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Scottish Cup Movement A bit of light relief this weekend as Scottish Cup action takes centre stage. It's off to Paisley to face St Mirren in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup at St Mirren Park, or the Simple Digital Arena or even the SMISA Stadium, whatever cranks yer handle. Well it would have taken centre stage had the Duke of Edinburgh not taken his leave of this earth. With his funeral kicking-off at 3:00pm all Scottish Cup ties have been moved from the traditional kick-off slots and we find ourselves heading to Paisley for an early Friday night start at 6:00pm. The climax to the Championship season is going down to the wire apart from already promoted Hearts. Everyone else has something to play for although Alloa will do well to get out of this one with only three games left. So with the business end of the season in full swing, the Cup will be a welcome distraction for the Caley Jags, or Caley Jabs as we are now known given our vaccination involvement. Three games left to decide our fate. Dundee (H), Hearts (A), Ayr United (H). Anyway, that's for another Preview. STREAMING £12 OFFICIAL PREVIEW TODOROV STATEMENT DAVID CARSON To the Cup We find ourselves here having squeezed past Buckie away then eliminating Ross County at Dingwall. Dan Mackay's goal against County has been nominated for goal of the round. This will be our third away game in a row in the Cup and our seventh out of the last eight games overall. During that run we have won six on the bounce and a draw on Saturday against Queen of the South where Nikolay Todorov scored his tenth goal of the season. Check out the contenders for goal of the round St Mirren entered the Cup in the 3rd round and beat Hamilton 0-3 Jamie McGrath (2) and Kristian Dennis were the scorers. McGrath's first was a great lofted finish (see video above) in the fourth minute, his second a penalty and Dennis ended the scoring with a long range curling strike which can also be seen in the goal of the round contenders. Our last win over the Buddies was in February 2015 at St Mirren Park when goals by Greg Tansey and Ryan Christie were enough to see off the Buddies who replied through Jim Goodwin. Incidentally, the last time we met in the Cup, we trounced St Mirren 4-0 in a replayed tie in Inverness following a 1-1 draw in Paisley. We went on to lift the Cup that year. Deja Vu anyone? No replays this time out, extra time and penalties should it go that far. St Mirren's last season playing us regularly saw them win the Chamionship, beating us three times and drawing one. St Mirren's last outing was a surprise 1-0 defeat to Motherwell where they dominated for long spells and the result was compounded when McGrath missed a first half penalty. Last 10 Competitive Meetings with St Mirren (2018 - 2014) - St Mirren's last FIVE Championship games -> D W L D L 2 - 2 (H) 0 - 1 (A) 0 - 2 (H) 2 - 4 (A) 2 - 1 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 4 - 0 (H) 1 - 1 (A) 1 - 0 (A) 2 - 2 (H) Double congratulations are due to born again David Carson for some tremendous performances at right back since his return from injury. Not only has he been awarded the Championship Player of the Month award for March, but he has agreed a three year contract to keep him here until 2024. He has kept some tricky players quiet at right back during this spell, notably against Raith Rovers and Dunfermline where he scored his first goal for the club as they claimed the three points. He has continued this form into April with tremendous performances at Dingwall in the Cup and at Cappiellow in the League where he made his 50th appearance for the Caley Jags in a 4-1 win. Brad Mckay also get's a mention for inclusion in the team of the week for sterling defensive work at Dingwall, Morton and Palmerston. Great recognition for the work the Caley Jags have been doing under the temporary leadership of Neil McCann and Billy Dodds. ***Latest Team News*** We have bigger fish to fry as we enter the final three games in the Championship. Neil McCann has a balancing act to get right as we strive to push for a top four finish. So does he go all out for a cup shock or does he keep his top players fresh for the Championship run-in. James Keatings has not featured much since news of his departure leaked out and injuries came along, but I wonder if the cup will see him re-instated. Unsettling news about on form Toddy, I hope he can put this behind him for now and do what he does best. Maybe we could wheel Ross Tokely out for this one, the Buddies fans love him! Jim Goodwin has built a battle hardened side who can play with the best of them on their day. Former County captain Marcus Fraser has been performing well for the Buddies. Attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath is top scorer so far this season with thirteen goals to his credit. Striker Jon Obika is struggling to make this one and midfielder Ryan Flynn has picked up a hamstring strain and could be out for a month. Colin Quaner (medial ligament) and Eamonn Brophy (broken foot) are also receiving treatment and unlikely to feature. They will also have to get through this tie without their manager in the dugout. St Mirren have confirmed that manager Jim Goodwin has been issued with a three-match suspension after breaching Disciplinary Rule 203 in the match against Hamilton Academical on Saturday 20th March. He will serve two matches immediately beginning with the cup tie against Inverness. St Mirren's starting XI v Motherwell: Jak Alnwick; Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughnessy, Connolly, Flynn, Erhahon, Doyle-Hayes, Durmus, Erwin, McGrath Subs: Lyness; Tait, McAllister, MacPherson, Finlayson, Reid, Dennis, Henderson View full article

Great news, what a signing.

