Robert

Hopefully they have had the covers on and there is no risk.

It’s meant to be above freezing all night and wet in the morning so unless the pitch is waterlogged there should not be an issue. 

If, and it’s a big if given our form this year so far, we can win our two home games we will be joint top on Wednesday night. That must be an incentive for the squad and an opportunity for our recruits to make a name for themselves.

However, we could be fifth if we lose them depending on other results.

Forgot to screenshot it, but I’ve been getting adverts for Celtic strips this week. No idea how given I support whoever are playing both Old Firm teams. 

Forfar @ 1.60 please. 

HT 1-0

FT 2-1

ICT Mckay

Morton Ugwu

Crowd 1897

I see tomorrow as our biggest game of the season so far. If we win it, our promotion push can be back on track and it will give the squad confidence.

Anything else and we will continue to slip away from the top and risk being out of the play off places altogether depending on results elsewhere.

We then have another key game on Wednesday against Partick.

We need to be targeting nothing less than 6 points from those.

Can we do it? Yes, if our attitude and belief are right and we match that with positive play.

Hopefully Mckay is fit enough to feature for at least part of the game. Encouraging news about the progress of Devine and Doran. Anyone heard how MacGregor is doing?

Equally, current players are under contract which will restrict what they can say publicly. Maybe some of them did have their say behind closed doors. 

They’ve taken another midfielder in on loan today, so two in two days, so it does imply Polly is surplus.

A loan deal would be good, but how likely is it that they would lend him to a promotion rival?

Equally, would he want to return anyway? I doubt it after the issues he had with some fans.

Judging by Val McDermid’s comments, it will take much longer to heal the wounds than their action took to cause the issue:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60244442 

It will be costly for them to get him out of his contract. I’d imagine they will have to pay it in full as he is unlikely to get another club in Scotland after what’s happened this week. 

Jonny Hayes for Aberdeen in Dingwall and Alex Cooper for Queen of the South against Raith tonight. 

It was the headline story on Reporting Scotland tonight but the club is digging in and defending their action.

I am sure they underestimated the backlash they would get.

I’m really glad our club has not done something like this and takes a principled stance when required (eg Gardyne or Calder).

To add insult to injury, Raith look like going above us in the league tonight judging by the latest score in their game.

Edit: I posted that when Raith were 2 up early on. With it finishing 3-3 we hang on to third. 

I agree with the sentiments above.

It is his first season. We were spoilt with our early season form, which has made the last four months seem very poor.

But before the season started, I’m sure the vast majority of us would have been happy to start February in the position we are in.

With the freshening up of the squad, now is the time to kick on and aim for a first or, at worst, second place finish.

If we miss out, that is the time to review our position, not now. 

Tansey’s on / off move?

I remember outrage being voiced at Oakley being sold too. 

Very interesting wording in the article, describing him as a “consummate professional” and saying he will be welcome back.

I wonder what the real story is?

https://ictfc.com/manny-duku-leaves-ictfc

Stunned at Dodds’ comments that some players didn’t think we could win it. It is his job to motivate the players so they expect to be able to get a result in any game.

We’d beaten Killie twice this season so there was no reason for them not believing we could beat them again.

The challenge now for the management team is getting the mindset right before we play much improved Morton on Saturday. We need a team and squad who believe we can start winning again or our poor form will continue.

The club’s report:

https://ictfc.com/match-report-kilmarnock-1-0-ictfc-29-01-2022

It looks like him but doesn’t play like him!!

32 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

Disagree with most on here. Thought we were a touch here and there off the pace. Encouraging signs from the new guys. Let's not forget we had 5 regulars missing from the starting line up and played with two newbies from the start. All is not lost, need to win the return fixture near the end of the season.

I agree, there were encouraging signs and we could have got back into it. Hopefully when the new players have had more time to settle in and get to know their team mates they are able to make an impact.

Equally we had Ridgers to thank for a couple of saves or it could have been more than 1-0.

We now have two home games and need to target 6 points from them, particularly with Arbroath playing Kilmarnock next weekend.

4 points out of 18 is not good enough if we want to continue to be genuine title and promotion challengers. 

Jordan White for County, Kai Kennedy for Hamilton, Rory McAllister for Cove. Nathan Austin for Kelty and Miles Storey for Hereford are scorers I’ve spotted today. 
 

Full time 1-0.

We were better second half but didn’t create many clear chances as our play was a bit frantic and we lacked composure at times.

Pearson looked lively and surprised he was subbed. Samuels showed some promise. Less from Chalmers and Hardy although Hardy had a penalty claim turned down.

Nicolson didn’t look out of place when he came on late in the game.

But another disappointing result and we really do now need to get a grip on things.

Duku on for Sutherland. 

Carson and Nicolson on for Duffy and Harper.

Since when have more than three subs been allowed in league games?

Couple of opportunities for Samuel, then Deas very lucky not to get a second yellow.

Samuels on for Pearson and playing wide left.

Surprised at that as Pearson has been our most effective player going forward. 

Hardy on for Walsh at start of second half.

Looks to be up front with Sutherland with Chalmers now on the right and Pearson on the left.

Killie goal rightly disallowed for handball.