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Nemesis Time

On Saturday at 3:00pm it's nemesis time as we face Queens Park at Hampden Park. The Spiders have had the beating of us since getting back into the Championship in season 2022/2023. We did, ahem, put them out of the Scottish Cup last season by default on our way to the final, however we have always struggled against teams who are willing to hit fast on the break and Queens have been guilty of that. We, on the other hand, are somewhat ponderous and shot-shy, and that's something that needs addressed.

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Match/Ticket info

Supporters bus

Buses for rest of 2023: 9th Dec Queens Park leaving stadium 10.30 - 12th Dec Morton leaving stadium 2pm - 23rd Dec Partick leaving stadium at 10.00 - picking up Aviemore and Pitlochry. £20 a seat. Buses filling up fast so book early through Facebook or on 07462218717 to avoid disappointment.

 BACK THE TEAM 

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Queens have our card marked since they popped back up into the championship in 2022 to draw 1-1 at the Caledonian Stadium. That was as good as it got against the Spiders since then as we failed to record a win on the park in all six meetings since then. However, off the park we seem to be a bit smarter than the average Spider. 

1 - 2 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

0 - 2 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

It was an opening day defeat at the Caledonian Stadium this season: 1 - 2 Here's the CTO report:- In a brisk opening to the game Wallace Duffy headed over from a corner in the second minute and at the other end Mark Ridgers was brought into action to deny Jack Thomson. Nathan Shaw also had an effort saved by Callan McKenna in the top corner. A good move forward ended with Charlie Fox blocking Charlie Gilmour after seventeen minutes and Billy Mckay went close but he dragged his effort wide of the mark. Queens were enjoying the majority of the possession and on the half hour they opened the scoring when Barry Hepburn fed Dom Thomas who scored into the top of the net. Inverness responded and Shaw saw McKenna save his free kick. Ridgers then saved from Jack Spong as Queens dominance continued. However we were still able to carve out chances and McKenna did well to deny Mckay just on the interval from a Jake Davidson cross. 

HALF TIME: 0-1
Austin Samuels shot high and wide at the start of the second half but it was Queens who added a second three minutes into the half through Tommy Robson, shooting into the bottom corner to leave us chasing the game. Thomas had an effort saved minutes later as Queens dominated play. Ridgers then saved from Louis Longridge at the expense of a corner kick as Queens Park threatened to run away with the game. Robson was then denied by the overworked Ridgers as QP looked to kill the game off. Substitute Keith Bray was denied by McKenna as we probed for a way back into the game. Samuels blazed another shot high and wide and that brought about the introduction of Harry Lodovica. With time slipping away Davidson scored with a close range header from a Cammy Harper cross. Alas it was too little too late for Inverness who went down to an opening day defeat. FULL TIME: 1-2

Last Time Out

Ferguson tasted defeat at the eighth time of asking after we let a one goal lead slip away in time added on as Jamie Gullan smashed home a penalty for Raith Rovers. Billy Mckay had given Inverness the lead after the break when he stole in between two defenders to nod an inviting Wotherspoon cross down into the net, but Lewis Vaughan netted five minutes before the end to kick start the late surge. Disappointing to throw away this lead and Big Dunc must shoulder some of the blame for this as we sat back and invited Rovers to come at us. Learning curve for everyone.

Last Five in the Championship: W D W D L 

Queens Park's last Championship game was on 11th of November. They too went down to a late show from Raith Rovers, they too lost a late lead, in the 89th minute, and they too went down to a time added on penalty scored by Ross Milllen, with only ten men. Extraordinary stuff from Rovers to be honest. They should buy a lottery ticket right away. Turner and Paton were the goalscorers for the Spiders in this one. No wins in their last nine games going back to a 1-0 win over Arbroath back on the19th of August. Incidentally that was the second win over Arbroath in a week, a 2-1 win the previous weekend. However, their last game was a 3-0 away defeat in the Scottish Cup to high flying Partick Thistle on 25th November.

 Last Five in the Championship: D D D D L 

Big game at the top end of the table on Friday night as Raith Rovers take on Partick Thistle.

