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Rugby Park Loss Inverness made the long journey home with no points after Kyle Lafferty scored an early goal after good work by Daniel Mackay down the right wing. What a kick in the teeth that was. Very little to choose between the sides as neither side dominated and clear chances were at a premium with Killie probably having the better of them. Without five regulars, this was always going to be a difficult ask, and so it turned out, but our recent signings look like they could offer something once they are up to speed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Billy Dodds shoestring squad were bolstered by January sales incomers Logan Chalmers, Sam Pearson, Joe Hardy and Austin Samuels. However, we were without regulars Scott Allardice, Danny Devine, Aaron Doran, Roddy MacGregor and Billy Mckay through injury and that leaves us with the bare minimum on the bench. Chalmers and Pearson started and Wallace Duffy was at right back. Killie have the luxury of a large squad and experienced January signings. They will be looking to the selected players to guide them back to the Premiership at the earliest opportunity given the resources they have spent trying to achieve this. None moreso than new gaffer Derek McInnes, Kyle Lafferty and Ash Taylor, with former Caley Jags players Liam Polworth, and Daniel Mackay also in the squad, with nine players on their bench, almost enough for two strong teams. After a tentative beginning, Kilmarnock opened the scoring when Shane Sutherland failed to deal with a ball cleared towards the halfway line by Tom Walsh. Instead of creating an attack, he ended up passing the ball back towards Cammy Harper. Unfortunately Daniel Mackay read it and skinned Harper with a burst of pace before firing a dangerous cross low into the area, where high profile signing Kyle Lafferty met the ball at the far side of the box to power a controlled shot into the net from six yards. We responded well to this setback and Walsh shot from a tight angle, but the ball was tipped round the post for a corner by keeper Hemming as it flashed across the goal. Mackay went close for Killie as he was set free on the right side of the box, but his low shot rolled across the face of the goal and just wide. Despite the Caley Jags enjoying plenty of possession, it was the same old story of little to no clear chances in the opposition box and we went in one down at the interval. HALF TIME : 1-0 Five minutes into the second half and Killie had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for a hand ball as Euan Murray tried to force the ball in from close range. Oli Shaw should have added a second after the ball landed at his feet in the box from a rebound, but he fluffed his shot and it rolled harmlessly wide.... thankfully. Ridgers pulled off a good save from the industrious McKenzie as he shot from the edge of the box to keep us within touching distance. Austin Samuels had been introduced in the second half and looks to have something different, a bit of pace and the newbies looked a bit more direct than what we have been subject to in recent weeks. Samuels did have a half chance charged down as he cut along the line towards goal, the final ball being blocked and cleared when a cut back might have produced something, alas, still an all too familiar scenario. Plenty of the ball around the box, but little real opportunity to score. FULL TIME: 1-0 Despite our possession, we were still unable to create any clear chances and a draw would have been the most we could have come away with. However, you pay the right money for the right player and you reap the rewards, and that's what Killie got with Kyle Lafferty and his smart finish from a tremendous cross from Dan Mackay. That's six games without a win, and that's relegation form in any language. Just as well we caught the rest cold at the start of the season. Maybe the January sales will have unearthed a wee gem, here's hoping... From BBC Sport Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "The goal was terrific. Dan MacKay was very capable today and Kyle Lafferty still had a lot to do - the technique to put the ball in the back of the net was really pleasing. The fans were different class and really played their part." Inverness CT manager Billy Dodds: "First half I thought two or three of my players didn't believe we were going to win the game. That let us down and we lost the goal. In the second half we really dug in, but I still think they have to push their bodies that bit more." Highlights from Killie TV Another cut'n paste from Billy... Austin Samuels Date: 29/01/2022 Venue: Rugby Park, Kilmarnock Attendance: 4790 Referee: Don Robertson Kilmarnock: 1 Manager: Derek McInnes Lineup: Hemming; Hodson, Sanders (E Murray 45), Taylor, Haunstrup, McKenzie, Tait (McGinn 88), F Murray, Mackay (Alston 74), Shaw, Lafferty (Burke 68) Subs (not used): Walker; Waters, Armstrong, Polworth, Cameron Scorers: Lafferty (9) Booked: Haunstrup (61) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 0 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy (Carson 82), Broadfoot, Deas, Harper (L Nicolson 82), Walsh (Hardy 46), Welsh, McAlear, Pearson (Samuels 63), Sutherland (Duku 86), Chalmers Subs (not used): C Mackay; Hyde Scorers: none Booked: Deas (2), Broadfoot (25) Sent Off: none a

