PerfICT

crowd was 3600ish

I'll give it a go, but go easy on me! The game kicked off in beautiful sunshine, with ICT facing into a low, irritating sun. Caley Thistle started brightly, with a spell of reasonable pressure culminating in a decent strike from Tansey from the edge of the area which was well parried by the keeper. Elgin responded with some pressure of their own, which was ultimately rewarded with a goal. Vigurs picked up the ball in the deep, but dithered and got dispossessed. In trying to win it back, he made a clumsy challenge, resulting in a free kick on the edge of the box, right of centre. Nicholson hit the free kick low at the right end of the wall. From where I was standing, it went under the last man in the wall and OFW failed to keep it out, despite getting his hand to it. Caley Thistle responded almost immediately, with Doumbouya meeting a great cross to power into the net, but the goal was disallowed, presumably for a push. Undeterred, ICT continued to press and Cole burst into the box down the left, cut in and placed a beauty in the right corner to equalise. Further chances came ICT's way late in the half, with Doumbouya, Cole and Warren all going close. HT 1-1. The second half was altogether more comfortable for Caley Thistle, with long spells of possession, with Elgin restricted to hitting on the break. Cole was bossing things with pace and tricks aplenty - Elgin had no answer to him. Doumbouya spurned several good headed chances, one well saved, one off the bar and one glaring miss. Vigurs nearly atoned for his mistake, with a great free kick off the bar. Finally, Doumbouya connected with a great cross from Doran (I think) and squeezed it into the net, possibly courtesy of a deflection. While ICT continued to dominate possession after the goal, Elgin looked increasingly dangerous on the break. Anier came on for his debut, with the inneffectual Boden making way. Anier controlled a tricky ball well and hit a good effort straight at the keeper from the edge of the area. In the dying minutes, Elgin created several decent chances, but Warren in particular excelled in blocking close-range shots during the last minute stramash! FT: 1-2!

Disagree with some of the posts above - we bossed long spells in the game and could have won by a few. Elgin only had very few chances...although they v nearly equalised at the death! Cole was absolutely outstanding today - everything dangerous went through him and he also did defensive duties. Defence was solid - Polworth did OK in an unfamiliar position, but got megged a couple of times. Vigurs was frustrating as ever: Guilty for the goal, great free kick off the bar, decent spells and lazy spells. Boden is nowhere near it - even against lower league opposition, he looked dreadful. Anier shoild have started. Banana skin avoided!

no Draper or Meekings.

what have you heard?

OFW Mckay. Warren. Meekings. Tremarco Draper Tansey Doran Polworth King Anier Subs: Esson, Doumbouya, Fisher, Mulraney, Ebbe, Vigurs, Raven(?) Doran and King were relatively bright sparks in a generally poor performance at Dungwall and should start. IMO, Polworth's best position is central and he did really well in the hole earlier in the season. Mulraney could be a real option for last 30 + Fisher, Doumbouya or Ebbe if needed. Think Anier will score if played.

Always thought he was a threat when he played against us, so let's hope the same is true with the boot on the other foot. Could certainly do with his pace up front!

Not in my opinion. There was a moment in the first half where he had a simple pass to play Tremarco in down the left and he failed to make it, spoiling a great opportunity. As a midfielder, you're expected to put in the effort, particularly when you lose the ball. He didn't. I just don't think he contributed at all (unless you count his spat with County players and the ref, for which he was lucky to escape a booking). I think he's talented, but he's not performing just now. Tansey wasn't great by his standards of last year, either, but he did put in a shift and hit a couple of excellent cross-field passes. Yes, his corners were not great. NB - I use the full scale for these scores, so zero is an option!

