Robert

We seem to be digging deep to grind out results, coming from behind at Ayr, Morton and Cove in our three of our last four away games, ironically losing away to Queens Park after leading. I’m as confident as I can be that we will bring three points back up the road tomorrow. We worry about games against teams at the bottom of the league, but we’ve done the job against Arbroath and Cove, and it’s time to complete the set. We will miss Henderson again, as Mackay and Samuels are not as effective just now (I’m giving the benefit of the doubt to Samuels after his injury troubles and we will hopefully see more from him soon), but Doran may start given his impact at the weekend. I just hope Duffy is fit to be in the squad as Hampden is getting closer and we need him match fit to take Carson’s place then. I don’t care what the performance is like as long as we win! Come on ICT!!

Can I have a drink of whatever you are enjoying tonight??

I think it is possible only if Dundee and Queens Park lose their next two games then draw when they play each other in the last game of the season. Dundee visit us next, then are at home to Cove. Queens Park are away to Ayr and Morton. Dundee would have 59 and Queens Park 58, whilst three wins get us to 60 and also knock Ayr out of contention. Partick would also need to fail to win one of their last three. They are away to Hamilton, then home to Arbroath and away to Raith. Surely not even the greatest optimist can envisage that all happening! To be guaranteed to be staying in contention for a play off place, we need a minimum of four points from our games against Hamilton and Dundee so it is in our own hands when we play Ayr on 5 May. Ayr have two home games before they come here, against Queens Park and Raith.

Looks onside to me, both on the highlights and the still. There look to be two defenders playing him on.

Thanks, a good finish too. He will have enjoyed that!

The club’s report: https://ictfc.com/match-report-cove-rangers-1-2-ictfc-15-04-2023 Surprised it says Deas was dropped. I’d assumed he was being rested given he is not long back from his broken leg given the fixtures are coming thick and fast. The BBC said Harper’s goal was a right footed shot: not his left?

HT 0-1 FT 1-2 ICT Billy Mckay Accies Smith (21) Crowd 906 Joker, please (not through confidence, but because I’m running out of games if we don’t make the play offs).

I thought he looked better when he came on on Tuesday compared to his earlier appearances. He picked up an injury after joining us and did not have a club in the first half of the season so there may be more to come from him. He’s only 20, the same age as Lewis Hyde, and seems to be being preferred to Hyde when substitutions are being made.

I’ve been as low as 2 and as high as 5, but currently at 6: would be higher but our league run in worries me given we have Hamilton and Dundee next. Four points in them will see us make the play offs with a win against Ayr. Anything less makes it a tall order unless others slip up.

Thanks Gringo. It’s as tight as the play off battle: only 95 points separate the top three….

As we all know, we were the victim of an Iain Vigurs free kick today. Also Jordan Roberts for Stevenage, Kai Kennedy for Falkirk, Michael Gardyne for Montrose and Scott Boden for Buxton. In the Highland League, Anthony McDonald for Brechin and Aiden Wilson for Rothes.

We are due a win against Hamilton. We need be focussed for the whole game. A win puts us third and heaps pressure on Partick and Ayr.

We will know at 1650!!

Based on his increased confidence and performance levels, hopefully we can agree an extension to his contract with Shaw. Keeping Allardice, Deas, Devine, Mckay and Samuels would be good too but I can’t see us keeping Allardice, Deas or Samuels: time will tell. Another rebuilding exercise looks inevitable this summer so I just hope that we move quickly on any managerial changes so we can get the right players in early in the close season.

Graeme Shinnie sent off tonight for the second time in three games, but as he was suspended last week he has been sent off in each of the last two games he has played in!

Falkirk @ 1.85 please.

HT 0-1 FT 0-2 ICT Billy Mckay Cove Megginson Crowd 876

Another big day tomorrow. With Partick playing Ayr, we could find ourselves in the play off places if we win, or only out of them on goal difference. A win for Dundee against Morton would be good too. We can’t be complacent about it as Cove got a point last week and at some point their bad run must end: just not tomorrow, please.

The club’s report: https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-2-0-arbroath-11-04-2023

Belatedly, Dale Gillespie for Brora on Saturday. On Tuesday, Kai Kennedy got two for Falkirk and Toddy scored for Dunfermline.

This link is now on the club website: https://ictfc.com/ticket-info-cove-rangers-a-15-04-2023

I just hope Duffy is fit by the semi as we need him at right back. If he’s not fit, Hyde will probably get the nod in his place.

We started very fast but after 10 minutes the first half turned into a typical Arbroath “run the clock down” show. How grown men get hurt so easily is beyond me. A great goal to start the second, with Henderson putting it on a plate for Shaw. Then a deserved second when the ref actually gave us a decision. Allardice had a good finish from the spot. I need to see the red again as my first reaction was it was harsh. Time will tell. After then we defended ok and broke the game up to see it through for a deserved win. 15 points out of 18 but we need to keep the run going. Samuels’ right leg was heavily strapped when he came out at full time to join the applause. With Henderson suspended, we could do with him for Saturday.

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT Billy Mckay Arbroath McKenna Crowd 2011

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Arbroath are unbeaten in 7 league games, although they’ve only won 2 of those. We need to approach the game positively and get at them for the full 90 minutes.