We're off to Hampden~den~en~n

 

 

It's a trip to a less than full Hampden Park for us in the next stage of the relegation battle after we dodged a bullet last week against Arbroath. Goal difference wise we are the best placed of the bottom four clubs. Our defence is also better than the other bottom four, in fact we are second equal defensively in the Championship, however what has let us down is scoring goals and in that department we are second worst in the league, only two goals better off than relegation certainties Arbroath. We did put four goals past Queens Park last time we were there. Unfortunately that was followed by three defeats and two draws in our next five games and we lost at Inverness when the Queens visited back at the beginning of February. The only certainty here is that the Hampden Park crowd record of 149,415 from 1937 won't be broken.

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Match/Ticket/Travel Info

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Venue H2H v QP

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	14	4	5	5	16	17	-1
Away	9	6	0	3	19	13	+6
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	23	10	5	8	35	30	+5

Only the last eight games since Queens Park came up into the Championship and QP are streets ahead of us since then. The 3 - 0 win was a League Cup encounter 14 years ago courtesy of these guys with goals from Lee Cox (20), Eric Odhiambo (55), Ross Tokely (58) Ryan Esson; Ross Tokely, Grant Munro, Stuart Golabek, Kevin McCann, Russell Duncan, Lee Cox, Nick Ross, Gil Blumenshtein, Adam Rooney, Dani Sanchez. Subs: Jonny Tuffey; Chris Innes, Roy McBain, Eric Odhiambo, Shane Sutherland

Full report on that one came from hislopsoffsideagain (click on the 3-0 scoreline above)

Last 8 Competitive Meetings since QP came up.

0 - 1 (H)

4 - 1 (A)

1 - 2 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

0 - 2 (H)

0 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (A)

1 - 1 (H)

3 - 0 (H)

1 - 2 (H)

Hampden Success:  4 - 1  Danny Devine had recovered from the knock that saw him limp off against Raith Rovers on the hour last week. Sean Welsh and Luis Longstaff were on the bench. Grant Savoury, Charlie Fox and Craig Napier missed out for the Spiders. Jack Turner put Queens Park ahead early in the first half before Max Anderson levelled the match ten minutes later. Jack Thomson hit the bar, Mckay deemed offside when putting a loose ball into the net after Wotherspoon's header was saved and that prompted some words of comfort for the referee for which Big Dunc eventually ended up in the stands at the break. After the interval Inverness eased themselves up into sixth place in the league with goals from Nikola Ujdur, his first for the club, David Wotherspoon and a Billy Mckay penalty. (For Full report click on 4-1 scoreline above)

Last Time Out

Inverness made hard work of taking the points from all but relegated Arbroath. We dominated the first half and but for some brilliant saves from Max Boruc we could have gone in three or four goals to the good at the break. As it was Wallace Duffy scored on half time and that should have given us something to build on against a poor Arbroath who were simply going through the motions. As per usual, we failed to take full advantage of the numerous opportunities and paid the price when Leighton McIntosh hammered home a wind assisted shot from the edge of the box. We huffed and puffed somewhat thereafter before the energetic MotM Alex Samuel turned and thrashed in the winner from fifteen yards for a belter of a goal. It was a crucial strike that has all but relegated Arbroath and it keeps our hopes alive of avoiding the play-offs. Last Five: D L D L W 

Queens Park had a day to forget last weekend at Hampden as Champions in waiting Dundee United put five past them. It didn't look likely after the first half when they trailed by a single goal from Fotheringham on the stroke of half-time. However four goals in a fifteen minute spell from Moult, Graham, Fotheringham again, and Sibbald put Queen's back in trouble and United on track for the Premiership. Last Five: D D W L L 

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table ahead of Morton v Dundee United on Friday night. 1. Dundee Utd 32 19 8 5 64 21 65 2. Raith Rovers 32 18 7 7 52 42 61 3. Partick Thistle 32 13 11 8 58 50 50 4. Airdrieonians 32 14 6 12 42 37 48 5. Dunfermline 32 11 9 12 38 42 42 6. Morton 32 11 8 13 39 38 41 7. Ayr United 32 11 6 15 45 57 39 8. Queens Park 32 9 9 14 43 55 36 9. Inverness CT 32 8 11 13 36 37 35 10. Arbroath 32 6 5 21 34 72 23

