams must have smiled at that one surely. Billy McKay simply scores when he wants. He is on fire just now and his treble was poaching at it's best. We had shot ourselves in the foot with the first couple of goals and it looked like game over at ten past three, but our new found confidence saw us drag ourselves back into contention, and we even had the temerity to take the lead, albeit momentarily before United's last gasp equaliser. There's only one MotM here, and it's Billy McKay for giving us something to battle on for. Scoring three goals anywhere would normally win most games for you, but it takes two to tango, and United deserved their point, so well done to them for playing their part in this memorable game. Terry Butcher gave a full match analysis after the game, and this is a fantastic tactical insight into how and why Inverness Caledonian Thistle have competed so well this season. 15th Dec 2012 Scottish Premier League Tannadice Stadium, Dundee Dundee Utd 4 - Meekings (og.05), Daly (06, pen90), Skacel (08) TEAM: Cierzniak, Watson, McLean, Gunning, Douglas, Armstrong (Gardyne 67), Flood, Rankin, Skacel (Lacny 83), Daly, Russell. SUBS: Banks, Ryan, Millar, Dow, Barrett Booked: Russell (29), McLean (49), Flood (62) Sent Off: none Inverness C.T. 4 - McKay (26, 28. pen.62), Warren (86) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, Warren, Meekings, G.Shinnie, Doran, Draper (Sutherland 78), Tudur Jones, A.Shinnie (Polworth 90+2), McKay (Roberts 90), Foran SUBS: Esson, Morrison, Pepper, Cooper Booked: Doran (45), Foran (90) Sent Off: none Referee John Beaton Attendance 5483

The Highlands are still ours. Inverness skated into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup at a frozen Caledonian Stadium and kept Ross County in their shadows............just. Freezing conditions ruled out any chance of silky football and County rolled their sleeves up and rattled the Inverness cage, but the home defence are more resilient than they were a few months ago and kept the busy Staggies players at bay, using anything they could to keep the ball out and County fell just short in their attempt to cause a cup shock. A Billy McKay double, the first from the penalty spot, overshadowed a fine lob from Ian Vigurs to send Inverness down to Ayrshire in February to meet Kilmarnock in the fifth round. Brass monkeys were few and far between as the game deteriorated into a kick and rush affair, not pretty, but effective from an Inverness point of view although the 4135 fans were kept on edge as County tried valliantly to take the game to extra-time but three minutes of injury time tonight could not reproduce the drama of the first game and Craig Thomson brought the game to a close with the hosts ahead by the odd goal in three. 11th Dec 2012 Scottish Cup Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness C.T. 2 - McKay (pen.9, 54) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, G.Shinnie, Tudur-Jones, Warren, McKay (Roberts 88), Draper, Foran, A.Shinnie (Sutherland 75), Meekings, Doran SUBS: Esson, Polworth, Cooper Booked: Draper (72), Foran (90) Sent Off: none Ross County 1 - Vigurs (41) TEAM: Brown, Fitzpatrick, Boyd, Tokely (Munro 46), Kettlewell, McMenamin, Brittain, Vigurs, Quinn (Ross 78), Kovacevic, Fotheringham (Cooper 65) SUBS: Fraser, Glen Booked: Vigurs (30), Fotheringham (48), Kettlewell (92) Sent Off: none Referee Craig Thomson Attendance 4135