Scotty

Inverness take second spot for now. Inverness kept their goals record going as Billy McKay opened the scoring in the 36th minute after a swift counter attack. Josh Magennis levelled one minute into stoppage time at the break courtesy of Chris Clark's injury, when he had to leave the game after half an hour. Aberdeen started the second half on the attack and it was no surprise when Magennis scored his second goal. Out of nothing Gary Warren made it two each from a corner and the game opened out thereafter. Billy McKay edged Inverness ahead inside the last ten minutes after a mistake by Russell Anderson and that ended the scoring. A damp night in Aberdeen saw these two sides joust for second spot in the SPL, and we had an unusual substitution at half time as referee Alan Muir was replaced by fourth official Craig Charleston for the second half due to injury. Ross Draper made the bench for this one but there were no changes on the park for Inverness with Phillip Roberts retaining his place in the starting eleven. Ryan Esson did not join Draper on the bench and Reguero continued in goal. The Dons were forced into two changes to their starting XI with Rory Fallon and Joe Shaughnessy in for the injured Isaac Osbourne with Cammy Smith making the bench. Here's Proctor with a report ....... Last season fans of both Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Aberdeen would laugh if you told them that 4 months into the campaign they would be playing a match where either side could go top of the SPL. That is exactly what happened at a rainy Pittodrie last night. The Caley Jags looked unimpressive early on. Aberdeen’s revered midfield created a number of chances which were well saved by Spaniard Antonio Reguero. It could be argued that play in the first half was hampered by a number of fouls. ICT looked at their best from the resulting set pieces. Aberdeen’s Chris Clark was cautioned for a foul on Aaron Doran. Clark wouldn’t be on the pitch much longer, several minutes later the midfielder was stretchered off and replaced by Jamie Masson. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 35th minute with a great run by Andrew Shinnie and Richie Foran. The pair sprinted down the right flank and Foran crossed the ball into the box where Billy McKay knocked the ball past Jamie Langfield with a low tap similar to the one he scored at Parkhead at the weekend. For the next ten minutes Inverness were joint top of the SPL and the volatile Dons fans were getting frustrated. The reds had a penalty claim turned down when Rory Fallon looked to be fumbled. Shortly afterwards Aberdeen pulled level when some fancy footwork by former ICT player Jonny Hayes saw him pass to Josh Magennis who finished with ease. The half time whistle went shortly after. There was an unusual change in personnel at half time as a tannoy announcement was sent out asking for another match official. The call was answered by Craig Charleston. Aberdeen seemed hungry and determined to take the lead after the restart. Reguero had to tip a header from Joe Shaughnessy over the bar. Josh Magennis would pop up again to grab the Dons second shortly after when he knocked the ball over Reguero while the keeper was on the ground. Much like in the second half, ICT came into life following set-pieces. It would be a corner that would get Inverness back into the game. Aaron Doran crossed the ball into the box where Gary Warren headed it in to draw level. At 2 all the game became rather lively with some great end to end football. Jonny Hayes came close to netting for the Dons with a tremendous run which resulted in his shot going wide of the left post while Richie Foran struggled to get on the end of an Andrew Shinnie cross. The certainly looked more reflective of a top of the table clash. Visiting fans would have to wait till the 81st minute to see any of the chances created by ICT converted into goals. Billy McKay capitalised on the Dons inability to deal with a David Raven long ball from the half way line. McKay placed the ball past the blundering Aberdeen keeper for his 9th goal of the season and third in a week. The fans aptly chanted that the young international scores when he wants. The home fans drifted away into the bitter north east night and the travelling band of jubilant ICT supporters were riled up by Terry Butcher who could head up the A96 knowing his side were joint top of the SPL. 27th Nov 2012 Scottish Premier League Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen Aberdeen 2 - Magennis (45, 50) TEAM: Langfield, Anderson, Reynolds, Considine, Magennis, Shaughnessy, Clark (Masson 29 (Smith 79)), McGinn, Hayes (McManus 87), Fallon, Vernon SUBS: Ja.Brown, Jo.Brown, Murray, O'Neill Booked: Clark (25), Magennis (45), Vernon (73) Sent Off: none Inverness C.T. 3 - McKay (36, 82), Warren (58) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, Meekings, Warren, G.Shinnie, Tudur-Jones, Foran, Doran, A.Shinnie, Roberts (Draper 59), McKay SUBS: Mathieson, Oswell, Morrison, Polworth, Pepper, Cooper Booked: Warren (42) Sent Off: none Referee Alan Muir Attendance 9193

