Inverness CT -V- Queens Park - Preview

[tm4tj]

Arachnophobia

 

Should we fear the Spiders from Hampden as the new Championship season gets underway on Saturday with the visit of Queens Park. It's a 3:00pm kick off and a season of anticipation or maybe trepidation is almost upon us.

TICKET PRICING

Only form to go on for this season is the League Cup which saw Inverness qualify to face Motherwell in the knock out stages of group G. We ended our League Cup Group G games with a disappointing home draw against Cove Rangers despite Roddy MacGregor heading the opening goal. Megginson pinned us back but we took the bonus point in the ensuing penalty shoot-out. Queens Park failed to progress from their play-off Group H where Dundee and Hamilton Accies progressed. However they did manage a couple of wins thumping Stranraer and Forfar and drawing with Accies. They lost narrowly 1-2 against Dundee. Accies qualified a point ahead of the Spiders virtue of the penalty shoot-out win to pip Queens by a point.

Queens Park, a club steeped in history, join us in the Championship this season along with Cove Rangers. They only finished fourth in the table behind Cove, Airdrie and Montrose, but came through the promotion play-offs to get into the Championship having beaten Dunfermline over two legs and then beating Airdrie in extra time to win promotion thanks to a Simon Murray penalty. Mind you, they have won the Scottish Cup ten times, albeit the last time was back in 1893. I remember it well. They have been playing out of Ochilview Park recently as they await Lesser Hampden to be upgraded. Here's one for you: They can boast a record attendance of 95,722 against Rangers in a Scottish Cup first round encounter on January 18th 1930 at their home ground of Hampden Park. That's a world record for an amateur side.

They are now a professional outfit as of 2019 and on the up, consecutive promotions will see them ply their trade in this seasons Championship after years in the doldrums. Welcome to the Spiders

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Queens Park

3 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (H)

2 - 0 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

3 - 2 (A)

2 - 2 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

3 - 0 (A)

Venue H2h v Queens Park

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	9	4	3	2	14	11	+3
Away	6	5	0	1	13	8	+5
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	15	9	3	3	27	19	+8

League - (Div 3) Saturday, August 20th, 1994, 3:00 PM at Telford Street Park, Inverness
Attendance: 1,500: Referee: M Pocock

Ian Broadfoot reporting on our first ever competitive meeting against Queens Park.

Caley Thistle's mid week efforts against Dundee had taken their toll and they went a goal down in 14 minutes - a McAllister header to McRitchie was short and Garry Orr took advantage with a goal from 15 yards. Four minutes later Maxwell made it two when he bundled in Edgar's corner. In 53 minutes McKenzie had rare chances for the home side but he hit the 'keeper twice. The match was over a few minutes later when a Garry Orr pass set up Graham who beat McRitchie with an angled drive. Two minutes later Maxwell headed a fourth.

Full Time: 0-4

Mark McRitchie
Dave Brennan Mike Andrew Mike Noble Mark McAllister
John Scott Danny MacDonald Graeme Bennett Alan Hercher
Paul McKenzie Wilson Robertson

First Competitive Meeting

Aug 20th, 1994

League ((Div 3))

(H)

0 - 4

Most Recent Competitive Meeting

Jul 31st, 2010

League Cup (Rd 1)

(H)

3 - 0

League Cup Match: Tuesday, September 2nd, 2003, 7:00 PM at Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
Attendance: 968

This report comes from Ian Broadfoot back in 2003, the last time Queens Park beat Inverness in the Highlands.

The Spiders gave Caley Thistle a dose of their own medicine when they produced a shock cup win away from home. Barry Wilson played for the first time following his return to the club. Queens belied their third division status with some lively play and they soaked up early pressure - a Steve Hislop drive was turned over the bar and Richie Hart hit the woodwork. It was not all one way as Ross Clark hit the bar at the other end. Caley Thistle scored in 26 minutes when Paul Ritchie turned in a Wilson cross but the lead only lasted two minutes. Bobby Mann brought down Clark and Steve Reilly converted the resultant penalty.

Half Time: 1-1

Queens took the lead in 59 minutes when poor defending allowed a Reilly free kick to reach Ally Graham and he shot low past Mark Brown. With four minutes left Queens substitute Derek Carcary should have made it 3-1 but he shot wide with only Brown to beat. The drama was not over as the home side were awarded a penalty in injury time when Reilly handled in the box. Mann's kick came off the post.

