Inverness CT -V- Partick Thistle - Preview

[tm4tj]

 

Jags on Jags

 

Third place Partick Thistle come calling at the Caledonian Stadium this Saturday for a game scheduled to kick-off at 3:00pm. The sides can't be separated so far this season with both fixtures ending all square. Partick will be looking to hang on to the coat tails of the top two who face each other on Friday night whilst we are in desperate need of points to avoid being sucked into the hub of the relegation play-offs. Both sides exited the Scottish Cup last weekend against Premiership opposition, but it's back to the grind on Saturday with a tough encounter expected. Off the field, the Battery Farm project is still a cause for concern with the local council doing a U-turn. You couldn't make this up, what an omnishambles.

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Match/Ticket Info

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H2H v Partick Thistle

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	26	12	7	7	39	33	+6
Away	25	6	7	12	26	40	-14
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	51	18	14	19	65	73	-8

Home team is normally the best indicator in these fixtures. We suffered a couple of heavy away defeats a year or two ago but other than that most of these fixtures have been close affairs and usually favour the home side. Both games this season ended all square, although it's fair to say that Inverness shaded the play but our lack of penetration in the final third is a continuing problem.

Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Partick Thistle

1 - 1 (A)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 5 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 4 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

2 - 1 (A)

0 - 1 (A)

3 - 3 (H)

FULL TIME: 0 - 0.  Thistle be the day:  This will be the day that Duncan Ferguson made his bow to the Caley Jags fans. The weather might have dampened the atmosherics, but inside the stadium it was a warm welcome for Big Dunc. He was without the long term absentees (MacGregor & Nicolson) plus more recent victims in Sean Welsh, Danny Devine and Wallace Duffy. After the first win last week, it was an unchanged starting XI that took to the sodden turf. Partick had our olde foe Brian Graham up front. Enough said.
Neither side can complain about a point apiece but Partick will now know that they can not expect to pick up easy points against us. In fact had Gilmour placed his shot within the bounds of the posts then we could have taken all three points. Meh! Another step in the right direction for Inverness who matched high scoring Partick Thistle all over the park. Best for Inverness were the tricky Longstaff, the unflustered Ujdur and the driving force of Gilmour, with Ridgers doing his bit at the end.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Big game on Friday night: Raith v Dundee United
1.	Dundee Utd	22	14	6	2	45	11	48
2.	Raith Rovers	22	13	5	4	40	31	44
3.	Partick Thistle	22	10	7	5	43	34	37
4.	Morton	22	9	5	8	32	27	32
5.	Airdrieonians	21	8	4	9	20	24	28
6.	Queens Park	23	7	5	11	31	41	26
7.	Ayr United	23	7	5	11	30	41	26
8.	Inverness CT	23	6	6	11	26	28	24
9.	Dunfermline	22	6	6	10	24	32	24
10.	Arbroath	22	5	3	14	23	45	18

FRIDAY 16TH FEBRUARY

Raith Rovers v Dundee Utd

SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

 Airdrieonians v Ayr United

Dunfermline v Arbroath

       Inverness CT v Partick Thistle

Queen's Pk v Morton

Last Time Out

Both sides fell at the 5th round stage of the Scottish Cup. We went down 3-1 to a seasoned Premiership side in Hibs. Defensive blunders, a deflected goal and a bit of extra quality saw Hibs through to face Rangers in the next round. The goal of the game came from Aaron Doran in stoppage time. A mere consolation, but a cracker nonetheless.

<<click watch on X to start video>>

We'll file this one under 'Great Consolation Goals'.#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/ulnCS9gtHj

— Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) February 12, 2024

No disgrace really, but the disappointing aspect of this defeat, as is the case most weeks, is our inability to break down a defence and get a shot on target. However, with Alex Samuel injured, we lost our only form of aggression up front, and with it, any hope of causing an upset.

Partick had cheered us all up when they knocked County out of the Cup in the previous round, however, surprisingly they found Livingston to be much more resilient and went down 2-3 after extra time. McInroy and Fitzpatrick had put the Harry Wragg's two ahead on the hour before Livi produced a match winning comeback to win in extra time thanks to Kris Doolan's untimely substitutions.

Latest Team News

Inverness will be without Luis Longstaff for a couple of months with a knee injury. Alex Samuel missed out last week with a fractured hand and misses out again. Morgan Boyes fell out with a post against Hibs and will be out. The post escaped without injury and will be back in action on Saturday. Danny Devine and Nikola Ujdur have had limited training this week.

 

Partick Thistle manager Kris Doolan lamented making the two substitutions in the five minute spell between Partick going 2-0 ahead and Joel Nouble starting the Livi comeback in the 66th minute. My Bad he said  Speaking on BBC Sport:  "I'm gutted. We put so much into it, but to be 2-0 up and lose is tough. We pushed them the full way. I take responsibility, I made two subs quickly, took off two key players. Maybe they should have stayed on the pitch. "We caused them problems, but we just couldn't deal with their physicality at the end of the game. It's heartbreaking when it comes down the last 20 seconds and you lose a goal, but there are positives to take."

