Yay, It's a home game

 

It's five games since we last played at home in the Championship and that one never went well, a 0-3 loss to Hamilton Accies. In fact our League form has been abysmal over the last 19 games as we have only managed a mere sixteen points from a possible fifty seven. That's a poor return in any language. 28%. These statistics have not gone unnoticed by the long suffering Caley Jags fans who have seen their club plunge deeper into trouble on and off the field. I'm sure Billy Dodds will be grateful for the second chance in the Scottish Cup, but is that simply papering over the cracks? Friday nights visitors at 7:45pm have already pumped us 4-1 and 5-1 this season although we did win the home game 1-0. However, that was not good enough for the Partick board and Ian McCall was relieved of his duties in February as Partick fell off the pace slightly and Kris Doolan has replaced him to good effect. Looks like the jobs for boys pact at Inverness is alive and kicking though and despite protestations from many quarters, Billy Dodds is still hanging on by a thread as we look set for another season in the Championship with a Premiership play-off place looking highly unlikely if not virtually impossible.

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Match/Ticket info

The Wyness Shuffle

📺Live on BBC Scotland📺

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Venue H2H v Partick

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	24	11	6	7	38	33	+5
Away	24	6	6	12	25	39	-14
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	48	17	12	19	63	72	-9

Overall Partick have stormed ahead of us thanks to the heavy defeats this season. Home results show that we are still ahead of Partick, but those massive defeats this season will have dented our confidence somewhat. This season's aggregate is 9-3 for Partick Thistle.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Partick Thistle

1 - 5 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 4 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

0 - 1 (A)

3 - 3 (H)

0 - 0 (A)

3 - 1 (H)

1 - 3 (A)

He scores when he wants: 1 - 0  October 7th 2022: A first half where defences were on top offered little opportunity for either side to create the clear cut chance required until the half hour when Robbie Deas pounced on a loose clearance within the box. His header was bundled away from goal a yard from the line by two defenders with Mitchell floundering. A couple of minutes later and Mitchell was called into action to scramble the ball away low down at his post from a Duffy header. Billy Mckay clipped one over the bar after a tremendous turn and run by Daniel Mackay. Kyle Turner was red carded for what appeared to be a slightly high tackle on Roddy MacGregor and Inverness ended the half knocking on the Partick door. Cammy Harper brought out a super save from Mitchell with 65 minutes gone, diving high to his top left corner. Ten minutes later Billy Mckay opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season, drilling home from twelve yards after good work by MotM Dan Mackay. Kevin Holt came close to an unlikely equaliser with a low shot across the face of the goal ten minutes from the end, but Partick rarely threatened. Oakley had an effort kept out on the line acrobatically by Holt as Inverness looked to close out the game. However, Inverness saw out the game to go joint top of the table after their fourth win in a row. That'll do nicely.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Dundee beat Ayr United 3-1 on Tuesday night to keep their auto promotion hopes alive
1.	Queens Park	29	16	6	7	58	38	54
2.	Dundee	29	14	8	7	47	32	50
3.	Ayr United	29	13	7	9	53	38	46
4.	Partick Thistle	29	13	6	10	49	39	45
5.	Morton	29	11	10	8	41	35	43
6.	Raith Rovers	28	10	8	10	39	37	38
7.	Inverness CT	28	9	9	10	39	41	36
8.	Cove Rangers	29	6	8	15	34	62	26
9.	Arbroath	28	4	13	11	25	41	25
10.	Hamilton Ac.	28	6	7	15	25	47	25