Full highlights

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts 1. Hearts 24 15 5 4 56 24 50 2. Raith Rovers 24 11 7 6 42 29 40 3. Dundee 24 10 8 6 44 38 38 4. Inverness CT 24 8 10 6 33 25 34 5. Dunfermline 24 8 9 7 31 29 33 6. Q.O.S. 24 9 4 11 37 46 31 7. Ayr United 24 6 9 9 29 31 27 8. Arbroath 24 6 8 10 21 30 26 9. Morton 24 6 8 10 21 32 26 10. Alloa Athletic 24 4 6 14 27 57 18

That's a great result for Rovers winning in Dumfries

Awww shucks Scotty Yeah it was mind numbing stuff at times but great to see it all come together. IBM is now the main man for keeping our PotY poll running smoothly and EWD has been adding stats after every game plus all league scores that keep the league tables ticking over as well as completing the updating of every score since we entered the leagues, that's the one that gives us the league tables in chronological order. All this helps immensely and leaves me more time to concentrate on Previews and Reports which have been coming thick and fast this season, non stop to be honest. These previews and reports are not necessarily aimed at our own site users but are the front face of the site for anyone dropping in for a look. So although our own likes/dislikes are not massive, we know that some articles get a lot of views so that's pleasing. They also get promoted to Caley Thistle Online Facebook page and Twitter account. As Scotty said if anyone wants a shot at doing any articles/overviews or just anything ICT related just let us know. Maybe my bloggy style of reporting cheeses some off, who knows but unless anyone else wants a shot, then you will have to put up with me So big thanks to IBM & EWD for helping out diligently and taking time off their own routines to keep this site ticking over.

Don't trust the BeeB Dunfermline v Dundee kicked off at 6:00pm and is live on BBC Scotland. On laptop if not on tv.

Well deserved

Club Statement

Could still be a massive night for us though. Both games kick off at 7:00pm Dunfermline v Dundee Queen of the South v Raith Rovers Pld W D L F A +/- Pts 1. Hearts 24 15 5 4 56 24 32 50 2. Raith Rovers 23 10 7 6 41 29 12 37 3. Dundee 23 10 7 6 44 38 6 37 4. Inverness CT 24 8 10 6 33 25 8 34 5. Dunfermline 23 8 8 7 31 29 2 32 6. Queen of the South 23 9 4 10 37 45 -8 31 7. Ayr United 24 6 9 9 29 31 -2 27 8. Arbroath 24 6 8 10 21 30 -9 26 9. Morton 24 6 8 10 21 32 -11 26 10. Alloa Athletic 24 4 6 14 27 57 -30 18

Why don't we just play it first thing in the morning.

CTO Report published...

Queen of the South: Manager: Allan Johnstone Lineup: Ferguson; Gibson, Breen, Buchanan, Maxwell, Obileye, Shields, McCabe, Mebude, Dickson, Jones Subs (not used): Leighfield; McKee, Fitzpatrick, Joseph, Pybus, East, Dobbie