   

•  FRIDAY 12TH APRIL
•        Morton v Dundee Utd
•       SATURDAY 13TH APRIL
• Airdrieonians v Dunfermline 
•   Ayr Utd v Arbroath
• Queens Park v Inverness CT
•   Raith Rovers v Partick Thistle

Latest Team News

Duncan Ferguson has much the same squad to select from as last week. Luis Longstaff came off the bench on Saturday after being out for a couple of months with a knee injury and will be back in the squad again for Saturday. Carragher, although he did play, and Ujdur had a bit of a bug last weekend.  However Carragher is now a doubt after feeling his hamstring. Other than that not much has changed apart from Remi Savage, who has not recovered after he got a boot in the face from Cammy Kerr. Apparently Kerr's boot is OK but Savage is suffering from minor concussion and will miss the next couple of games. Maybe that was Kerr ensuring he gets a game this weekend. 

Here's our underfire Gaffer>>>

 

Callum Davidson will be smarting after the drubbing they took last week. That's seven goals in their last two games with none scored. Word of warning though, they still have Ruari Paton who has sixteen goals this season. They also have our often broken ex-captain Sean Welsh and Cillian Sheridan who surprisingly has bagged a couple of goals since leaving us. He looked like an unfit Sunday League pub player when at the Caledonian Stadium. Dom Thomas, who scored the winner last time Queens came North, has scored eight, but he was missing last week. He does enjoy a goal against us. Could Davidson be keeping him under wraps for the six-pointer against us this weekend?

Last weeks QP flops:

Ferrie

 

Thomson   Wilson   Bannon

 

Longridge   Turner (Sheridan 53)   Welsh (Tizzard 85)  McKinstry (Carse 53)   Scott (Bruce 52)

 

Paton   McLeish (Mauchin 62)

 

Subs Not Used: Wills: Fox, Robson, Williamson

 

 

Well I wouldn't exactly say that it was comfortable but we looked in control for the most but survived some hairy moments. Rodgers wasn't really tested but that is due to the back four being simply immense. Devine was absolutely outstanding and Boyes, Duffy and Harper were close behind. What a free kick from Harper which turned out to be the winner. Kerr played in a strange position in a cross between a full back and wing back. Anderson outshone Long staff although committment was never in doubt. Disappointed in Doran and Billy and both are past their sell by dates. Billy would have had a comfortable brace in days of you're. Samuel is a McGinn version of a centre forward and sure knows how to win a foul. I have seen all the comments about not going forward enough or shooting enough BUT the ONLY player running the line up front was Samuel. Everybody else goes wide !! We have NOBODY to support Samuel. And don't tell me that Dunc told Lawal to cut the ball back 🤣 The worst feeling for me is when the chant of we are staying up started with 3-4 minutes to go. But the Dogs of War mentality was clear to see and that was a big, big result. Noticeable that Dunc left the players to take all the acclaim at the end. Another ++ for the big man

Only 3 points behind high flying morton and their super coach who many wished we had appointed. Don't let that stop criticism though.

Good result

Edited April 13, 20241 yr by High1ander
cropped

 

Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Only three games left 1. Dundee Utd 33 20 8 5 68 22 68 2. Raith Rovers 33 18 8 7 52 42 62 3. Partick Thistle 33 13 12 8 58 50 51 4. Airdrieonians 33 15 6 12 44 38 51 5. Dunfermline 33 11 9 13 39 44 42 6. Ayr United 33 12 6 15 50 57 42 7. Morton 33 11 8 14 40 42 41 8. Inverness CT 33 9 11 13 37 37 38 9. Queens Park 33 9 9 15 43 56 36 10. Arbroath 33 6 5 22 34 77 23

 

What is happening folks - was Dunc spot on in his summing up ? 🤔

Goal by @CameronHarper01 to win today's game. @ICTFC away at Hampden vs @queensparkfc #ictfc pic.twitter.com/kKBn5Ip2SS

— Ken Selkirk (@KenSelkirk1) April 13, 2024

Well done Cammy Harper, what a strike and a fantastic season you've been having despite our difficulties 👍.  Player of the year imo.