Champions League Yer Havin a Laugh Inverness humbled Scotland's Champions League participants when Irish striker Billy McKay scored the winner at a less than capacity Parkhead as a Green Brigade strike curtailed the attendance. No one could have predicted the outcome of this one after last weeks dismal showing by Inverness, but they caught Celtic on the back of their European hangover to stun the Hoops and probably their own fans to take all three points North. How did we do it? We have the perfect analogy from our resident doctor of psychology in answer to this post from NoIInTeam, I think it defines our position in the SPL nicely. After last season I feel that this season is like going back with a boring girlfriend after she has cheated on you with your best mate, to find she has learned a thing or two and is suddenly more exciting and adventurous. Some boyfriends realise they have to get over it quickly or the relationship is doomed, some feel that the girlfriend has to suffer just a little bit more before they can trust again. With that in mind I think the doubters should be cut some slack. I am going to give them until December 31st to stop greeting every time she looks in the general direction of another man then if they still feel the same they can sod off and watch County. Dr Johndo replied:- Ah grasshopper - the "girlfriend" of last season didn't look after herself. She put on a bit of weight, wore dowdy clothes and became a bit of a dull, plain Jane. She got so infuriating and boring, especially on a match day, that you often slept in the spare bed. Nobody else would look at her twice and she basically didn't turn anybody on. Her moods changed from minute to minute but yet she still thought that she was doing OK and stubbornly resisted change. Then this season she sits down and takes stock of her life and talks to a psychologically minded wizard from Chorley. She accepts that she has flaws and has to improve. She wants to go abroad to bronze herself but as money is tight she spends a few weeks shopping in the Primarks of Englandshire and is also able to grab a wee bit of Spanish sunshine. She goes on a diet, puts on a slap of make-up and gets her hair done. She slowly gains confidence and men in the street start noticing her again, passing positive comments and the wolf whistling increases. She simply becomes consistent and relaxed in her mood. She sticks to the same shampoo, the same perfume and the same shape and looks. Sure she has the odd day off, usually once a mouth, but who doesn't !! There are days like yesterday when half of the Highlands would jump into bed with her. She has come alive again but although she will strut her stuff she will remain loyal and will not stray. Many doubted that she could change and she had got herself in a rut. But most could see the undoubted potential and remember the beautiful girl in her hey day. It was always there under the skin and just needed some minor alterations. And who knows - she may well attract the punters from the Dark Side instead of watching them slump wearily into the South Kessock night. Make your own mind up.....Johndo.......Doctor, patient or genius. What happened during the game I hear you ask? Well, Celtic huffed and puffed in the fist half but could not blow the house down. After the break both sides showed a bit more attacking endeavour, but with Celtic misfiring Inverness struck the killer blow when McKay guided Roberts cross beyond Forster from six yards. Billy McKay challenged for a high ball in the heart of the Celtic half, and when the ball was knocked back, Doran picked up the loose ball in midfield and drove at the heart of the home defence. As he neared the penalty box he slipped the ball wide right to young Phillip Roberts who in turn drove into the box chased by Mulgrew and Miku. He executed a perfect step over/drag back and then laid the ball into the path of McKay who had continued his run into the box and when the ball arrived he found himself in so much space the Celtic defence were claiming for offside as he diverted the ball into the net for that historic first