Team v Livi in Cup:

Sneddon

 

McMillan Williams 71)   Muirhead (McKenzie 100)   Neilson   Milne

 

Bannigan   Stanway

 

Lawless (Diack 64)   McInroy (Alston 87)   Fitzpatrick (Ngwenya 87)

 

Graham (Adeloye 64)

 

Subs not used: Mitchell; Stewart; Lyon

 

[tm4tj]

 

[Row S]

This man has to start the game tomorrow with or without Alex Samuel. Room for Billy too in a front three. Shaw on the right wing?

[bdu98196]

Huge game tomorrow at EEP, results depending over there, we could be 2nd bottom or only 3 points off the bottom spot with a game more played if we dont pick up something.

3 points badly needed and a home win for some confidence, but expect PT to sit in knowing we will be insipid and a nervous afternoon all round.

 

[Alan]

Just a shot at goal would be a welcome addition to our boring possession football

[IBM]

2 hours ago, Alan said:

Just a shot at goal would be a welcome addition to our boring possession football

Totally agree Alan we have to have a real go for a change and win a home game. 

[bishbashbosh]

Was at the Scottish cup game a few weeks ago in Dingwall when they trounced county 3-0.

very strong centre backs with both full backs getting up the park with ease. 
 

like others we have played this year they have a Connolly, Easton, Middleton, Thomas type winger in Fitzpatrick who roasted county’s Randall at right back that day.

hope I am wrong but can’t see us with our home form taking anything from tomorrow.

interesting to see how our young centre backs handle the experienced Graham.

 

[Robert]

With Devine, Boyes and Ujdur all out or struggling, it’s a good job we brought defenders in!

I hope they can handle Graham. If they can, I actually fancy us to get something from this. 

[Duke of Inverness]

I'm going 3-1 PT. We won't handle Graham and our goal would likely be a penalty. Plus I'm not going as I can't stand our insipid and boring tactics. 

[tm4tj]

2 hours ago, Duke of Inverness said:

I'm going 3-1 PT. We won't handle Graham and our goal would likely be a penalty. Plus I'm not going as I can't stand our insipid and boring tactics. 

Make your mind up! Are you going or not going.....

[tm4tj]

If you don't shoot you don't score. Here's the goal that won the game 2-1 for Raith Rovers last night. Some strike: Boom!

Thank you to all 7,923 of you, our highest attendance in 27 years.

The goal that almost took the roof off.

Good morning Rovers fans. pic.twitter.com/bFWsyt6RSg

— Raith Rovers Football Club (@RaithRovers) February 17, 2024

 

[tm4tj]

 

Brilliant graphic from Raith Rovers

I don't see Inverness in the race 

 

[+jagster]

We’re only 24 points behind.

[Duke of Inverness]

Sitting here hoping Arbroath beat Dunfermline so we can keep ourselves in 8th place!! 

Happy days!!

[tm4tj]

[ICTPaisley]

1 hour ago, jagster said:

We’re only 24 points behind.

24 pt swing….

[ICTPaisley]

1 hour ago, Duke of Inverness said:

Sitting here hoping Arbroath beat Dunfermline so we can keep ourselves in 8th place!! 

Happy days!!

If they do we can be joint bottom next week

[een]

Truth is we are presently sitting 6th.

Fingers 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

Was just about to question bringing on subs in the 51st minute.... and we score!

Brilliant, big Dunc! 

[ICTPaisley]

50 minutes ago, een said:

Truth is we are presently sitting 6th.

Fingers 

The reality now is, the only two teams below us have games in hand against us. We’re also playing them both in the next 10 days.

[+snorbens_caleyman]

9 hours ago, Duke of Inverness said:

Plus I'm not going as I can't stand our insipid and boring tactics. 

From the BBC website, I don't think it was insipid and boring today!

Edited February 17 by snorbens_caleyman

[Yngwie]

3-3 FT, Anderson red carded which Robbo said on radio was a terrible decision.

[Hiro]

-Play OK

-Lead or level into the 2nd half

-Make the same subs every week that unsettle us/sub Billy Mckay

-concede goal(s)

-RINSE AND REPEAT.

It would be nice if we could show that we're learning week on week but we're not.  That goes for the players and the manager.

[Duke of Inverness]

2 minutes ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

From the BBC website, I don't think it was insipid and boring today!

Maybe lol, the BBC are always honest and trustworthy.

[Douglas Mackenzie]

That was more like an exciting game and certainly was not flat. I thought we were better first half, Partick took second half.

I thought we had some nice touches and there was some good play.We have to remember that this team is work in progress and half the squad are new.We gave away soft goals and could have won it if pebble had just passed to Cammy running up his inside.

That was never  a red card when you consider kerr being poleaxed and no cards shown.

At least we never lost,which looked highly possible the way things were going .

Positive signs althoughI must admit some of the substitution were a bit strange.

 

Edited February 17 by Douglas Mackenzie