Six Pointers are here Big game at the sharp end of the Table as rudderless Inverness travel to Rugby Park to take on 'all their eggs in one basket' Kilmarnock. Saturday 3:00pm is the scheduled kick off time which I'm certain that Killie fans will be looking forward to this with more optimism than the trepidated nail biting Caley Jags fans. Could be a long day... How we are still in the mix after an alarming run of games without a win is a mystery in itself. It seems to get worse when we struggle against teams in the chasing pack, yet we have beaten Killie twice this season already. OFFICIAL PREVIEW WHICH INCLUDES MATCH/STREAMING/TICKET INFO SUPPORTERS BUS 07462218717 CaleyClub at 9.15 and stadium at 9.30 Venue Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 24 11 9 4 44 32 +12 Away 25 8 6 11 36 44 -8 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 49 19 15 15 80 76 +4 Last two Competitive Meetings 1 - 0 (H) 1 - 0 (A) Inverness won the first encounter at Rugby Park this season when a late Mich*** Gar**** goal stunned the hosts. The return fixture in Inverness was a tight affair and it was a spectacular goal from Sean Welsh that won the points for Inverness. That result put us top of the league and two points ahead of Killie after sixteen games. Arbroath were fifth, four points behind Inverness. Surely they would fall away... Click on the links above to read the reports and see the goals, both stunning strikes. Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts 1. Arbroath 22 11 8 3 35 16 41 2. Inverness CT 22 10 8 4 30 18 38 3. Kilmarnock 21 11 4 6 27 15 37 4. Raith Rovers 22 9 8 5 29 22 35 5. Partick Thistle 20 9 6 5 33 19 33 6. Hamilton Ac. 22 6 6 10 24 37 24 7. Ayr United 21 5 6 10 19 34 21 8. Morton 21 4 8 9 24 31 20 9. Dunfermline 22 3 10 9 20 37 19 10. Q.O.S. 21 4 6 11 21 33 18 Fixtures this weekend Friday 7:45 Morton v Rovers Saturday 3:00 Arbroath v Partick Accies v Ayr Utd Kilmarnock v Inverness CT Queens v Dunfermline Much has changed since our first encounter in September. Tommy Wright was binned in favour of the well respected Derek McInnes, seen as the man to lead them back into the promised land. Kyle Lafferty is the latest big signing along with the experienced Ash Taylor, the former Aberdeen defender. The slap in the face comes with the loan signing of Daniel Mackay from Hibernian. That one hurt somewhat. Another Hibee Dylan Tait is also a good bit of business for the Rugby Park side. Now here's the disparity... Not a club renowned for playing our hand early, we have loaned in three inexperienced forwards in Sam Pearson, Logan Chalmers and Joe Hardy. Hardy is the latest recruit and he comes in from Accrington Stanley until the end of the season. Going the opposite direction out the door are the disruptive Michael Gardyne, mostly injured Anthony McDonald and rarely seen loan signing Lewis Jamieson, who has been farmed back out to Clyde where I'm sure he will be well received and get some game time. Latest Team News Inverness have been dealt a couple of hammer blows on top of our already wafer thin squad frailties. Scott Allardice is out for the season and Danny Devine suffered a possible season ending injury last week against Dunfermline. Add those to current crocks Aaron Doran, Roddy MacGregor, and Billy Mckay, then we are down to the bare bones. More injury updates in official preview link at top of page. Even Later than the Latest News Inverness Caledonian Thistle can confirm the signing of striker Austin Samuels from Wolves on a permanent 18-month deal, subject to international clearance. Austin, 21-years-old, is an Academy Graduate at Wolves, having been with the club since the age of 10. While at Wolves, Austin has had loan spells with Kidderminster Harriers, Bradford City and Aberdeen. Austin is also a former England youth International. Austin becomes the club’s fourth summer signing alongside Sam Pearson, Logan Chalmers and Joe Hardy. Killie have strength in depth, and with tried and trusted incomers, then they have little to worry about. One that sticks in the throat somewhat is Daniel Mackay and to a lesser extent, Liam Polworth. Both will likely feature at some point for the visitors. Interesting joust between Kyle Lafferty Kirk Broadfoot incoming... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Friday night, there's an u18 Scottish Cup Quarter Final at the Caledonian Stadium Free Entry The ICT Under 18s have a massive Scottish Youth Cup Quarter Final against Auchinleck Talbot U18s this Friday at the Caledonian Stadium. Entry is FREE via Gate Four near the South Stand, with seating available in the Main Stand for this match. There will be a Kiosk open in the Main Stand Concourse. Come down and support the Young ICT Players as the look to each the Scottish Youth Cup Semi-Finals!