SPL win in the East End. Nowhere near off side as Mulgrew and Miku scored a perfect ten for their synchronised sliding on their arse demonstration and inadvertently played McKay onside by a few yards. Comedy Gold. Check out the pairs synchronised arse sliding.......... Celtic did strive to get back on level terms but scorned more chances as Reguero held firm after last weeks limp efforts. The back line restricted Celtic to snatching at half chances although Warren almost helped them out by re-routing a cross onto his own post before nonchalantly flicking the rebound behind for a corner whilst lying on the deck. However, the best chance of the match fell to Doran after a swift break out from Inverness. McKay rattled the underside of the crossbar with Forster beaten, unfortunately by the time Doran gathered the ball and shot, Ambrose made a miraculous sliding block to deny Inverness a certain second goal. Inverness saw out the game and claimed that historic triumph at Parkhead, their first SPL win, clean sheet and three points, a fantastic achievement considering the hammering they took last week. It appears that not only do Inverness own the Highlands, they are clearly starting to take over the rest of Scotland having defeated both Glasgow clubs in recent weeks. Mind you, one of them only play in the third division. Terry Butcher was pretty pleased with his day out and the Auchterarder chippie will be busy on the way home. The Immortal Howden Ender MotM award goes to Antonio Reguero. He could have been shaky after the end of Well game but he didn't show it. Celtics shooting gave him a helping hand but he also made 2-3 great saves although he does love to showboat. But to me it was his energy that impressed me and he always looked to play a quick, simple ball. Foran and Warren were also in the thick of it but an overall great team performance. 24th Nov 2012 Scottish Premier League Celtic Park, Glasgow Celtic 0 - TEAM: Forster, Lustig, Ambrose, Mulgrew, Matthews (Brown 69), Commons, Wanyama, Kayal, Samaras, Watt (McCourt 65), Hooper (Nouioui 76) SUBS: Zaluska, Miku, Chalmers, McGeouch Booked: Samaras (33), Kayal (41) Sent Off: none Inverness C.T. 1 - McKay (64) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, Meekings, Warren, G.Shinnie, Tudur-Jones, Foran, Doran, A.Shinnie, Roberts (Pepper 90), McKay (Sutherland 84) SUBS: Mathieson, Oswell, Morrison, Polworth, Cooper Booked: Roberts (67), Foran (79) Sent Off: none Referee Calum Murray Attendance 44379

Record defeat leaves Inverness with red faces Inverness slumped to their worst ever SPL defeat at the hands of a rampant Motherwell who were reportedly feeling under the weather prior to this televised fixture, but it was the hosts who were left sick as a parrot as The Steelmen went nap. It looked as though the Inverness players were believing all the hype about them in recent weeks, but Motherwell took them back down to earth with a bang as they brushed Inverness aside effortlessly. The home side could not muster a decent attack in the first half and were lucky to go in only two down at the interval. Goals from Higdon and Murphy exposed a fragile Inverness defence before the break. Foran gave Butcher's side false hope before we shot ourselves in the foot again as Cummins, Ojamaa and Daley capitalised on more defensive shoddiness to set a record home defeat for Inverness in the SPL in front of a poor attendance of under 3000 and a watching telly audience. Ross Draper missed out again and Foran continued his comeback with Gavin Morrison replacing the recently subdued Phillip Roberts. Not a lot to shout about in the opening exchanges but Inverness seemed to start where they left off against Hearts, on the back foot once more. Billy McKay got into good space from the edge of the box but shooting from distance is not his forte and the chance went wide. Nicky Law broke free on the right and his chipped ball sat up for Higdon to climb all over Raven and nod the ball into the net past an exposed Reguero from six yards. It went from bad to worse only three minutes later when Murphy pounced on a loose defensive header by Meekings to volley the ball low through the keeper after Humphrey had sped clear. Inverness were rocked by this, but offered nothing as an attacking unit, unlike Motherwell who could easily have been five up at half time. Murphy grazed the bar with a great effort and Reguero kept Inverness interested with a couple of good saves to deny Humphrey and Murphy with Law shooting just over after a neat step over from Lasley. Half-Time 0-2 No sooner had the second half begun when David