tm4tj

Winning Ugly Will Do Due to results last week, we find ourselves looking up the table at the rest of the teams in the league and the visit of Hamilton takes on a bit more significance given the respective position of both teams. It doesn't have to be pretty, it's points that matter. We have hit rock bottom after defeat at Perth and from here on, the only way is up. It's still early days, but given our indifferent form and injury problems then it's difficult to see an instant solution to the mini crisis that we find ourselves in. Of course, we are not helping our cause by having key players suspended at a time when injuries are wreaking havoc with our continuity. Greg Tansey, Lewis Horner and now Gary Warren have all fallen foul of the beaks in the last few weeks and that was on top of injuries robbing us of Liam Polworth in midfield and with defenders David Raven and Brad Mckay out it has left us struggling to fill the vacancies. Last time out we went down after an insipid display in Perth. It ended 3-0 to St Johnstone and we can have no complaints after Gary Warren was stupidly sent packing. Luxury midfielder Iain Vigurs has been taking some flak for his lackadaisical approach and inability to track back after giving away possession. This has been well documented in recent topics on the forum and it's something that needs addressed. The lack of protection for our overworked defence is one reason we are conceding more goals than ever. As for the Accies, they once more let a lead slip after Alex D'Acol opened the scoring 15 minutes in. As is their trademark this season, they turned three points into one when Partick equalised through Welsh on the hour. We think our season is bad with only three wins to date, Well Accies can top that with just two wins. The reason they are above us is nine draws. They have the ability to turn defeats into draws, whereas we manage to turn draws into defeats. In saying that, there is only one point between the clubs. The league is so congested we could jump from 12th to 6th depending on other results provided we can beat Accies. On the other hand, defeat would be a bit of a mini disaster. The first meeting between the clubs this season ended in stalemate but it took a very late Liam Polworth strike to snatch a point after D'Acol scored in the eighteenth minute. That ended a six game winning sequence at New Douglas Park for us and it was the second time in a week that Accies had thrown away a winning advantage. Times have changed though and since Richie Foran won the manager of the month award in September, the curse has struck and we find ourselves floundering at the bottom, unable to stick together a run of results to steer clear of problems. It's the same for all the clubs in the lower part of the league though as only the top five are making any headway with Celtic the clear winners at this stage. They did everybody else a favour last night by beating Partick Thistle. A chink of light at the end of the injury tunnel as news that Liam Polworth is making better than expected progress on his injured ankle and could return within the month or sooner. Even better news is that Brad Mckay could return against Accies to ease our defensive problems and on top of that Lewis Horner is free from suspension, albeit he is just a stop gap defender at the moment, but this will be seen as an opportunity to further his case for inclusion every week with David Raven out for at least another month. Gary Warren is suspended and that's a blow as our defence has been creaking all season. Up front Alex Fisher and Scott Boden are both out and that leaves big Lonsana Doumbouya on his lonesome again. Accies have midfielder Gramos Kurtaj out for around a month with an ankle knock. Also out are long term absentees Remi Mathews (GK), Jesus Garcia and Craig Watson. tm4tj prediction:- Oh dear, if ever we needed a morale boosting win, it has to be today against one of the other seven sides in fear of relegation. Below St Johnstone, nobody is safe and any side that can get a winning run going will feel an awful lot better. We are terrible at the back this season with an unsettled formation due to injuries and suspension. Our midfield is depleted and work shy and up front it's the same old same old with a lone striker and underachieving wide players I don't see much changing to be honest as we struggle to get players on the park. Accies have always given youth a chance and in Ali Crawford they have a match winner worth watching closely. We have never found it easy to get the better of Hamilton in the Highlands and I don't see it being any different today. As we find it embarrassingly difficult to keep a clean sheet, I'm going for a score draw as Accies dig in. Nothing new there.