More points thrown away 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Big Changes in the Inverness starting XI today. Injured/ill were Scott Allardice, Aaron Doran, Roddy MacGregor and Billy Mckay. On the bench were new loan faces Sam Pearson and Logan Chalmers with Cammy Harper and Manny Duku returning to the starting line-up. John Hughes had Nikolay Todorov on the bench with Fon Williams in goal and Coll Donaldson in defence. Steven Lawless started up front. Inverness started the game pressing high and forcing the pace of the game with their hosts struggling to create anything of note. Despite plenty of possession in the first half, chances were still thin on the ground. With Mckay and Doran missing it was left to goalless striker Manny Duku to try and break his Championship duck. Easy to see why he hasn't scored this season when after breaking clear on the right, he ran out of puff and tried a shot from a ridiculous angle and distance, the ball trundling goalwards to end the opportunity. Five minutes before the break we opened the scoring through a well taken strike from Shane Sutherland. He gambled on a deep cross from Reece McAlear clearing everyone in the box and drilled a first time volley just inside the post from twelve yards. Good goal and just what we needed. We ended the half on top and stupidly the fans were optimistic ahead of the restart. HALF TIME: 0-1 It didn't take long for the optimism to dissipate after the break and turn to despair as the Pars realised we had run our race. It might have been different had Tom Walsh been able to control a volley from the edge of the box, alas it went high over the bar. But for a point blank save from Mark Ridgers, the Pars should have levelled the game when he blocked an effort by Kevin O'Hara from two yards ten minutes after the break, the keeper getting down early to keep the ball out. Shane Sutherland might have done better with a header, but it was straight at the keeper and at the other end Coll Donaldson headed just wide as the pressure intensified around the Inverness goal. The leveller came from the spot after David Carson blocked a cross with his arm, Steven Lawless rolling in the ball after Ridgers went early. No more than Pars deserved with Inverness going back into their shell. A tense ending saw Ridgers deny Donaldson as he saved his header but we held on for a point. FULL TIME 1-1 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! The goals Change the record Billy... Date: 22/01/2022 Venue: East End Park, Dunfermline Attendance: 3138 Referee: Steven Reid Dunfermline: 1 Manager: John Hughes Lineup: OF Williams; Comrie, Donaldson, Martin, Edwards, Dow (Dorrans 62), Pybus, Todd (Cole 63), Allan (O'Hara 45), Lawless, McCann Subs (not used): Mehmet; Jones, Todorov, Macdonald Scorers: Lawless (80 pen) Booked: Allan (34), Cole (81), McCann (82) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 1 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Carson, Broadfoot, Devine (Duffy 45+2), Deas, Walsh, Welsh, McAlear, Harper (Pearson 72), Sutherland, Duku (Chalmers 67) Subs (not used): C Mackay; Hyde, L Nicolson, Jamieson Scorers: Sutherland (39) Booked: Devine (10), McAlear (70), Carson (79) Sent Off: none a