Full Time: 1-2

There was bitter disappointment in the home camp but no real complaints.

 

Latest Team News

Shane Sutherland and Tom Walsh are long term casualties. Wallace Duffy came off injured against Cove Rangers. Danny Devine has missed all the League Cup games and pre-season along with Sean Welsh.

 

 

Eric's Queens Park roundup:

Under new manager Owen Coyle, Queens Park have trimmed the Squad with more than 10 departures in the summer.

Four players have arrived all on free transfer basis.

Jason Naismith a right back signed from Kilmarnock Fc: Dom Thomas midfielder from Dunfermline FC: Pat Jarret an attacking midfield player, from Stoke City where he has gone from Youth teams to the U23 level: Grant Savoury who spent last season at Peterhead FC is a centre forward.

Loan in: Josh McPake, forward (Rangers).

Out: Jai Quitongo, forward (Greenock Morton); Grant Gillespie, midfielder (Greenock Morton); Michael Doyle, defender (Hamilton Academical); Stuart Morrison, defender (Queen of the South); Willie Muir, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic); Peter Grant, defender (Clyde); Bob McHugh, forward (East Kilbride); Darren Lyon, midfielder; Will Baynham, forward.

Loan ended: Luca Connell, midfielder (Celtic); Luis Longstaff, midfielder (Liverpool); Connor Smith, midfielder (Heart of Midlothian); Connor McBride, midfielder (Blackburn Rovers); Ronan Darcy, midfielder (Bolton Wanderers).

Queens main threat will come from the now experienced Simon Murray. The thirty year old striker has previously been at Arbroath, Dundee United and Hibs. Dom Thomas will be an excellent asset and along with Louis Longridge will provide stability in the midfield.

 

 

 

 

 

View full article

 

[Robert]

Sean Welsh has had to undergo an operation on his knee but he’s not expected to be out for long. 

Danny Devine was going some routines on the pitch last Saturday before kick off so is hopefully nearly ready.

I read in the Courier (I think) that Allardice is a doubt as he got a broken nose in the Cove game.

Deas is suspended for the first two league games.

I’m looking forward to this one. It is early days and we won’t be able to draw conclusions, but this is a game we need three points in to get us off to a good start. 

Edited July 30, 2022 by Robert

[IBM]

And for those that want a beer before the game 

 

[buckett]

Last minute cancellation of plans to travel through to Inverness to see the opening game.

Never mind I thought - I'll watch it on ICTV.

However it looks like there's no live streaming today.

Does anyone know if this service will be resumed this season?

 

[tm4tj]

Robbie Deas suspended for two games

 

[+MrCaleyjag]

As always I'm eagerly anticipating this season and hopeful that we can bring our Premier Sports Cup form into this game and grab the three points.

I'm big enough to hold my hands up and say that last season when I called for BD to go that I may have got it wrong, he road the storm when we went through our slump and I do believe that it will help for this campaign.

My hope is that we can be steadier cut out the needless draws from seasons gone by.

[+snorbens_caleyman]

10 minutes ago, buckett said:

Does anyone know if this service will be resumed this season?

Yes, I know.  It won't be    We have gone back to the Saturday afternoon ban on showing live games.

[+MrCaleyjag]

ICT 0v1 Queens Park - Savoury 13mins

[een]

Unsavoury start to the season !!

[+MrCaleyjag]

5 minutes ago, MrCaleyjag said:

ICT 0v1 Queens Park - Savoury 13mins

Not that it matters but it's been corrected to Jake Davidson as FGS

[+MrCaleyjag]

GOAL!

1v1 - Billy Mckay, 44mins

[+MrCaleyjag]

FT 1 v 1

 

 

[kenneth thomson]

2 hours ago, buckett said:

Last minute cancellation of plans to travel through to Inverness to see the opening game.

Never mind I thought - I'll watch it on ICTV.

However it looks like there's no live streaming today.

Does anyone know if this service will be resumed this season?

