Robert

That was some goal saving clearance by Carson.

Pretty even so far. Partick started best but we’ve grown into it.

Samuels has had our best opportunity but also seems to be our weak link when Partick are attacking. 

The pitch looks shocking. There could be some funny bounces so they need to be very alert to it. 

Carson for Hyde the only change from last Friday but a much stronger bench.

Interesting that Cammy MacKay continuing in goal with Ridgers back in the squad. He certainly did well whilst Ridgers was out.

Come on the Caley Jags!

Stirling @ 2.10 please. 

HT 0-1

FT 1-2

ICT Mckay

Partick Graham

Crowd 2301

That would be good news. He created their first two goals.

I’m approaching this in hope rather than expectation or confidence, but I agree with others that this is in the “must win” category.

If we have most players available, with the exception of Allardice and MacGregor, I wonder how we will line up. Potentially a lot of options, but if all the others are available and fully fit, I’d go with:

Ridgers 

Duffy Broadfoot Devine Deas

Carson Welsh

Pearson Doran Chalmers

Mckay

Aiden Wilson for Rothes last night. 

Our play off match with Ukraine has been postponed. Undoubtedly the correct decision.

Russia is appealing the FIFA decision to exclude them, but the IPC have thankfully revisited yesterday’s fudge and kicked out the Russian athletes. 

And the club is supporting a charity trying to source supplies to help Ukrainians with diabetes:

https://ictfc.com/ictfc-supports-lochlans-legacy-ukraine-appeal

Our away game with Queen of the South on 2 April is postponed due to them being in the cup final. I’ve not seen a new date yet. 

On 2/13/2022 at 2:06 PM, Caley Mad In Berks said:

I also noticed that Tobi Sho-Silva scored for his new club, Carlisle.

He got another one tonight to help them out of the relegation places. 

It’s unbelievable that we are still third.

If Dodds is right that we are about to go on a run….

And no, I’m not optimistic, but I am hoping!

At last FIFA has confirmed that Russia will be excluded from the play offs with Poland getting a bye to the final. They are also being kicked out of the Women’s tournament this summer and their one remaining club in Europe is being kicked out too.

Hopefully actions like this, along with the sanctions, make the normal Russian people realise the mistruths they are told by their media and pressure starts to build within Russia on Putin. 

According to the BBC, FIFA has told Russia to play upcoming games in neutral territory under the name Football Union of Russia, without their flag or anthem.

That’s shocking and needs to be changed to a ban, otherwise Russia will qualify for the World Cup given the stance rightly taken by Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic to refuse to play Russia in the play offs.

The club’s report:

https://ictfc.com/match-report-hamilton-accies-1-1-ictfc

Lewis Jamieson for Clyde and Rory McAllister for Cove yesterday.

In the Highland League, two for Andrew MacAskill for Buckie, whilst for Brora Dale Gillespie got two and Andy MacRae one.

Jordan Roberts scored for Motherwell in their draw with Rangers today. 

1 minute ago, IBM said:

Just to add Austin Samuels is showing potential and I hope he will improve as he gets more game time.  I don't understand why he took off Pearson early!

I agree. If we play Samuels wide, he needs to improve how he tracks back and supports the left back (as does Pearson on the right) but he created the confusion that led to our goal and was troubling their right back at times, particularly when he came inside. 

Seeing as Kingsmills thinks I’m an optimist, some pluses from our dismal run:

Cammy MacKay has shown he is a very capable goalie with two very good performances in which he had several good saves and could not be blamed for the goals we lost.

Lewis Hyde did not look out of place at right back tonight (and I may be wrong but is he not a midfielder?).

Lewis Nicolson looks a prospect at left back.

Sam Pearson is a find and his first senior goal tonight should give him confidence to kick on. I wish we’d give him the full 90 minutes rather than subbing him, though.

It is good to have Devine and Doran back. Hopefully they are fully fit for next Friday.

Yes, there are an awful lot of negatives which we are rightly highlighting and discussing, particularly the 10 game winless run and some of our tactics, but I felt it worth taking a step back and looking at positives. 

Shocking first 30 minutes but I thought we were much better in the second half but neither team was impressive and neither deserved to win it, but we had decent chances we could and should have taken. A draw was probably the fair result.

MacKay was my pick as our best player with a couple of decent saves.

A word for Hyde, though. Is he not a midfielder? He quietly coped at right back and Kennedy didn’t really trouble us.

At least we showed some spirit and tried in the second half and seemed to want to win.

Confidence is clearly an issue, which should be the focus for Dodds and the back room staff. That came across loud and clear until we got the break to equalise.

We could easily be fourth at 1650 tomorrow.

Edits:

Watching the post match, we created enough chances to win several games. Confidence is clearly an issue but I can’t fault the second half effort. I agree with others: 10 without a win is not acceptable and puts everything in context.

Decent interview by Pearson, and an honest assessment, including that he should have got a second.

Worrying then to hear Dodds say that Welsh was asking what we need to do to win a game. If our senior players are lacking confidence, little wonder our younger players are.

Interesting snippet from commentators. When Deas got booked, they said he’s the most booked player in the Championship. How close to a suspension is he?

Hardy on for Pearson. 

2 minutes ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Well I suppose that I am now watching the norm. You simply have to take your chances when you have such a degree of possession. And if you don't !!!!!!

Bang on cue Pearson misses a sitter!

Then Hamilton hit the post.

Its turned into a decent game. 

What’s the story and value to the club?

Sutherland on for Doran. Maybe Doran not fully fit yet either?

Goalie’s fingertips stopped Mckay scoring there after great kick out by MacKay. 

Harper on for Devine. Devine’s had a decent game but presumably is not yet ready for 90 minutes.

We’ve been better this half but need to ensure we don’t concede and hopefully nick a goal. 

Shocking performance for the first 30 minutes or so and a stroke of luck got us back in it. We should have had a penalty for the challenge on Deas in the box but we scarcely deserve to be level.

We have showed a few signs before half time that we can trouble Hamilton so we need them to come out fighting in the second half. This game is winnable but we could easily lose it.

The next 45 are key to us in terms of this season.

Hard to pick out players for praise. Definitely MacKay. Possibly Samuels and Pearson but neither looks comfortable tracking back.

There is no point playing high balls. We need to get it wide and run at them if we want to win this.

Surprisingly looking at the BBC stats, we’ve had more attempts in the first half.