***Rovers won a high scoring encounter 4-3 to top the table for now.

Congratulations to Novembers Championship Manager and Player of the Month. Big Dunc & Spoony

Congratulations to ICTFC Manager Duncan Ferguson, as he has been named the @GlensVodkaLLG @SPFL Scottish Championship Manager of the Month for November 2023.

@TMPfoto

https://t.co/EkOsviusDP pic.twitter.com/Gx4kAQU8rx

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) December 8, 2023

Latest Team News

Usual suspects missing in the longer term but the news that Roddy MacGregor is back training on the park is a bonus. Danny Devine limped off last week against Raith Rovers and David Carson is still out on parental leave. Shaw, Ujdur and Boyes are all nursing their own fitness and aches and strains.

Ajax have appointed Queen's Park director of football Marijn Beuker to the same role at the Eredivisie club. The Dutchman joined Queen's Park in 2021, having previously been head of football development and strategy with AZ Alkmaar for eight years. Top scorer this season is Ruari Paton who is way out on his own with 11 goals. Nearest to him is Jack Turner with four.

Not going by the Raith Rovers video it wasn't 

Their penalty was as clear as our 'penalty'

Goal or no goal. That is the question?

Penalty 95th minute???

from Raith tv

Three points in Inverness? Never in doubt.

Here are your match highlights. pic.twitter.com/WdhGk8Frh9

— Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) December 3, 2023

First draft of CTO Report

A bright and sunny but very cold morning. 

 Rovers Return

Ian Murray brings the new improved version of Raith Rovers North on Saturday; only one defeat in the Championship this season. They take on Big Dunc's marauders, unbeaten in seven games since he took over from Billy Dodds' plodders. The transformation has been stark in just two months. (apart from all conquering Nairn County in the NoS Cup). Rovers got the monkey off their back on the 16th September when they ended an almost twenty-three year wait to taste victory against the Caley Jags over 90 minutes. Meh! Anyway, big Dunc has previous against Raith Rovers, let's hope it's a more amicable outcome this time. 

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Match/Ticket Info

Scottish Cup v Broomhill

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Only six defeats against Raith after they had dominated the opening few fixtures against us. Only two defeats in the Highlands. For +40, against -15. What could possibly go wrong? 

0 - 1 (A)

2 - 0 (H)

2 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (A)

3 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

That great run had to come to an end some time. 0 - 1 Record Breakers:  Never had there been a better time for Raith Rovers to break the Caley Jags hoodoo! Inverness, without a win in their last eight games, and Billy Dodds and the management team under fire. A 23 year run of games without a win for Raith Rovers was brought to an end today when Jamie Gullan smashed home from 15 yards with five minutes left. It was harsh on Inverness who dominated for long spells earlier in the game, but it leaves the management with some tough decisions to make. There will be dancing on the streets of Raith tonight! 

Pars beat Arbroath 3-0 since this table - Ayr United v Arbroath OFF  Frozen pitch 

That means the Pars are 4th on 18 points. - Morton v Dundee United OFF  Frozen Pitch 

Another casualty of the weather on Sat morning - Dunfermline v Queens Park  

Last Time Out

We struggled to perform to a high standard in our cup tie with Cowdenbeath using a 50/50 squad. After eighty minutes, the earlier introduction of Wotherspoon and Mckay proved crucial as they scored two excellent strikes to see us into the next round where we will face Broomhill at home in January. Raith did win the first meeting between the clubs this season, but it was closer than many thought it might have been, even with a side down on their luck. Jamie Gullan it was that rammed in the only goal of the game. Last five Championship results D W D W D 

Raith Rovers had a tremendous result in the cup at East End Park as they brushed aside the Pars 3-0. Jack Hamilton opened the scoring early in the first half and Sam Stanton and Lewis Vaughan ensured there would be no comeback from Dunfermline this time, not even thewoodwork could help them. Last five Championship results D W W D W 

Latest Team News

Longer term players still missing and we can add David Carson who is pregnant , Cammy Harper and Morgan Boyes who have injuries to shake off. Roddy MacGregor is back in training, so that's a bonus. Samuels and Doran nowhere near fitness. Jake Davidson got a few minutes last week.

Ian Murray is building a good squad at Stark's Park. Lewis Vaughan is top scorer with six goals followed by Callum Smith and Dylan Easton on five apiece. Ross Millen will miss this one through suspension and Liam Dick has been missing through injury.