Big day today, six-pointer at best, must not lose at worst

Can we be King of Queens? Down to the nitty gritty now and another crucial game ahead as we travel to Palmerston Park Dumfries for what is the start of the proverbial six-pointers with only four games left in the Championship. Queens on Saturday at 3:00pm, our sixth away game out of the last seven, then Dundee (H), Hearts (A), Ayr United (H). It's a difficult closing run to the season when you consider our immediate target, Dunfermline, close out the season against bottom teams Arbroath and Alloa. As the table stands, we are only three points ahead of Queens going in to this game and they still have a game in hand. OFFICIAL PREVIEW STREAMING INFO £10 We started the week in fine fettle as we clinically beat Morton 4-1 at Cappielow thanks to stunning goals from Allardice, Todorov (2) and Dan Mackay. The strikers must have taken a bottle of Hot Toddy's stunning goal linctus as every goal was sublime, maybe none better than Toddy's second goal when he chested the ball down and volleyed spectacularly past keeper McAdams. We toiled for a time on the poor surface at Cappielow before two quick goals approaching the break put us in control. Ton pulled one back as they rallied after the break but the wind was taken out of their sails with Toddy's spectacular intervention and Dan added the icing on the cake when he curled a beauty of his own into the top corner. Great goals and a good win at what is often a difficult place to get all three points at times. Neil McCann was full of praise for the side after that one, and rightly so. Enjoy these goals again, not often you get four crackers in the same game... Here's the league table ahead of the Hearts v Alloa game on Friday night. Pld W D L F A +/- Pts 1. Hearts 23 14 5 4 50 24 26 47 2. Raith Rovers 22 10 6 6 39 27 12 36 3. Dundee 22 10 6 6 43 37 6 36 4. Inverness CT 23 8 9 6 32 24 8 33 5. Dunfermline 22 8 7 7 30 28 2 31 6. Queen of the South 22 9 3 10 36 44 -8 30 7. Ayr United 23 6 8 9 28 30 -2 26 8. Arbroath 23 6 7 10 19 28 -9 25 9. Morton 23 6 7 10 20 31 -11 25 10. Alloa Athletic 23 4 6 13 27 51 -24 18 Last 10 Competitive Meetings with Queen of the South - Queens last SIX League games since beating us 0-1-> W- W-W - L-L-W 0 - 1 (H) 3 - 0 (A) 3 - 1 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 2 - 0 (H) 2 - 0 (A) 1 - 2 (H) 3 - 3 (A) 0 - 0 (H) 2 - 0 (A) Dunfermline recently took a 5-1 hammering from Raith Rovers but bounced back to hold Hearts to a 0-0 draw which is the result that yoyo'ed them back above us momentarily. Such is the fixture chaos this season, it won't become clear until the final two games who is maybe going where. Queen of the South went out of the cup on Monday night, going down 3-1 to an impressive Hibernian. James Maxwell scored what proved to be a late consolation goal for the Doonhamers. Nortei Nortey scored the only goal in the Highlands but is likely to miss this game. Their form shows that since they beat us in Inverness they have won four and lost three including the cup game with Hibs. During that run they have had impressive wins over Dundee, Dunfermline Hearts and Arbroath, but suffered defeats to Alloa and Morton. It's a funny old game! A repeat of the away game at Palmerston earlier in the season would be maybe stretching the bounds of possibility a tad, but a backs to the wall scrappy win will suffice. Points make prizes as they say and that's what we need to do to keep in the hunt for a top four finish. Who knew we would be in this position after a season destroyed by injuries, weather and viruses? ***Latest Team News*** Duffy, Doran, Keatings and Welsh missed out at Morton, Welsh being replaced after the warm up but he could be available for this crucial game. Sadly, McDonald's season is probably a right-off. Nikolay Todorov scored his ninth goal of the season, and what a goal it was. Toddy is on a roll just now and young Dan Mackay notched his seventh. Good return from these guys of late after a slow start to the season. Allan Johnstone had this team out against Hibs in the Scottish Cup: Ferguson, Gibson, Buchanan, Breen, Maxwell, Obileye, McCabe, Dickson, Joseph (Jones 56′), Dobbie (McKee 76′), Shields (Mebude 76′) As always, Stephen Dobbie is a big threat and Connor Shields is the man on form with plenty pace and power, and like Toddy, nine goals in the bank as well. Nortei Nortey looks likely to miss out but Dan Pybus could return and Isaiah Jones played for half an hour in the cup game on his return from injury. View full article

We don't really have enough time left for a slip up here and there. We only have four games left, no scope for slip-ups. In truth it's almost out of our own hands even if we win every game. Defeat at Palmerston will possibly end our chances with Dunfermline playing Arbroath and Alloa in their final two games and Queens also having a game in hand. All ifs and buts at the moment...

Have some...

I wouldn't particularly say it flattered us. We could have scored another two or three but that's being greedy. Plenty of huff and puff by Morton but little cutting edge. The pitch was a great leveller early on. After the break Morton got their reward for hard graft but when Toddy scored his sensational goal the wheels fell off the Morton buggy. Dan was the icing on the cake, so thoroughly deserved win at an often difficult venue. Same again on Saturday on a better surface and things will be looking up. Its goals that count and we got three more than them, good enough for me.