Raven fired a cross to the front post and Richie Foran snapped up a half chance to dink the ball past Randolph from a tight angle to reduce the defecit, but Motherwell quickly re-established their superiority and killed the game off. The overworked home defence had toiled all afternoon to clear their ranks and when Hateley got a second chance after a corner, his cross landed at the feet of Cummins who had more than enough time to control and lash the ball high into the net from twelve yards. With Inverness throwing caution to the wind, Well were able to pick them off at will as they burst forward with pace on both flanks. Only Reguero once more came to the rescue as he blocked an Ojamaa raid. The fourth goal was inevitable and the unfortunate Reguero was wrong footed as Ojamaa sclaffed a shot through him to make it 4-1 to the visitors. Inverness then had their best spell, but the result was beyond them. Doran was unfortunate when he crashed a twenty yarder off the crossbar, Randolph getting a touch to the ball as it passed him, and Shinnie and Foran came close to a consolation as Motherwell took their foot off the gas. They still threatened on the break and a fifth goal was no more than they merited, although Toni Reguero will not want to see it again as substitute Omar Daley's half hearted effort squirmed under the Spanish keeper to complete the rout. It was all too much for the dispirited home support who were rapidly dwindling away long before referee Steven McLean saved Inverness from further punishment. Full Time 1-5 The recent fine run was going to come to an end sooner or later, but the manner in which it manifested itself was embarrassing to say the least and form like this will not see us playing in the SPL for much longer. We may just have to put it down to a bad day at the office, but the fact that it was a continuation of the second half of the Hearts game is a bit worrying. We need to go back to basics and with tough games coming up over the next few weeks it could be season defining time before Xmas. They must be rubbing their hands together in Dingwall after watching this shambles on the telly and rightly so. Us, we need to get our finger out before the cup game or it will be a long season. As for Motherwell; they seem to be somewhat of a bogey team for us at Inverness and their performance today was as good as has been seen at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium this season, so well played to them, we are your bitches. Terry was as philosophical as ever, although the disappointment was clear to see, but he did try and remain upbeat and hopes to write this game off as a bad day at the office. tm4tj MotM:- Difficult choice with most players having an off day, but keeper Antonio Reguero kept us within touching distance before a couple of late lapses, but he kept the score in single figures and for that we can be grateful. 18th Nov 2012 Scottish Premier League Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness C.T. 1 - Foran (46) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, Warren, Meekings, G.Shinnie, Doran, Morrison (Pepper 67), Tudur-Jones, Foran, McKay (Sutherland 59), A.Shinnie. SUBS: Mathieson, Oswell, Polworth, Roberts, Cooper Booked: none Sent Off: none Motherwell 5 - Higdon (18), Murphy (21), Cummins (52), Ojamaa (72), Daley (89) TEAM: Randolph, Hateley, Hutchinson, Cummins, Hammell, Humphrey (Daley 82), Lasley, Law, Murphy (Carswell 89), Higdon, Ojamaa (McHugh 79) SUBS: Hollis, Kerr, Francis-Angol, Hetherington Booked: none Sent Off: none Referee Steven McLean Attendance 2948

Broke Hearts leave Inverness Heart Broken They may be in poor condition off the park, but they played with plenty of fight on the field of play and deservedly took a point back to the capital, albeit with a dubious penalty scored by captain Marius Zaliukas after Owain Tudur-Jones had opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from thirty yards. Inverness passed up a great opportunity to hit the top of the table by crumbling meekly against a Hearts side desperately trying to avoid the same fate as The Rangers. An impeccable minutes silence ahead of remembrance day was observed by all as the fans readied themselves for what should have been an entertaining afternoon. It did, however, turn out to be a frustrating day for Inverness supporters as the Jambo's turned the tables with a late sucker punch. Supporters from both sides offered their predictions before the event As expected, Richie Foran was the only change Inverness made with Ross Draper being out injured and the visitors started with Sutton and