Fon Williams - 5: had thought he was culpable for the goal, but the nick off Meekings was the real issue! Looks short on confidence nevertheless. Mackay - 7: had a decent game on the whole - got up to support and generally did a decent job at the back Warren - 5: You can't fault his desire, but he appears to be struggling against pace these days. I don't think that was lost on Macintyre, who played 3 pacy strikers against him Tremarco - 9: what would we have done without him this season?? Excellent going forward (again) and was on hand to finish well for the first goal. Meekings - 7: had a good game in general, but I think was off the pitch when the 3rd goal went in (explained the hole down the middle?) Vigurs - 3: Very poor all round. Poor passing and a lack of effort (but for one occasion when he tracked back). Not the player you needd in the heart of midfield when at the bottom. Tansey - 6: A little better than recently, but still nowhere near his best. Draper - 7: gave his all as usual, but was not as influential as he can be against County. Doran - 8: Worked really hard and showed desire. Not yet back to his very best, but much better. Doumbouya - 7: Played quite well with his back to goal, but lacks pace and doesn't really carry a goal threat. Cole - 6: Played OK going forward, but lacked bite in defence. Fisher - 7: Poached well for his goal, but I'm not yet convinced by his movement. King - 7: Added some spark when he came on - decent run and shot over the bar and drew the mistake out of Fox for Fisher's goal. Boden - 6: Tried hard enough, but we've not seen enough of him to really understand what he can offer. Referee - 7: No real complaints with the referee - missed a few things, but was generally ok. Foran - 4: Out-thought by MacIntyre and needs to stop persisting with Vigurs in particular. Needs to consider whether 4-2-3-1 is really the best formation, given the players we have and the league position. For me, Polworth, Draper and Tansey at the heart of midfield is what we need. If Raven is ever fit again, that gives the option of 5 at the back when necessary; King and Doran look sharpest out wide, but there's also the possibility of going to 2 up top with Boden and King when it suits.

Agree entirely with the criticism in Rice - his odd appointment by Hughes amid Latapy's unexplained departure, coincided with a drop in form which has never really recovered. I doubt Richie had any choice in his assistant - it came with the package and was non-negotiable for financial reasons. So, we are stuck with him until his contract expires.

Dougal - Vigurs was a passenger for 95% of his time on the field in the derby. His passing was appalling and when he loses the ball he makes no effort to retrieve it - unforgivable. He made 1 positive contribution when he tracked a run in the second half...so he can do it, just chooses not to. I will continue to single him out until he shows the necessary effort to match our predicament. I don't doubt his talent or his lack of confidence, but right now we need guys willing to run through walls for the cause and Liam Polworth is streets ahead of Vigurs in that department. Richie needs to start showing faith in guys who really want it.

Don't agree that the product on the park will make any difference whatsoever to attendances - up and at 'em under Butcher, boring but effective under Hughes and now something in-between from Foran and the core support remains at 2500, with a few extra for big games. Only Hamilton have a smaller support - no surprise that these two teams are at the bottom.

OK, I've recovered sufficiently to make comment. First - tremendous ICT support throughout! Second - we were second best. County carried a threat and we didn't. Third, the first 2 goals were shambolic. Tansey missed the corner for the first and then it went from bad to worse. How the second got past OFW, I have no idea. I'm afraid Richie has ro shoulder much of the blame. Vigurs was utterly awful going forward and in defence. How he got a start ahead of Polworth, I have no idea. Time to ditch those guys who don't fight tooth and nail for the cause. Other than Tremarco, I'm not sure many got pass marks, alrhough I felt that Doran really wanted it and King made a difference when he came on. Cole did OK, but is lightweight in defence. Draper always gives his all, but wasn't at his best. Our biggest problem is up front - Doumbouya does OK with his back to goal, but doesn't look threatening. Fisher is unconvincing, but poached effectively for his goal. Boden is ineffectual. We need a break in the January window, but I don't see what we'll be able to get in with a lack of budget. Tough times ahead, but there is the core of a good team there (Excluding Vigurs). Set them up to be hard to beat and we might just survive.

Neither the board nor Foran are to blame. The fault lies - as ever - with funds. The problem is the missing thousands through the gate. Not even a victory in the oldest trophy in football was enough to make the slightest difference to home attendances. Sooner or later, the small income will catch up with us and we will fail to punch above our weight. That time might be now, but I think we have a team capable of getting us out of trouble....Richie just needs to find it, and soon! The board's job is to keep the club financially viable and that does not mean spending beyond our means. In those stark terms, the Board is faultless, with small supluses in the last few seasons.