Rock Bottom Inverness have sunk as low as they can for now as St Johnstone inflicted more misery than you could shake a stick at. A 3-0 defeat at Perth has us at rock bottom in more ways than one. The 3-0 defeat was misery enough, but Gary Warren saw fit to get himself sent off moments after being booked. We are not helping ourselves here with additional suspensions on top of injuries to crucial players. Liam Craig opened the scoring in the first quarter and Murray Davidson added a second around the hour as Warren left the field. The rout was completed when Danny Swanson knocked home the third. By all accounts, we were pretty limp. Injury crisis time once more for Inverness with two right backs out injured and a third suspended. It doesn't rain but it pours, and with Polworth missing from midfield we were down to the bare bones. Josh Meekings went to full back and Ross Draper was used as a makeshift centre back. Larnell Cole started in midfield. St Johnstone got a boost with Murray Davidson starting and Joe Shaughnessy also fit enough to get a game. As is the norm for these encounters it was a fairly low key opening to the game, with Danny Swanson and Larnell Cole trying their luck at either end but that changed after fourteen minutes when Inverness lost the ball in midfield. Poor tracking back allowed Liam Craig to find plenty space inside the box and he calmly send a low strike into the net from twelve yards. Great strike, but woeful defending and application from the visitors. Craig had an effort from distance well watched by Fon Williams as St Johnstone took control of proceedings and the only attempt of note came from a Carl Tremarco header that caused little concern. Half Time 1-0 The customary dull first forty-five would liven up somewhat after the break, but none of that had much to do with a lethargic Inverness. Josh Meekings was fortunate not to give away a penalty after a shove in the back on Richard Foster. Clumsy stuff from Meekings, and that set the tone for our defending thereafter. Gary Warren took on the mantle of chief clumsiness the pantomime villain and he was booked for a series of minor indiscretions. That would catch up with the veteran defender just moments later when he challenged for a ball with the tricky Danny Swanson who made Warren look like a rugby player. He barged over the Perth player and can have no complaints over the red card that followed. Poor decision making from an experienced player who had left his team further exposed, not only for this game, but for the next one as well. It got worse once the free kick was taken as Murray Davidson turned on the ball as it was fired low into the box to beat Williams for the second time from around eight yards from the left side of the six-yard box. Iain Vigurs suffered the same fate as Foster, and the result was the same, no penalty as Inverness tried to force their way back into the game, and Billy King fired a decent shot just over, but it was an uphill struggle and we looked like we were treading treacle. Two down and playing with a man short the game was well and truly up when Brian Easton ran onto a long through ball to play in Danny Swanson who wasted no time in taking one touch before smacking the ball home from fifteen yards. Good goal to round off the scoring from the quality player on the park. Full Time 3-0 Plenty to ponder over for Richie Foran as we hit the bottom of the league after yesterday's results. Injuries and suspensions are crippling us just now. That's Tansey, Horner and Warren all missing games for sending off's and that's not good enough at a time when we need experience on the park. They are no use sitting in the stand watching a bench filled with youngsters as those that are not injured try to get us out of this fine mess. Here's a couple of observations from those at the game. Alternative Maryhill was less than impressed with the contribution of some. "Warren has looked shaky this season, but he hasn't been helped by having a player who can't tackle and who has no pace - Iain Vigurs - playing ahead of him in deep midfield all season. I understand the thinking behind playing Draper further forward earlier this season, but why on earth Vigurs has consistently been preferred to Polworth in the centre when both have been available is completely beyond me and is, imho, probably the most significant factor in using having the worst defensive record in the league. It was shown again with the opener today, when Craig seemed able to just stroll onto the ball, completely untroubled. Obviously we have been pretty unlucky again with injuries recently, but given the lack of penetration we have up front, the lack of dig and pace we have in midfield, and our woeful defensive record, there's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be among the favourites to go down". Rig was equally despondent. "Absolutely depressing stuff today. Struggling to think of any real positives at all. We were shocking at the back, had no real control in midfield and struggled to create much of note up front. Our sole tactic of lobbing it towards Doumbouya was easily handled by Anderson and Shaughnessy. With no Plan B Saints rarely looked troubled and ended up with a deserved win. First goal was really poor tracking of Liam Craig who burst into the box and was found by Maclean and the ball was quickly poked beyond Fon Williams. Second came from a free kick which wasn't cleared and Davidson turned the ball in whist the third came late on with our makeshift defence all at sea and Swanson danced inside what was left of it before finding the net. Sending off seemed justified. I can't remember the first yellow but it was a warranted second yellow and Warren had struggled for most of the game to deal with Swanson running right at him. Whilst our players seemed to take a touch of the ball to get it down and kill the forward movement Saint Johnstone continuously looked to attack and get forward. We had a lot of the ball but any time we got into the final third we couldn't break down the Saints defence and just passed the ball or ran across the edge of the penalty area before either shooting wide or passing the ball out for a throw in. It was similar to some of the toothless displays under Hughes last season". And Yngwie summed it up