@ICTFC v @CowdenbeathFC

A win for last season's finalists takes them through to the Fourth Round, and caps off our highlights from yesterday.#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/KedqzzlL68

— Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) November 26, 2023

At home v Broomhill weekend of 20th January

Broomhill from the Lowland Football League, same as Cowdenbeath, and they sit 9th in the table.

The Goals

Here's Dunc

Brazil Come North

A wee break from the rigours of Championship football this weekend as Brazil head North to take on Caley Thistle in the Third Round of the Scottish Cup. No no no, not that ones, but it's the Blue Brazil who will be at the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday for a 3:00pm kick-off. Unfortunately, Cowdenbeath slipped out of the big boys Leagues in 2022 after a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Bonnyrigg Rose and find themselves plying their trade in the fifth tier of Scottish Football, the Lowland Football League. Our last regular games with Cowdenbeath ended in 1997 when they beat Inverness 2-1 at Central Park. The biggest home attendance at Central Park was 25,586 vs Rangers on 21 September 1949. (must have been waiting for the stock car racing to start)

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Match/Ticket Info

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We have only played Cowdenbeath three times since our early days in 1997. The last three games have all been in League Cup encounters. Worryingly, the last one was a no scoring draw over 90 minutes.

0 - 0 (H)

5 - 2 (A)

2 - 1 (A)

1 - 2 (A)

2 - 1 (H)

4 - 3 (A)

1 - 3 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

0 - 0 (A)

In our final league encounter with the Blue Brazil we were beaten 1 - 2  in Fife: 

An enthusiastic Cowdenbeath side deservedly ended the champions long unbeaten run. The home side dominated the first half as the visitors experimented with their formation. In 13 minutes Craig Sinclair headed home after a Willie Stewart corner and 4 minutes later a static defence allowed Martin Scott to hit high into the roof of the net from close range. It could have been three just before half-time but Jim Calder made a good diving save from a Nolan shot. The second half started the same way but the visitors gradually came back. They dominated the last half hour but only managed one goal. In 69 minutes a long Iain MacArthur throw was back-headed by Mike Teasdale and Paul Cherry headed home. In 84 minutes Iain Stewart tried to chip Godfrey but failed and in the dying seconds a Paul Cherry header was cleared off the line.

 Last Time Out

We rode our luck in Fife last weekend but managed to escape with a point from East End Park. Incredibly the Pars hit the woodwork seven times before they equalised on the eighth strike in the last three minutes, the ball connoning off the post into the net from Lewis McCann. Danny Devine scored like an opportunist striker at the end of the first half as MotM woodwork kept the ball out of the net with seven incredible blocks and an assist.

Cowdenbeath's last game saw them scud Lanark United 6-0 in the South Challenge Cup. Scorers in a decent performance were Matty McDonald (34),  Josh Jack (37), Mikey Cunningham (38 pen), MacPherson (45) HT: 4-0 Jack (50), Berry (67)

We are, of course, beaten finalists from last season. Record scorer Billy Mckay is our all time top scorer in the Scottish Cup. He bagged five in last season's event, including two at Livingston and two against Falkirk in the semi final bringing his total up to 12, one ahead of Sir Dennis Wyness. Iain Stewart, our master lobster comes third with six lobs.

Cowdenbeath got into the next round of the Scottish Cup after defeating Kilwinning Rangers 1-0 at Buffs Park. Super sub Mikey Cunningham came off the bench to score a late goal which saw Cowdenbeath through to the third round of the Scottish Cup, which is why they are here on Saturday.

COWDENBEATH: Hepburn; Butterworth, Walker, Jordan, McNab, Chalmers, Jack (Cunningham 64), MacDonald, MacPherson, McLaughlin, Docherty (Berry 88). Subs not used – Blair, Garcia, D Duncan and Smith.

ATTENDANCE: 527

Latest Team News

Sean Welsh got a bit of the action at East End Park after another extensive injury lay-off. Luis Longstaff was another still looking to get up to speed after a couple of weeks out and Nikola Ujdur was subbed off in the second half. One or two still carrying niggles and this might be the right time to rest some with bigger fish to fry, but first and foremost we need to get ourselves into the hat for the 4th round draw.

