PerfICT

RF has also been spotted helping out at youth level. Nothing more than you would expect for somebody who has indicated that he'd like to get into coaching/management and is doing his badges.

Re: the ref. thought he let a few too many incidents go yesterday. The danger is that it boils over - an early card can sometimes settle it all down. There were loads of niggly incidents in the game which resulted in a few tempers (Shinnie, Tansey and one right near the end). I thought the ref handled all of these sensibly, but they might not have happened if he'd been firmer earlier.

Brilliant result from an excellent game. The win was well-deserved, but Hamilton contributed to and end-to-end second half full of chances. Both of their goals were pretty stuffy: Just glad the bad luck affected us in a game that we scored 4! There's nobody to fear in this league and, if we can keep the squad together and keep the guys fit, Europe is there for the taking. That said, our bench is looking really strong just now: Christie and Doran on for Vincent and Williams - great strength in depth!

There really is nothing wrong with the football standard that is being played in Scotland just now - vast improvement over the last few years and a pretty good example (in most cases) of the modern game. One of the biggest differences between EPL and Scots Premiership is the size and noise of the crowd. It is really difficult to get excited about an outstanding goal anywhere when the only crowd reaction is a couple of guys behind the goal politely clapping! Even the commentators struggle to get enthused! Not many would argue that they would be more excited by being in a packed and rocking Hampden to watch Scotland score a scruffy goal in the last minute of a poor game than by watching ICT and Hamilton play out a technically excellent match in front of ~3000 quiet fans at TCS. TInteresting how the attitude and number of your fellow customers has such an impact on your ultimate excitement of the event.....

.....and yet another away cup game for us! Still, I'm not complaining because we lost our last home cup game badly against DU! Nevertheless, not counting the "neutral" semi finals and finals, I make it 10 away ties to 3 home in both cups since 12/13 season...

Always difficult to get the balance between containment and having a go at Celtic park right. The best policy seems to be contain for 60 min and grab a goal late, but the risk is to sit too deep. Sounds like we were too deep in the first half, like at Ibrox. Conceded the goal at a bad time, but came out fighting in the last quarter. So, the plan NEARLY worked and, but for poor finishing, we'd have nicked a point. Agree that getting d!cked 6-0 playing an open style would have been more damaging. We can take Hamilton next week!

Excellent outcome and well deserved by all accounts. The stats tell the story - let's start converting these chances (starting next week). Joint top after the first round of matches is just outstanding. Well played lads!

Is that not Draper suspended for the next game too? Could have done with not losing Christie and Draper for United. Still, we've got a bit of depth in the squad, so hopefully it'll not upset the balance too much.

Possibly Alex, but that would be more than offset by not getting to the final of the league cup, finishing a bit further down the league and (possibly) RC going down. I was expecting at least £300k return from last season - the consequence of not having a war-chest is that we'll lose McKay, Meekings, Shinnie etc because we simply can't offer the wages they frankly deserve. So, they leave on a free in the summer and we enter the cycle that our neighbours are suffering from this year. I suppose the "good" news is that others have made losses, so we should perhaps be grateful!

Well done to ICT for a second successive profit of £28k. My concern is that this was at the end of our most successful year ever, with a cup final and compo for Butcher. With further declines in our attendances, are we really running at £500k deficit for an average season? Perhaps a bit negative, but a reality check?

Take the points and move on. Sound like the ref wanted to be the star of the show and ruined the game. Gritsy performance from our 10 men. NEXT...!

Excellent - needed a fresh face in that department. Good luck, fella!

....Meekings long throws were brilliant and have to be used more often.

Whichever way you look at this, it is REALLY concerning and unsustainable. Many of us have been over this many times. We know it's not the quality of the football or league position (in our case) and it's not only us (I suspect every team excep newly propmoted ones and possibly Aberdeen are suffering. I don't think it's the absence of Hearts Rangers and Hibs either - if anything that makes the league more competitive and potentially exciting. I'm not sure we can even point the finger at cost because the promotions put forward by the club have made no impact. For me, the whole thing needs a shake down - bigger league, so you don't play everybody 3-6 times a season (with cups), no mid-week games and summer football to take away the competition of Premier League and Champions League football. Also the matchday experience has to be looked at and the stadium...but that all costs cash. Surely all the chairmen are suffering and should get together...

Oh to be a football fan - depths of despair at half time and then devastated not to have won the game in the end. Agree with earlier comments: 2nd half was more Butcher than Yogi and the 4-4-2 switch worked really well: Worth using again. Billy can't buy a goal at the moment - he got more chances in 45 min with a strike partner than in the previous 8 games. Please let's not have another 45 min like the first half again - shocking!

Sounds like a good game today: End result didn't go for us, but fine margins decide close games. I liked JH's after-game comments. He refused blame any individuals for mistakes, trying to keep them brave on the ball. Disappointing to lose, but nothing to be ashamed of and we need to take positives into derby next week. Truth is, we could deprive County of any possession and simply play them off the park. Stick with the programme until further notice!

No answers here either - I just feel sorry for the lads playing their hearts out for such poor attendances. Away support is definitely a factor, but home support is clearly dropping too. As crowds drop, so the atmosphere becomes less exciting and so on we go.... I've never been a fan of the peripherals around football, but I think some of the revious posters are right - the time has come to revamp the matchday experience to bring families in. Schools are the way forward in this because where kids go, adults follow. There are some real bonuses to pursue this approach at Inverness: most importantly, there is no trouble at games, so it is a safe afternoon's activity for a family. A further thought - summer football. Crowds will get worse mid-winter and I did enjoy the pre-season in the sunshine. Most importnantly of all - no Champs League or Prem to offer competition. It's all so frustrating....

Enjoyed the 2nd half more than the first. Doran on the left makes us a bit narrow down that side, but he played well. We need Billy to score - he's not getting the breaks and the final ball to put him clear just didn't quite come off today. Watkins did really well to control the cross at full pelt for the first. Shame we didn't keep a clean sheet: St J were well drilled but offered very little until the last 10 min.A couple of nervy moments in front of Brill, but all in all, 3 points well deserved and bring the next mob on! Crowd was pitiful - I feel really sorry for the guys who deserve a packed stadium.

Don't panic! Sounded like we were pretty good yesterday in an evenly balanced match - were just outscored by a more clinical team on the day. Just need to turn it on at I-brokes midweek.

Wow! Fantastic achievement. Really glad for Draper: He'd be first on my team sheet every week, but the hard work he puts in is easy to overlook.

....was Dodds not assistant manager at Dundee when they missed out on promotion at our expense? I seem to remember him being in the dugout at TCS when we papped them on the last day of the season?

...and an ICT record since last conceding a goal. Brill, Raven, Meekings, Warren, Shinnie and Draper, take a bow!!!

NEVER thought we'd be able to match the start last season; superb. Bet the boys are disappointed to have a break next week. Headache for JH now: Williams, Doran, Christie, Watkins, Ross all pressing for attacking midfield - can only bode well!

Time to add a new category - champions!

Nowhere near an "exceptional offer" for me