Caley Mad In Berks

Now Shinnie gives away a soft penalty - scored of course!

ffs Another gift to Utd. Our defence is non existent. Brill having a nightmare, not helped by schoolboy errors from Warren and now Meekings.

I thought Tansey was a decent player first time round, and was quite pleased to see him come back. His spell in England seems to have made him a better player, and, from what I understand, a harder worker than before.

Yes, excellent result, and a big confidence boost before the derby match mid week. I'll happily settle for the same scoreline in Dingwall. Well done lads for a result which keeps us well in touch with Aberdeen and Motherwell.

Just got round to watching the highlights. I know highlights show only a snapshot of the game, but it did appear that we did enough to win that game at a canter. Watkins and Mckay both missed chances that looked easier to score from! Is the million pound (or higher) price tag suggested by many on this forum getting to him a bit? He certainly has lost the regular scoring knack recently, although he works as hard as ever. Let's hope he finds his scoring boots again soon.

Tough draw for us, but winnable. Let's hope Aberdeen and Rangers meet in one semi and we play Raith in the other. I fancy beating Rangers in the final.

Yes, I banged on about Sam Winnall more than once during the transfer window. It would not surprise me if, or should I say when, he leaves Scunthorpe, that he commands a higher fee than we might get for Billy. And yet, he was not rated here in the previous management regime. Did he ever get a start for us? I can't remember.

Well, nearly 'after the Lord Mayor's show'. But we are still in the draw, and I'll take that. Assuming we win replay I'd like to avoid Aberdeen. We'll save them for the final. Great that Celtic are out as well. Let's get back to league business now for a few weeks and try and keep in the hunt for 2nd place.

I disagree with the above post. Whether one sees them as gory hunters or not, surely the more we have at the final the better. There is absolutely no need to issue vouchers at home games preceding the final. Its not as if there will be any shortage of space at Parkhead. Edited I meant Alan's post

Well, that's my flights booked! Hope they don't change it from Glasgow now!

Could not agree more. He came of age yesterday for me, and I'm sure it will only do his confidence good for the future.

After looking again at the penalties, I think I'd give the job to Tansey. His penalty was unstoppable, as was Nick's. Billy's was the best I've seen him take. Draper's was as cool as you like. Even Shinnie's wasn't badly hit, just too close to, and at a good height for the keeper, who guessed right too. But on balance, Tansey for me. He hits them with such power, that I doubt any keeper could stop them, even if they got a hand to one.

I'd prefer a full Easter Road, probable about 5K of us and 15k of them. Wherever it is I hope they decide soon so that I can get my flights booked.

Just got back home after watching the game with friends in Oxfordshire. I missed almost half an hour at the start because of flooding near the Thames. It would have been a travesty if we had lost that. Warren's second yellow was hardly even a foul. Meekings was just stupid, showing a bit of immaturity. But against all odds we triumphed. That goal by Nick Ross may prove to be the most valuable in our 20 year history, and Tansey's strike was worthy of winning any match. What an inspired decision getting him back to ICT. And what about the penalties! All except Shinnie's were great. I guess we must have been practising. And Dean's two saves made all previous talk on here about replacing him with Esson for the shoot out look like so much nonsense. I can't tell you how proud I was of our extra time effort in denying Hearts. We even created the better chances in the second period. Heroes all, and very difficult to pick a MOM. I'd give it equally to the nine who finished the game.

I've woken up with a sense of excitement, expectation, and, if I'm honest, some apprehension. I cannot be there this time, but I wish all the ICT team, management and supporters a wonderful day out, ending of course with a deserved win against Hearts. I'll be with you in spirit, and indeed spirits before and after the match , which I'll catch on TV. Safe journey, and see you at the final.

I see we've been drawn in same group as England. Shouldn't come last then!!

I don't think the apprehension is much to do with Stevenson. It is just that, apart from against Aberdeen, we have been fairly poor in recent weeks, whereas Hearts are coming on to their game Coupled with the nagging fear that history might repeat itself and that we'll throw it away again. Let's hope it will turn out all right on the day. I think ICT really needs a win here to get our season back on track. I thought we'd done that at Aberdeen, but the Killie game raised doubts again.

I wouldn't want him back either. He 'huffed and puffed' a lot but was never a real goal scorer for us. I only remember one really good goal he got (Killie in the 6-3 was it?), when he won the ball with a good header in the centre circle and ran the rest of the way to score.

IHE, Park it in our goalmouth! Dean Brill will wash it for you. Hopefully he'll have nothing else to do!

I can't find the Barry Fry article either. You're right Yngwie, Billy's lack of goals in recent weeks undoubtedly will have put off some interested parties. As I've said in earlier posts on this thread I always thought many posters on here were hugely optimistic with their valuations in the millions for Billy. A nice hat trick on the big stage on Sunday might change things in the summer.

Yes, I'm sure most ICT fans will wish him well there. I'm sure he will do well, and who knows, its not beyond the bounds of possibility that he'll end up back with us in the future.

I think some folk are over analysing the reasons for Hughes' appointment, almost to the extent of believing there were ulterior motives etc. Is it not the case that the board made the appointment in all good faith, believing Hughes was the right man for the job? Call me naïve if you will, but that is what I'd like to believe. Maybe they got it wrong, only time will tell.

Obviously changes need to be made after the Killie showing. We need our strongest side out. I like the look of hislopsoffsideagain's suggestion. I definitely think Tansey deserves a start after his showing v Dons. Devine for Meekings if the latter's injury prevents him playing.

Well, that wasn't in the script! When did we last win after being behind? Today, hopefully!

I wasn't talking about work rate. I agree Mckay is second to none in that department. I was thinking more about his ratio of goals scored to the chances he has had. I think most people would admit he misses more than a few! However, I do concede that maybe his work rate helps in creating the chances in the first place. I would just like to see him convert a few more.