 

No not allowed this season

[jed5697]

Queens could have been out of sight in the first half but for a combination of Ridgers and poor finishing... Billy McKay cracking in a late equaliser that didn't feel as if it was coming. Second half we were better and the Queens goalkeeper was the busier but they still looked dangerous on the break. We probably looked to seal it with a late run with Macgregor being cynically brought down to prevent him slipping Oakley in. Queens got away with a lot from another poor referee. Allardice my pick. 

[Jaggernaut]

I thought ICT started brightly, and had three good chances in the first ten minutes, then Queens Park grew into the game and had chances of their own. Their goal came from us letting their player run from almost the half way line, and not putting a tackle in, someone needed to just bring him down, take one for the team, like they did late in the game to stop us scoring. We need to start passing the ball quicker, too many times we were caught in possession, and we need to be stronger in the 50/50 tackles. I thought that Billy Mckay, Macgregor and Carson were the pick for us. It's only the first game, and we will build as the season progresses. I've got us down for promotion this season, so we better!

[+DoofersDad]

We could easily have been 2 up after 5 minutes but then Queens took control and were the better side for the bulk of the 1st half.  We were better in the 2nd. Whilst we do need to be stronger in 50/50 tackles, the positive thing is that with both MacKay and MacGregor in the side we created several clear cut chances.  Unfortunately, our finishing let us down and we need to improve on that.  Queens look to be a strong addition to the Championship and look to be capable of taking points off anyone.  Our defence will be more solid when the Devine/Deas pairing is restored.  It was disappointing not to start the campaign with a win, but there are signs that we have every chance of being there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

[Satan]

Never in control today, midfield looked well off the pace, particularly in 1st half. Letting runners attack our makeshift defence at will. 

Lots of room for improvement. 

[Robert]

That was a poor performance, particularly in the first half.

Queens Park could have been well ahead at the break and we were lucky to get back to 1-1 just before the break.

For their goal, the player picked the ball up around the half way line, ran forward with no meaningful challenges and scored.

Mckay too his goal well after Boyd won a ball he’d no right to. Boyd was the pick of the first half for me with a few efforts on goal.

The second half was better but we never really looked like winning.

We lost the battle in the middle of the park with Queens Park looking faster and getting most of the second balls. I think we need to consider playing three in there as teams know how to play us. It will mean sacrificing an attacking player but guys like MacGregor can get up in support.

Too many passes were slack and wayward but we can improve on that and there were some very good passages of play.

The defence looked better once Devine came on, but he’s carrying an injury so may not get much game time, and we missed Deas, whilst both ‘keepers had a couple of decent saves.

The pick for me over the full game was Mckay but I was disappointed in a few of them, particularly Samuels, whilst Mackay is not at his best yet.

At least we didn’t lose, as we could easily have done and we possibly deserved to.

Arbroath next week will be tough.

 

[Naelifts]

We are in a play off place. Long way to go though

[Douglas Mackenzie]

Well that was the first game of the season and after last week it was disappointing. Queens were right at it first half and if they were better at finishing we would-have been toast by half time.Midfield poor first half although slightly better second half.Defence shaky until Devine came on and we have ridgers to thank for still being in the game. Mackay goal was good and he worked hard all day as did MacGregor and Boyd. Carson was pick of the rest. Second half better,but realistically we need to improve and pass better. We need to stop being caught on the ball. Granted key players missing,but we should be able to cope with that.Queens deserve to be in league.Early days and hopefully we will improve.

 

[Robert]

2 hours ago, Naelifts said:

We are in a play off place. Long way to go though

But only on alphabetical order!!

[IBM]

Two milestones today for our club with Mark Ridgers playing 200 games and with a few good saves keeping us in the game a great keeper and David Carson playing 100 games, in right back today but wherever he plays always gives 100%.  A great achievement for both players 

 

 

[tm4tj]

The goals from yesterday's draw with Queen's Park pic.twitter.com/t9pNZ3Z0Xp

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) July 31, 2022

[caley100]

Wasn't sure yesterday, But replay sure shows Ridgers didn't do too well dealing with that shot. 

Edited July 31, 2022 by caley100

[STFU]

Have said it already this season, but if we're serious about challenging for the league then we need to be the team dictating the play and not allowing the opposition to dictate.  Especially at home.

Hoping Belladrum was the reason we had a poor sub 2000 crowd for our first league match of the season.