FRIDAY 24TH MARCH 7:45pm

Inverness CT v Partick Thistle 

 Ayr United v Cove Rangers

Queen's v Arbroath 

Partick Thistle are top of the Current Form table over the last six games We are almost bottom Overall Home Away   Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A +/- Pts Not good reading for Inverness fans. Thank goodness for the Scottish Cup 1. Partick Thistle 6 3 3 0 7 1 1 1 0 3 0 2 2 0 4 1 +6 12 2. Queens Park 6 3 2 1 12 8 2 2 0 6 4 1 0 1 6 4 +4 11 3. Raith Rovers 6 2 3 1 11 8 1 2 0 8 3 1 1 1 3 5 +3 9 4. Morton 6 2 3 1 7 7 2 1 1 4 4 0 2 0 3 3 0 9 5. Dundee 6 2 2 2 7 6 1 1 1 5 5 1 1 1 2 1 +1 8 6. Hamilton Ac. 6 2 2 2 7 8 1 2 2 4 8 1 0 0 3 0 -1 8 7. Ayr United 6 2 1 3 7 7 0 0 2 1 3 2 1 1 6 4 0 7 8. Arbroath 6 1 4 1 5 5 0 2 1 2 3 1 2 0 3 2 0 7 9. Inverness CT 6 1 2 3 7 11 0 1 1 2 5 1 1 2 5 6 -4 5 10. Cove Rangers 6 0 1 5 3 15 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 4 2 12 -12 1

Last Time Out

We are all but out of contention after losing 2-1 to Championship leaders Queens Park. Despite taking a half time lead thanks to a good strike by Dan Mackay, we were unable to sustain any consistency in the second half and two unchallenged headers from Grant Savoury and the giant Stephen Eze saw Queens Park take all three points. Sandwiched between the 2-1 win at Ayr (Welsh & Henderson scoring) and defeat to Queens Park there was a rousing 2-1 win on the telly over Kilmarnock with Billy Mckay (pen) and Sean Welsh with the goals. If only we could replicate that level of performance in the League games.

Partick have drawn their last two outings without scoring against Dundee and Morton. They did put three past Raith Rovers the same day we won at Ayr

Latest Team News

Roddy MacGregor limped off last week in his second appearance after months out. Sean Welsh missed the game at Ochilview so not sure what's happening there, but he's unfortunately made of rice paper which has been a problem for him whilst here. When fit he makes our midfield tick and can be a match winner as shown recently. A couple of new issues according to Bazza, presumably MacGregor (ankle), maybe Welsh and by the sounds of it, maybe more???

Where's Tom Walsh when you need him???

Here's Bazza

 

Firhill Facts

Kris Doolan was in charge of the u18's and had been in interim charge of first team matters for almost three weeks prior to being rubber stamped on 3rd March, overseeing away victories over Ayr United and Dundee as well as a draw at Arbroath. Since then a 3-0 home win over Raith Rovers has been followed by goalless draws with Dundee and Morton, but more importantly he has dragged Partick back into play-off contention whilst we slip further away. 

Partick Starting XI v Morton: Mitchell; McMillan, McAvoy, Muirhead, Milne, Docherty, Bannigan, Lawless, Turner, Tiffoney, Graham.

The obvious and perennial threats to us are striker Brian Graham and chief provider Scott Tiffoney. Lawless, Turner and Dowds will also need well policed.

 

That was a poor game of football and I think the red card did us a favour.

It was a great bit of work for the goal, but Partick had the best of slim pickings until then and it came against a run of play where they were marginally less awful than us.

The injustice* of the red card gave the team, and fans, a cause to get behind and everyone battled to hold on to the lead.

*I don't like the whole professional foul thing.  Just a more acceptable phrase we like to throw out when it's our own player who has cheated.  Not arguing that the decision by the ref was right (based on current rulebook, but if you make a conscious decision to commit a deliberate foul, then you run the risk of a sending off.  Players should be chastised for that kinda play, not defended.  Up there with simulation in my book.

14 minutes ago, STFU said:

 

*I don't like the whole professional foul thing.  Just a more acceptable phrase we like to throw out when it's our own player who has cheated.  Not arguing that the decision by the ref was right (based on current rulebook, but if you make a conscious decision to commit a deliberate foul, then you run the risk of a sending off.  Players should be chastised for that kinda play, not defended.  Up there with simulation in my book.