Driver on the bench. To be honest, this was as scrappy a game as has been witnessed at the Caledonian Stadium this season with neither side able to string too many passes together, and don't get me started on throw-ins, more like throw-aways, as far as Inverness were concerned. The telly viewers were able to dissect this match in full as Inverness stuttered their way around the park. Gone was the free flowing football of late and an unwelcome return of the longer ball was evident as the match wore on with the midfield being bypassed as Hearts tenacity won the day. Inverness did start bright enough, or should that be right eenuff, and had the better of the opening exchanges but nothing of note happened in the first quarter, that was until Jones stepped in to score his first goal for the club. Andy Shinnie did well along the edge of the box holding onto the ball before laying it off to McKay who played it back to Shinnie. With the Hearts defence blocking his path, he rolled the ball back to Owain Tudur-Jones who took a touch before unleashing a ferocious curling shot from thirty plus yards that flew high past a diving MacDonald in the Hearts goal for a fantastic first goal for the Long Man. Unfortunately, that goal was about it as far as Inverness were concerned as we handed the initiative back to the visitors soon after, although Billy McKay dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box after he jinked his way into a shooting position. Just before the break, MacDonald pulled off a decent save as Foran looked to extend the lead with a placed drive from distance, the keeper pushing his effort to safety. Hearts had not threatened in the first half apart from a shot from Stevenson that Reguero needed the assistance of his chest to deny the number 7, although the warning signs were evident as they were gaining the upper hand in the midfield battle without being able to penetrate the Inverness back line. Half Time 1-0 The warnings were not latched on to by the Inverness tacticians and Hearts dominated the second half, but again without causing too much concern for Reguero and Co. Andy Shinnie almost doubled our advantage after 55 minutes bursting into the box after a neat exchange with Doran but the keeper brilliantly beat away his angled drive and Jones felled Zaliukas when the rebound fell to him on the edge of the box. However, it was now beginning to look like just a matter of time before the Jambo's would get the breakthrough, the fact that it took so long was the only surprise. Paterson had been interesting throughout, but it was his diving that caught the eye in the last minute of the game. He went down very easily as Jones stuck a leg in his direction and he had no hesitation in hitting the deck, referee Collum falling hook, line and sinker for it. After some confusion as to who would take the kick, captain Marius Zaliukas stepped forward and sent Reguero to his left, the ball unfortunately going to his right and a not undeserved equaliser, although the manner in which it was acheived was somewhat shabby. Full Time 1-1 Inverness will be kicking themselves after blowing another lead where three points turned into one, but have only themselves to blame after a jaded looking performance where stringing passes together seemed to be too difficult for too many players on the day. Credit to Hearts for sticking to the task and getting their just reward. tm4tj Man of the Match:- Easier to say who would not be in with a shout for the award, however the back line were pretty solid and David Raven seems to be a different person from the one that arrived in August, and for this and recent performances he gets my vote. Moan of the Match:- this award goes to whoever thought it was a good idea to sell cup tickets immediately after the final whistle. This led to the North Stand emptying quicker than the Marie Celeste before the end of the game.......meh! Have a look for yourself........ 10th Nov 2012 Scottish Premier League Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness C.T. 1 - Tudur-Jones (19) TEAM: Reguero, Raven, Warren, Meekings, G.Shinnie, Doran, Tudur-Jones, Foran, Roberts (Sutherland 64), McKay, A.Shinnie (Morrison 85) SUBS: Mathieson, Polworth, Brislen-Hall, Martins, Cooper Booked: G.Shinnie (52) Sent Off: none Hearts 1 - Zaliukas (pen.90) TEAM: McDonald, R.McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Holt, Barr (Sutton 77), Taouil (D.McGowan 46), Stevenson, Paterson, Novikovas (Driver 46) SUBS: Enckelman, Smith, Walker, McHattie Booked: Grainger (29), D.McGowan (76) Sent Off: none Referee Willie Collum Attendance 3332