Cowdenbeath will be looking forward to this and I would expect a similar set up to their game against Lanark.

Watch the meeting

From 10:30 This morning

Seventh Heaven

DAFC
Inverness CT
Woodwork (Seven) pic.twitter.com/waZx4boUiZ

— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) November 19, 2023

Former Par Danny Devine puts Inverness 1-0 ahead in the 43rd minute. The goal can be seen here. pic.twitter.com/nICJ5cJeGH

— Pars Review (@ParsReview) November 18, 2023

CTO first draft

 Talking bout a revolution

A trip to Dunfermline beckons this Saturday as Dunc's revolution picks up pace. Unbeaten since his arrival, the Caley Jags take on 5th place Dunfermline Athletic in another tough encounter. A win for Inverness would see Dunc's men climb above the Pars but it's big ask. This will be your only Championship fix this weekend, so the opportunity is there for one of these sides to make up some ground on those above them.

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Match/Ticket/Info

Supporters Bus Full

Cowdenbeath Cup Tie

Battery Farm

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Our home and away encounters with the Pars show similar statistics with only five defeats at East End Park. Last season Dunfermline were heading back into the Championship after a season in League 1 where they bounced back up as Champions.

1 - 1 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

1 - 1 (A)

1 - 2 (H)

0 - 0 (A)

1 - 0 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

1 - 3 (A)

2 - 1 (A)

2 - 0 (H)

More points thrown away: Full report (Jan 2022) 1 - 1 Inverness wasted an opportunity to put pressure on the top of the table after squandering a first half lead through Shane Sutherland. Steven Lawless levelled from the spot in the second half with ten minutes remaining after David Carson was adjudged to have blocked a cross with a flailing arm. Another drab performance after a first half full of promise. No surprise really given recent performances, but frustrating nonetheless.

A very disappointing second half from Inverness after a first half that was full of promise. Maybe Danny Devine going off injured just before the interval decided our tactic for the second half, or maybe Dunfermline just realised they could get something from the game. That point lifts them off the foot of the table for now, our point puts us in second position when we really should have been knocking on Arbroaths door at the top. Whatever the reason, the fans are getting somewhat disgruntled as we are without a win in five games now. It does seem like a long time ago that we absolutely thrashed Morton 6-1 on 11th December. Only four points from our last five games, or four points from a possible fifteen. That's not the form of a team going for promotion. Sort it!

Last Time Out

Inverness romped home agsinst Ayr United after scoring three first half goals in a ten minute spell before the break. David Wotherspoon scored twice and Billy Mckay crashed in a penalty in a dominant first half. The second half was an anti-climax with Ayr scoring a penalty of their own through Jamie Murphy. The points were more important than the performance and it pulled Inverness clear of the bottom team Morton.

Last Five Games: W D W D W 

In the first meeting between the clubs this season it ended all square in the Highlands in September. Nathan Shaw's early goal cancelled out ten minutes before the end by a Chris Hamilton header. 

FULL TIME: 1-1  The two new loan payers aquitted themselves well without setting the pulses racing. The defence did appear to be more rigid although we were found wanting at the equaliser. Nathan Shaw was the most likely to cause problems and so it proved. Poor decision by Ridgers to decide to flap at thin air for the goal but made amends to earn our point with a tremendous save later. Pars were much more direct than us and you couldn't grudge them their point. However that point still leaves us floundering at the foot of the table with one point from a possible twelve.

Dunfermline's last game saw them go down narrowly to a late goal from Chris Mochrie as Dundee United continued unbeaten at the top of the table. United lead in the first half through Fotheringham before Owen Moffat levelled the game ten minutes after the interval. Mochrie hit the winner with just five minutes left on the clock.

Last Five Games: L L L W L 

Latest Team News

Half a dozen still missing with Boyes picking up an injury but Dunc is hopeful he will make the squad. So not much change from last week in terms of squad numbers and big Dunc still grappling with the players names 

Dunfermline manager James McPake had keeper Mehmet and striker Michael O'halloran taken off injured last Friday against United. Alex Jakubiak replaced Craig Wighton after the hour and he looked threatening. Joe Chalmers is still at East End Park.

And finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin' 'bout a revolution
Yes, finally the tables are starting to turn
Talkin' 'bout a revolution, oh, no