Concern levels rising. We need to be taking points off those teams around us, but all of them seem to carry more of a threat than we do. I don't think any of them are better teams all round, but we don't have a Crawford, Coulibaly or what's his Chops at County, who can nick regular goals to make the difference. Equally, we seem to defend quite well for most of the game and then concede either a screamer or a tame one to ship points (e.g. Hamilton, Killie, Rangers, Motherwell). Bad luck? Maybe, but you make your own luck in this game and hard luck stories don't wash at the end of the season. I have no answers except to say that something needs to change. First, get guys playing in their favoured positions whenever possible. Polworth has to be more central and Draper defensive mid, for example. Second, Vigurs is a luxury player in these circumstances - you need grafters. Third, 2 up front must be worth a try - Cole or Sutherland could run the channels for Doumbouya or Fisher. Fourth, we need to scan the market for a poacher - perhaps Tansey for Storey could be negotiated (otherwise Tansey is yet another lost for free at year end). Not easy for us and certainly not at this time of year. Fifth, pray that Coulibaly and Crawford are sold in the window. We have problems, but so do other teams!

No matchday thread yet?! With Hamilton and Killie losing yesterday and County at Celtic today, this is a key game for us. Not sure who's fit for this one, but would go with: Fon Williams Raven (if fit) Meekings Warren Tremarco Draper Tansey Doran Polworth King Doumbouya I would definitely give Vigurs 30 min against his former team too. Mulraney should also get a run out. Come on, Inverness: A morale boosting win to fire us up the league, please!

.....straight up on the dressing room wall. Great team talk.

I prefer the positive approach!

Sounds like our away performances have generally been really poor this season, with the team resorting to hoofball up to the target man. Not pretty and not effective. While there have been episodes of this at home too, I wouldn't say that it's been our primary tactic. Why the difference home and away? Is it an instruction from Foran or a general lack of confidence on the road? I think having a standard number 9 encourages the behaviour. If we had 2 decent fit strikers, it might indeed be time to try 2 up front. Perhaps Cole and Fisher? Options are so limited with all the injuries and a small squad! What about Sutherland?

You've got to take your hat off to the lads: Everything going against them and they dug out a draw. Other results didn't go for us, but 2 unbeaten now. Still chances for points in the next 3 games before the New Year...surely the injury crisis has to ease??!!!

Sounds like the Alamo! Doumbouya and Mckay injured in a team ravaged by injuries! 'Mon ICT, let's steal something against all the odds!

My scores: OFW: 4- didn't havevall that much to do other than field a lame near-post free kick. Such is the lot of a goalkeeper! Points for turning out at all, with back spasms! Brad Mckay: 7 - very solid - and still carrying a knock. Jake Mulraney: 7 - flashes of brilliance intersprsed with quiet spells. A crucial hand in the goal, which is what the game is about! Carl Tremarco: 7 - great going forward and in defence. One worry is a tendency for defensive headers back across goal. Josh Meekings: 6 - not yet at his best, with some poor passing, but soldiered on after a heavy knock Iain Vigurs: 6 - better in an advanced position, but wasted free kicks. Greg Tansey: 6 - better, but still erratic with his distribution. Ross Draper: 8 - so, so,so much better in that position. Captained the side well and kept Crawford quiet. Silly booking and missed a sitter in the first half. Lewis Horner: 5 - OK going forward, but defensively suspect. Doumbaya: 7 - really led the line well and held the ball up. Fouled throughout without any protection from the ref. Cole: 8 - was a problem for Hamilton throughout. Pacey. Took his goal really well. Ref: 1 - indefensible Foran: 8 - should get credit for motivating a deflated and depleted team. Also made the right decision by switching Draper and Vigurs. Stick with it, Richie - the alternative has cost us dearly.

All things considered, that was a decent result and an entertaining game. Crawford's goal was cheeky, but really a tame shot. OFW held up an embarrassed hand to the crowd. Apart from that, Hamilton had few chances. We definitely created the better chances and should have had a penalty. One last point: All 3 officials were an embarrassment. They should hang their heads in shame after that effort at officiating.

Everything is against us, but who knows? Butcher used to be particularly good at turning adversity into advantage using seige mentality. That's what Foran needs to do today. Get those guys to respond positively to the bad luck and turn the bad run around against all the odds! C'mon Inverness!!!

According to BBC gossip (Daily Express story) we tried to postpone, but if OFW doesn't make it, we'll have to play with an outfield player in goal! What?? Even if OFW plays, we'll not have a sub keeper, so if the spasm returns, we're stuffed anyway. Not great preparation for such a crucial game: I think this shouls have been postponed in the interests of fair play.