I agree with that. It was a cynical and unnecessary foul, but we see them in almost every game and normally a yellow at worst. 

30 minutes ago, Robert said:

I agree with that. It was a cynical and unnecessary foul, but we see them in almost every game and normally a yellow at worst. 

It needs to be dealt with consistently, and the red card last night was out of step with how these things are typically sanctioned. And why was it ok for Tiffoney to shove Welsh in the chest?

1 hour ago, HawkeyeTheGnu said:

It needs to be dealt with consistently, and the red card last night was out of step with how these things are typically sanctioned. And why was it ok for Tiffoney to shove Welsh in the chest?

All good posts but this one is more succinct. The Tin Tin lookalike should have been showed yellow (by the rules) but that would have been harsh. However I didnt rate that as a professional foul or taking one for the team. Tin  Tin was in his own half and going nowhere dangerous. Welsh  amongst others, especially Carson, had been revved up by his antics and it was probably an attempt to wind him up even more.

Busy schedule for us in April ahead of the Cup game 

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP Sat Games 15:00

Saturday 1st April Morton v Inverness CT

Saturday 8th April Inverness CT v Raith Rovers

Tuesday 11th April Inverness CT 19:45 Arbroath

Saturday 15th April Cove Rangers v Inverness CT

Tuesday 18th April Hamilton 19:45 Inverness CT

Saturday 22nd April Inverness CT v Dundee

Saturday 29th April SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINALS Falkirk 12:15 Inverness CT

Friday 5th May SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP Inverness CT 19:45 Ayr United

5 hours ago, HawkeyeTheGnu said:

Given where the foul took place, between the ref, linesman and fourth official they should be getting that decision right. 

The TV pictures show a different picture to the one Irvine had in a split second.

When he becomes a more mature official he will no doubt calmly speak to both his lino and fourth official to see if they agree with his initial thoughts. Mature referees normally take their time before calmly showing the red card.

To me he over reacted and hopefully he will have the courage to realise that the tackle was not as his mind first thought. 

6 hours ago, Yngwie said:

..the ref said the red card was for Welsh raking his studs down the player’s Achilles. 

That would account for why Tiffoney was on the deck for ages getting treatment then instead of jumping straight up, grabbing his hand bag and shoving Welsh in the chest like a little girl. 

The fact we are still debating the red card for that foul just shows the real lack of refereeing talent coming through now.

Absolute joke of a decision. 

4 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Busy schedule for us in April ahead of the Cup game

Between what should be a difficult away game at Morton and the final home game with Dundee we are quite capable of taking 3 points from all the other games in-between those two. It's pity there's not more opportunity to take points off the teams above us competing for the play-off places but plenty of them will be taking points off each other in the run-in. It will be close and tight but I've got a more confident feeling that it is now doable after that great fighting 3 points last night - well done all 👍

Better look at the goal

And THAT save

 

 

 

 

Do we really have to play Hamilton again……

9 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

All good posts but this one is more succinct. The Tin Tin lookalike should have been showed yellow (by the rules) but that would have been harsh. However I didnt rate that as a professional foul or taking one for the team. Tin  Tin was in his own half and going nowhere dangerous. Welsh  amongst others, especially Carson, had been revved up by his antics and it was probably an attempt to wind him up even more.

Tin tin lookalike 😂😂😂😂😂

10 hours ago, Caleyjag said:

Tin tin lookalike 😂😂😂😂😂

That made me laugh too! Post of the year?!

The club’s report on the match:

https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-1-0-partick-thistle-24-03-2023

Edited March 26, 20232 yr by Robert

23 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

As long as it's not relegation

Well done Nathan. 

2 hours ago, IBM said:

Well done Shaun.

 

FTFY 😎

Surprise surprise...

Common sense decision by the SFA. Wow! What's come over them?