Edited April 13, 20241 yr by robbo1985

Great goal.

Fantastic Goal  well done to the team today!  Just three more cup finals to go.

3 massive points. 3 more cup finals to go.

A much needed 3 points and a good performance to go with it. My only issue (and it is a repetitive one) we never looked likely to score. If we never scored that free kick we would have been in trouble. You can have 90% of the ball and play some lovely passes but if the end product isn’t there it means nothing. 

I was really impressed with Samuel today, he uses his body really well. Holds the ball up using his strength and even won us a couple smart fouls. 

I did notice that Dunc went straight down the tunnel at full time and thought that seemed a little odd. I know he has had a bit of stick recently but I was expecting him over, anyone else feel the same? 
 

 

 

I didn’t see today as a ‘must win’ but it was absolutely a ‘must not lose’. Brilliant result.

I see we now have the 2nd best defensive record in the league, after Utd. But we have also the 2nd worst goal scoring record too, just above Arbroath. And it won’t surprise anyone at all that our games have had fewer goals than any other team in the league.

Another great awayday despite the nerve wracking final minutes when we dread losing a last minute goal - thank you Mark Ridgers.    Well done to Cammy Harper, a great goal at ‘our’ end - plus points to Alex Samuel who takes a lot of punishment, he must get plenty bruises but never gives up and has the heart our Club needs. Please ICT can we try to keep him?  

8 hours ago, ICTPaisley said:

A much needed 3 points and a good performance to go with it. My only issue (and it is a repetitive one) we never looked likely to score. If we never scored that free kick we would have been in trouble. You can have 90% of the ball and play some lovely passes but if the end product isn’t there it means nothing. 

I was really impressed with Samuel today, he uses his body really well. Holds the ball up using his strength and even won us a couple smart fouls. 

I did notice that Dunc went straight down the tunnel at full time and thought that seemed a little odd. I know he has had a bit of stick recently but I was expecting him over, anyone else feel the same? 
 

 

 

Big Dunc has been criticised on here and on Wyness Shuffle for fist pumping at the end of matches.  It’s a shame if he feels he can no longer celebrate with the travelling fans as for me him celebrating with the fans at Arbroath in September was highlight of the season - admittedly there haven’t been too many.  

Edited April 14, 20241 yr by robbo1985

I thought we deserved the win and whilst we were pretty sound defensively I was disappointed at how toothless we were going forward. We didn't create much of note. Neither did Queens mind but very little to show from an ICT perspective. 

Cracking free kick by Harper. It was in as soon as it left his boot. Only other real chance of note for us was perhaps the Mckay opportunity when he passed up a 1 on 1 in the second half. 

Queens were desperately poor though. Whilst we had little attacking threat for most of the 90 minutes the home side were seldom able to muster a shot. Sheridan had a well struck effort saved at the start of the second half and Paton almost snatched a late equaliser when the ball dropped to him in the box but it seemed to roll down his shin instead of connecting with his foot and Ridgers saved easily. 

Gives us a real chance to avoid the playoffs now but it's far from  over.

"we never looked likely to score" ?!! - Billy and Lawal missed absolute sitters. Billy missed a clear chance in the first half and we had 2-3 efforts blocked. As I alluded to before Samuel is our ONLY up front option. Billy and Doran were played due to the need for their presence and we went 5 at the back  - but still should have won comfortably.

2 hours ago, robbo1985 said:

Big Dunc has been criticised on here and on Wyness Shuffle for fist pumping at the end of matches.  It’s a shame if he feels he can no longer celebrate with the travelling fans as for me him celebrating with the fans at Arbroath in September was highlight of the season - admittedly there haven’t been too many.  

Sorted 😁

 

I’m struggling to think of many direct free kicks we’ve scored in recent years. