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Injuries R Us With last weeks game falling foul to the weather, it might have been a blessing in disguise with one or two struggling to have made the postponed game against Morton. An extra weeks recovery might mean that we will be better equipped to face a sprightly Airdrie side who have consolidated themselves in the top half of the Championship. Game kicks off at 3:00pm at the Caledonian Stadium this Saturday and we might get a glimpse of new signings David Wotherspoon and Cillian Sheridan. Unfortunately Welsh, Doran, Boyes, MacGregor, Nicolson and Samuels are all out with Devine, Ujdur, Harper, Duffy and Carson all struggling. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Match Info/Tickets David Wotherspoon Cillian Sheridan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Venue Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 8 4 0 4 13 12 +1 Away 7 2 2 3 9 15 -6 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 15 6 2 7 22 27 -5 Only the last couple of fixtures have any relevance. The 1-0 home win was in March 2002 when Ross Tokely played and Martin Bavidge scored the winner........ Wait a minute: Ross Tokely is still playing and scoring winners 1 - 2 (A) 2 - 3 (H) 1 - 0 (H) 0 - 3 (A) 1 - 2 (H) 0 - 6 (A) 1 - 1 (A) 4 - 0 (H) 2 - 1 (A) 0 - 2 (H) March 2002: Steve Paterson's 300th game in charge produced a very welcome 1 - 0 victory which stopped a slide down the league. Ian Broadfoot reports: Caley Thistle lay fourth last Saturday but slipped to seventh in midweek without kicking a ball. This win resulted in a climb to fifth. The first half was a nervous period with Caley Thistle trying hard but achieving little. Airdrie's best chance came in the first minute when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out. Mark Roberts drove the ball goalwards and Nicky Walker dived to make a good save. In 13 minutes a high David Bagan cross proved troublesome to Airdrie keeper Allan Ferguson but he tipped it over. Five minutes later a Barry Robson corner from the right reached Grant Munro beyond the back post but he could only bundle the ball over for a goal kick. Stuart Taylor created a chance for himself at the other end in 29 minutes but he wasted it with a scuff past the post. In 33 minutes the home sides best first half chance fell to Dennis Wyness after good interplay with Charlie Christie but the striker hit it over from 10 yards. A minute later Owen Coyle reached a corner at the back post but left it to Taylor but he mishit to concede a goal kick. The tempo of the match changed in 50 minutes when Robson sent over a cross from the left and Martin Bavidge scored at the back post despite Ferguson getting a touch. This lifted Caley Thistle and calmed a few nerves. They kept on top after that but could not score a second goal. Robson strode through the Airdrie defence just after the goal but his shot deflected off Alan McManus. On the hour mark Ferguson raced out of goal to the touchline to just beat Bavidge to the ball. Ferguson saved Airdrie again in 76 minutes when he dived at the feet of Wyness as he stretched to reach a Bavidge curling ball but it went harmlessly for a goal kick. The nerves returned in the last few minutes as Caley Thistle worked hard to preserve their lead. With three minutes left Airdrie nearly stole an equaliser when a seemingly harmless Taylor header beat Walker but came back off the post into the relieved keepers arms. Despite a seemingly endless three minutes of added time Caley Thistle held on to win. Championship Fixtures FRIDAY 27th OCTOBER Dundee Utd v Arbroath Fc Queens Pk v Partick Th SATURDAY 28th OCTOBER Ayr Utd v Morton Inverness CT v Airdrieonians Raith Rovers v Dunfermline Last Time Out Inverness were held to a no scoring draw at home to Partick Thistle. A game of few clear chances with Partick squandering the best a few minutes from the end. Still, the clean sheet was welcome. We have already played Airdrie twice this season during our defensive blunder sessions. Airdrie took full advantage winning both games. 3-2 in the Highlands on League Cup duty and 2-1 at the Shyberry Excelsior Stadium in our 3rd Championship game of the season. Nathan Shaw's second half goal was too little too late after a Cammy Harper og inside the first minute and top scorer Gallagher on the half hour did the early damage in that one. Last Five: D L L W D Airdrie also played out a draw in their last game which went ahead on Friday night in a downpour. It ended 1-1 with Queens Park after Airdrie had taken a first half lead when an error in midfield by Queens Park allowed Callum Gallagher to run through to finish with aplomb. Queens got their point when keeper Josh Rae presented Jack Turner with his opportunity which he gladly took. Last Five: L W W L D Latest Team News This was prepared for the Morton game that was postponed. Having played in the North of Scotland Cup semi-final at Nairn, Duncan Ferguson will now be without at least two of those that were beaten by Nairn. It was mainly a second string squad with some returning from injury. However, Danny Devine came off with a swollen knee and Sean Welsh now has a back injury. Add Boyes with an eye infection, Aaron Doran with a hamstring, Wallace Duffy with who knows what and longer term Roddy MacGregor and Lewis Nicolson then Ferguson does not have his troubles to seek. The good news is David Wotherspoon could be ready after playing 45 minutes on Wednesday night. Jay Emmanuel Stewart (JET) has been on trial this week. So, hopefully the extra week will see one or two be in a better place injury wise and Wotherspoon has had another week in his legs to get back up to speed. Cillian Sheridan has become the latest player to sign on until January. He's been around a bit but could still do a job for us surely. Big misses for us will be Sean Welsh, Morgan Boyes and if Ujdur, Harper and Carson fail to make it then we will be scraping the bottom of the barrel again. Aaron Doran (hamstring) and Austin Samuels (knee) have joined the long term casualy list with Roddy and Lewis. So injuries are us once more. Dunc is hopeful one or two might be fit enough but it's a waiting game after three weeks of inactivity. Airdrie v Queens Pk team lines:- Rae Megwa Watson Fordyce Hancock Frizzell McMaster Aiken (Telfer 62) McStravick Gallagher (Todorov 62) McGregor (O'Connor 78) Subs not used: Hutton; McCabe, Dunlop, McGill, Cassidy, Spalding. Airdrie have been playing some slick stuff of late and this will be a tough one, even with a full squad. Callum Gallagher is top scorer with six goals. Former Caley Jag striker Nikolay Todorov has scored a couple this season but does not always start.

MATCH POSTPONED Ton of Trouble Inverness face a basement battle with fellow strugglers Morton at Cappielow on Saturday. It's scheduled for a 3:00pm kick-off if storm Babet allows. It's also a coming together of our new manager and the one who thought he was top of the list for the vacant job, Dougie Imrie, the bookies favourite and who was in the running until Duncan Ferguson was announced. Could make for an interesting afternoon with the prospect of new signing David Wotherspoon getting a start. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MATCH POSTPONED Match Info/Tickets Supporters Bus David Wotherspoon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Venue Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 21 12 5 4 48 20 +28 Away 19 11 3 5 37 24 +13 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 40 23 8 9 85 44 +41 Last time at Cappielow we escaped with all three points: 2 - 1 Vital three points at Morton: Danny Devine was missing again along with Roddy MacGregor and Walllace Duffy for this vital clash at Cappielow which could define our season. That left us with a sparse bench. For Morton, Brian Schwake was given the gloves despite his blunder against Arbroath and condemnation from his gaffer. Scott Allardice opened the scoring with a tremendous half-volley, drilling a precision shot low into the bottom corner from outside the box. David Carson popped up with the winner in the 88th minute to take a valuable three points North. Nathan Shaw did well to win the ball in his own half before sending a long diagonal ball forward that was helped onto Carson by Boyd for the wee man to finish well from inside the box after a great run forward. That win moves us to within a point of fifth placed Morton. George Oakley started up front against his old club. From an injury point of view it all sounds a bit familiar. Last 10 Competitive Meetings 2 - 1 (A) 2 - 2 (H) 0 - 4 (A) 0 - 1 (H) 1 - 0 (A) 0 - 1 (H) 6 - 1 (A) 1 - 1 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 2 - 0 (H) Last Time Out: Inverness were held to a no scoring draw at home to Partick Thistle. A game of few clear chances with Partick squandering the best a few minutes from the end. Still, the clean sheet was welcome. Morton drew a blank with Queens Park on the same day as we drew with Partick Thistle despite a depleted squad due to flooding around Greenock An Inverness XI went out of the NoS Cup against Nairn County on Wednesday night. 2-2 after 90 minutes it went straight to a penalty shoot-out where Nairn's perfect 7 proved too good for Inverness when Zac Delaney saw his spot kick saved by MotM Nairn keeper Dylan MacLean. The other star on the night was the legend that is Ross Tokely who opened the scoring on half time. He assisted Steven Mackay to double Nairn's advantage then scored one of Nairn's penalties to round off a great night for the 44 year old veteran. Harry Lodovica was the man responsible for taking the game to a shoot-out with two well taken strikes. Alas, it was Nairn that stroked in all seven of their penalties to progress to the final where they will take on Ross County who beat Brora Rangers 3-0 in the other semi. Good luck to the Wee County! Latest Team News Having played in the North of Scotland Cup semi-final at Nairn, Duncan Ferguson will now be without at least two of those that were beaten by Nairn. It was mainly a second string squad with some returning from injury. However, Danny Devine came off with a swollen knee and Sean Welsh now has a back injury. Add Boyes with an eye infection, Aaron Doran with a hamstring, Wallace Duffy with who knows what and longer term Roddy MacGregor and Lewis Nicolson then Ferguson does not have his troubles to seek. The good news is David Wotherspoon could be ready after playing 45 minutes on Wednesday night. Jay Emmanuel Stewart (JET) has been on trial this week. Dougie Imrie's last line-up in the Championship, albeit a depleted one with only three subs>>> Morton XI v Queens Park: MacDonald Blues French Baird Waters Gillespie (McGrattan 72) Power Muirhead (Boyd 71) Crawford Wilson Oakley Subs not used: Ryan Mullen (gk)

North of Scotland Cup Semi-Final Nairn are the Penalty Kings Defeat for Dunc Build up: Station Park was the venue for this North of Scotland Cup Semi-final tie against Nairn County. Inverness got here after defeating Rothes in a very tight affair on a stormy night at the end of September. Keith Bray scored the only goal of the game early in the first half. Nairn County have played twice to get here, a 3-2 win over Lossiemouth followed by a 5-0 thrashing of Forres Mechanics on a rain soaked night at Mosset Park. The goalscorers on September 13th were Andrew MacLeod x 2, Callum MacLean, Ciaran Young & Scott Davidson. Here's the Nairn side from that night at Forres>>> Two first half goals from MacLean and MacLeod set Nairn up for the win despite the atrocious weather. Young headed in ten minutes after the break before Forres were reduced to 10 men with Brady being red carded. MacLeod scored his sixth goal in five games for Nairn when he rifled home from just inside the box. Davidson ended the scoring five minutes from the end. Nairn Facts: They were founded in 1914 and play at Station Park. They have played in the Highland Football League since 1919, winning their only league title in the 1975–76 season. The club’s record goal scorer is the legendary Davy Johnston who scored 286 goals in his two spells with the club. This also included scoring a record 73 goals in the 1963–64 season. Their first five games this season: Scored 1 goal. Last five games: Scored 18 goals (after the game at Forres). Nairn now sit in tenth place in the table having won four of their last five games W W L W W Tonights Game New signing David Wotherspoon the former Hibs and St Johnston midfielder made his debut for the Caley Jags tonight who also welcomed back from injury defender Danny Devine and Captain Sean Welsh. A great opportunity for some of the fringe players to stake a claim for a first team berth with Harry Lodovica, Robert Thompson, Lewis Hyde and youth player Sam Nixon all starting with Cammy Mackay between the sticks. Nairn had former Inverness legend Ross Tokely in defence alongside experienced player manager Steven Mackay. Best of the action brought to you from>>> Kick-Off: Caley Thistle almost score in the opening minute. Great ball from Jake Davidson finds Harry Lodovica unchallenged, but he nods wide of the post. 6' | 0-0 Adam Brooks' tame shot from inside the box is saved by the feet of Dylan MacLean as Nairn get clear. ICT then have a good move as Robbie Thompson meets a good ball from Lewis Hyde inside the box but he fires his effort just wide. 9' | 0-0 Chance! The ball breaks to Wotherspoon through on goal but his effort is turned behind by Dylan MacLean for a corner. Nairn get resulting corner clear. 13' An exciting opening spell. 2 big saves from Dylan MacLean, 3 Nairn corners and a handful of half chances. Inverness are threatening on the break but Nairn seem really up for the challenge. 17' | 0-0 Offside. Adam Brooks has the ball in the back of the net after meeting Harry Lodovica's cross in the box but the offside flag is up. 22' | 0-0 Good run from Sean Welsh through the middle and he has a go from about 30 yards but his effort is over the bar. 24' I Ross Tokely booked 26' | 0-0 Good play from Harry Lodovica and he forces a save from Dylan MacLean after meeting a lay off from Adam Brooks in the box after a long ball from Danny Devine. 31' | 0-0 Lewis Hyde has a go from about 25 yards but his low effort is held by MacLean. 33' | 0-0 Sean Welsh's floated in free-kick finds Harry Lodovica in the box but his header is over the bar. 34' | 0-0 Lewis Hyde drives through the middle and the ball breaks to Jake Davidson on the right and his drilled cross is inches past the post. 35' | 0-0 Wotherspoon's cross finds Lodovica in the box but his header is just past the post. 37' | 0-0 Good play from Robbie Thompson in the box after receiving Jake Davidson's ball but his effort is over the bar. 41' | 0-0 ICTFC Sub: Keith Bray on, Sean Welsh off 43' | 0-0 Lewis Hyde's ball finds Adam Brooks in the box and he lays it back to Harry Lodovica and the striker's effort is held by Dylan MacLean 45' | 1-0 Goal. Nairn County take the lead through Ross Tokely with a wee dink HALF TIME: 1-0 HALF TIME Sub: Shae Keogh on, David Wotherspoon off. 48' | 1-0 Early pressure from ICT in the second-half as Keith Bray sees his header held. 51' | 2-0 Goal. Nairn double their lead through Steven MacKay with a close range header. Free kick taken well, flicked on by Ross Tokely and Steven MacKay puts it away! 58' | 2-0 Chance as Keith Bray's corner breaks to Zak Delaney in the box but he can't fully control it as it goes over the bar and behind. 63' | 2-0 ICTFC Sub: Jack Walker on, Danny Devine off. 65' | 2-1 GOALLLLL! We pull one back through Harry Lodovica who produces a great strike from 25 yards! 66' Chance for Nairn: Strong response to the goal as Nairn create a series of half chances at the other end from kickoff. 69' | 2-1 Speculative effort from Nairn's Andrew MacLeod but his effort goes just over the bar and behind. 74' | 2-1 Robbie Thompson had a go from just outside the box but his effort is held by Dylan MacLean 79' Chance for Nairn: Andrew MacLeod swings a corner in right on top of the keeper. Half the ground thought it was in, unfortunately it was just over. End of a positive spell for Nairn. 81' Chance for Nairn: George Robesten pounces on a rolled out ball, and cuts it across to Ciaran Young, he turns the defender and tries to get a shot away, too tight of an angle and hits the side netting. Dylan MacLean pulls off another top save at the other end from Adam Brooks. 88' | 2-2 GOALLLLL! Harry Lodovica gets his second of the match to make it 2-2! Good finish from inside the box via the post! 90' | 2-2 Harry looks for the hat-trick as he has a go from range but his effort is over the bar. FULL TIME: Nairn County 2-2 ICTFC We go straight to a penalty shootout! Penalty Kicks Nairn: Macleod , Dey , Tokely , Gillies , Young , Robeston , Mackay Inverness: Davidson , Walker , Hyde , Brooks , Thompson , Harry , Delaney Defeat at Station Park despite a brace for Harry as Nairn hit seven perfect penalties to win the shoot-out after the game ended 2-2. Sean Welsh left the field before the interval with an injury. Ross Tokely left his ICT legendary status at home as he scored one, had a hand in the second and scored a penalty in the shoot-out, all at the ripe old age of 44. Congratulations to Nairn and something for big Dunc to ponder over. Nairn will face Ross County in the Final after they beat Brora Rangers 3-0 tonight with a hat-trick from Alex Samuels. Date: 