thus; "Any Saints fan or neutral may well conclude today that ICT are a bunch of uncultured thugs, incapable of playing football, or defending, or attacking. They might also conclude that we are the worst team they have seen this season, that we are getting relegated and that the league will be better without us. And based purely on today, it would be hard for me to disagree. So, little for the visiting fans to get excited over and that's a recurring theme this season. We have to take stock and get our heads round this. Bottom of the league is not where we want to be seen. I hope Richie Foran can do something about this. If not, standing in the terraces looks to be an ever increasing possibility, and it could take a while to get back to all seated stadium. Big games coming up in the next fortnight. At home to Hamilton Accies and away to Kilmarnock. These could be season defining moments and we must start to pick up points before we are cut adrift. Sorry to sound a tad depressing, but that's how it is at this stage of the season. Date: 03/12/16 Venue: McDiarmid Park, Perth Attendance: 2549 Referee: Euan Anderson St Johnstone: 3 Lineup: Clark, Foster, Shaughnessy, Anderson, Easton, Coulson (Alston 75), Swanson (Kane 83), Davidson, Craig, Wotherspoon, MacLean (Cummins 82) Subs (not used): Mannus, Scobbie, Millar, Gordon Scorers: Craig (14), Davidson (62), Swanson (81) Booked: Coulson (56), Wotherspoon (74) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 0 Lineup: Fon Williams, Cole, Warren, Meekings, Tremarco (Gilchrist 86), Draper, Vigurs, Doran (Mulraney 69), Tansey, King, Doumbouya (Sutherland 84) Subs (not used): Esson. Robertson, MacLennan Scorers: none Booked: Draper (45), Doumbouya (50), Warren (60) Sent Off: Warren (61) a

Time to have a go. Relatively short trek on Saturday as we head to Perth to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park for a 3:00pm kick off. It's been a sad week for football with the Associação Chapecoense de Futebol disaster, where only five of eighty-one passengers are reported to have survived the plane crash that has all but wiped out an entire football club. I'm sure all supporters throughout the world will take a moment to pause for thought and pay tribute to those that perished. Our heartfelt sympathy and condolences go out to all involved. Life is too short. Celebrating their greatest achievement one week, wiped out the next. Life can be so cruel. RIP. The wheat seems to be getting separated from the chaff in the Premiership as the cream of the crop are rising to the top, opening up a gap to the rest suffering with blight, with St Johnstone having a foot in both camps. Unfortunately we seem to be firmly entrenched with the chaff just one point from the bottom of the table. However, It is very tight at the foot with a mere two points between Partick in 12th and Motherwell in 6th, with St Johnstone trying to bridge the gap a further four points ahead. Last time out St Johnstone were beaten 4-2 by our neighbours in Perth. The Saint's were two down at the break and fell further behind before form player Danny Swanson reduced the deficit. Steven Maclean pulled another back but Liam Boyce put the game to bed with a late winner to leave TommyWright bemoaning their poor defending of cross balls. That's no wins in their last four games now as St Johnstone head towards the chaff. Inverness ended their Indian sign hoodoo over Dundee by going down 2-1 at Dens Park. Despite dominating possession, clear chances were hard to come by and we paid the penalty for once more being wasteful in the final third. Signed on again Carl Tremarco scored our counter with around ten minutes to go but we fell short despite Richie Foran claiming we were at our best. The visiting fans would dispute that as we ended our dominance in this fixture and are now five games without a win. Iain Vigurs left the field injured and Lewis Horner saw red in stoppage time and that summed up our day. You have to go back two years for the last Inverness win at Perth and with only one win in our last ten visits, the omens are not great. We did win the first fixture between the clubs this season, but it took a last gasp poke from Josh Meekings to win the game. Ross Draper opened the scoring on the hour but Richard Foster thundered home a venemous shot with ten minutes to go to draw Saints level. Justice was served in injury time when Meekings scored and the points deservedly stayed in the North on this occasion. This was our first win of the season after a dismal start to the campaign. We have not really kicked on though with only three league wins so far, hence our lowly position. Good news for Inverness fans is that Carl Tremarco has extended his stay at the club. He has a one year deal with an option for another. That virtually makes it a two year deal as Carl loves life in the Highlands and he has made the left back slot his own since the departure of Graeme Shinnie. He is also getting a name for himself as a bit of a goal scorer with a target of ten for the season, he is half way there. Tremarco's signature comes hot on the heels of Alex Fisher who signed on until the end of the season. Murray Davidson should be back in the squad after suffering from an ankle injury. Zander Clark and Joe Shaughnessy could be fit for selection but Chris Millar, Keith Watson and Ally Gilchrist will not be fit enough for inclusion. Lewis Horner is suspended for this one and Liam Polworth, Kevin McNaughton, Scott Boden and Alex Fisher are all out. Brad Mckay is another who will be absent after missing out last week with a Shinnie injury. Raven has suffered a further injury after returning from concussion, but could yet make the starting XI. Iain Vigurs took a knock last week but should be fit. tm4tj prediction:- these are historically insipid affairs with low scoring the order of the day. Both clubs are on poor runs just now and nothing tells me that this will be any different. Inverness are struggling for fit players and will rely heavily on providing service for lone striker Lonsana Doumbouya. St Johnstone have a quality player in Danny Swanson and he could be the difference between the sides. I can't see an away win given our injury problems, but a draw would be most welcome. It's going to be a long hard season.

Dundee end Inverness hoodoo Inverness crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Dens Park despite dominating for long spells. This was Dundee's first win over Inverness since the Challenge Cup Final in 2009. League games go back 11 years since Dundee last won. Goals from young star Craig Wighton and Kostadin Gadzhalov were enough for Dundee despite a late Carl Tremarco strike for the visitors, but it was Dundee who held on for that crucial win which lifts them to seventh in the league as we slump to tenth, just one point off the bottom. Our miserable day was complete when Lewis Horner was red carded in injury time. Brad Mckay missed out with a shin injury sustained against Aberdeen and Lewis Horner was his replacement with David Raven also unavailable. Greg Tansey returned from suspension. The home side were without Yordi Teijsse and Craig Wighton continued in attack with Nicky Low and Mark O'Hara also unavailable. Rig made the journey as he does to most games, here's what he saw............ Really disappointing result and performance. Foran is kidding himself if he thinks that was our best performance of the season though I suspect he is deflecting attention from the players. Whilst we did knock the ball about pretty well, especially in the first half, all too often our final ball was lacking or Dundee snuffed out any threat. The likes of King and Doran far to often failed to send in a really good cross for Doumbouya to attack and most of our efforts on goal were long range strikes that were always sent flying well over the bar and seldom troubled Bain. Good goal from Wighton to open the scoring driving right at Warren and slotting the ball beyond Fon Williams in the style of Thierry Henry. Dundee also had a penalty claim when Draper tangled with McGowan but it was difficult to see what happened from the other end of the ground. Just before half time there was a bit of a scramble in the Dundee box after a Tansey corner wasn't cleared and despite a number of sclaffed efforts towards goal no ICT player was able to turn it into the net. Half Time 1-0 Second half was much of the same. ICT tended to dominate possession but Dundee created better chances. The second goal largely killed the game off. Free kick on the ICT left was whipped in by Hately, Doumbouya missed the ball and Gadzhalov powered the ball into the net. Whilst we did get a goal back when Tremarco somehow found the net after Bain appeared to cock up his attempted save bagging an equaliser probably wouldn't have been deserved. Full Time 2-1 Dundee were much better than when we cuffed them earlier in the season whereas we seem to have gone backwards somewhat. Despite playing with 'proper' wide men in Doran and King we didn't really get much joy down the left or right flanks and Doran seemed to spend most of his time cutting in from the right and sitting inside leaving Draper to play on the right for large parts of the first half which seemed a bit odd. Vigurs went off injured which might go some way to explain his complete lack of effort when trying to defend Dundee attacks in the second half. Another injury is not really what we need with Polworth and Mackay out but hopefully the former is back soon especially with Raven out and Horner now suspended. We're starting to look a wee bit thin, low on confidence and pretty toothless up front. Some massive games coming up now against St Johnstone, Hamilton and Killie. I think we really need at least two wins from that lot. Going to be a tight old season this one. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dundee:- Bain, Holt, Vincent (Williams 64), O'Dea, Hateley, McGowan, Haber (Etxabeguren 90), Gadzhalov, Kerr, Wighton, Gomis. Subs not used:- Mitchell (GK), Loy, Duffy, El Bakhtaoui, Curran. Inverness CT:- Fon Williams, Tremarco, Warren, Meekings, Draper, Doran (Boden 74), Vigurs (Cole 81), Tamsey, Horner, King (Mulraney 66), Doumbouya. Subs not used:- Esson (GK), Sutherland, Macrae. Referee:- Andrew Dallas. Attendance:- 5094.