18/10/2023 Venue: Station Park, Nairn Attendance: **** Referee: Kevin Buchanan Nairn County: 2 (Pens 7) Macleod , Dey , Tokely , Gillies , Young , Robeston , Mackay Manager: Steven Mackay (player manager) Lineup: D Maclean; C MacLean, Tokely, Dingwall, Mackay, Nicolson (Dey 64), McKenzie (Gordon 86), Gillies, Robesten, MacLeod, Young Subs: Munro; Carnihan, Davidson, Eadie, Gordon, Dey, MacDonald Scorers: Tokely (45), Mackay (51) Booked: Tokely (24), Young (54) Sent Off: none Inverness CT XI: 2 (Pens 6) Davidson , Walker , Hyde , Brooks , Thompson , Harry , Delaney Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: C Mackay; Davidson, Devine (Walker 63), Sam Nixon, Delaney, Brooks, Welsh (Bray 41),Hyde, Thompson, Wotherspoon (Keogh 45), Lodovica Subs: Corey Patterson; Jack Walker, Shae Keogh, Calum MacLeod, Ben Meacher, Keith Bray Scorers: Lodovica (65, 88) Booked: Devine (50) Sent Off: none a

Thistle be the day This will be the day that Duncan Ferguson made his bow to the Caley Jags fans. The weather might have dampened the atmosherics, but inside the stadium it was a warm welcome for Big Dunc. He was without the long term absentees (MacGregor & Nicolson) plus more recent victims in Sean Welsh, Danny Devine and Wallace Duffy. After the first win last week, it was an unchanged starting XI that took to the sodden turf. Partick had our olde foe Brian Graham up front. Enough said ÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷ Heavy overnight rain made for wet conditions on the park and around the Highlands. Both sides made heavy weather (no pun intended) of a tedious first half where neither keeper had to earn their corn. Partick started liveliest without threatening before we got to grips with the game. Ujdur headed tamely wide from a Harper corner as he couldn't get any purchase on the ball. Shaw made a clumsy touch from a Gilmour cross from the left side and the chance was gone as Sneddon snapped up the loose ball. A loose ball forward allowed Partick a shooting opportunity but Ridgers gathered comfortably. After the break the visitors cut along the byeline and it ended with Fitzpatrick rolling the ball onto the post before being cleared. Doran was looking for a penalty after being upended in the box but nothing given. From an Inverness corner, Partick broke forward at pace and it ended with Ridgers saving a low twenty-five yard drive from Graham. Shaw made a tremendous tackle to win back the ball before Gilmour was eventually set up for a shot but he dragged his low effort a yard wide. Billy Mckay turned on the edge of the box but his curled effort drifted over the bar with Gilmour looking for a return pass as he ran into the box. Milne rode a couple of challenges before slicing his parting shot wide from eighteen yards. Best chance of the game fell to the visitors three minutes before the end after Ridgers parried a swerving shot from McInroy. It fell to Adeloye but he blazed his hooked effort well over the bar from five yards. Inverness mainly looked comfortable without overly troubling keeper Sneddon and it ended all square in a very wet Highlands. FULL TIME: 0-0 Neither side can complain about a point apiece but Partick will now know that they can not expect to pick up easy points against us. In fact had Gilmour placed his shot within the bounds of the posts then we could have taken all three points. Meh! Another step in the right direction for Inverness who matched high scoring Partick Thistle all over the park. Best for Inverness were the tricky Longstaff, the unflustered Ujdur and the driving force of Gilmour, with Ridgers doing his bit at the end Date: 07/10/2023 Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2374 Referee: Dan McFarlane Inverness CT: 0 Manager: Duncan Ferguson Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Ujdur, Boyes, Harper, Longstaff, Gilmour, Anderson, Shaw (Brooks 86), Doran (Samuels 65) B Mckay (Lodovica 86) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Davidson, Delaney, Hyde, Bray, Thompson Scorers: none Booked: none Sent Off: none Partick Thistle: 0 Manager: Kris Doolan Lineup: Sneddon; Ngwenya, Muirhead, Neilson, Milne, McInroy, Robinson, Bannigan, Lawless, Graham (Macdonald 74), Fitzpatrick (Adeloye 73) Subs (not used): McGinley, Alston, Williamson, Stanway, Mitchell, Williams Scorers: none Booked: Bannigan (72) Sent Off: none a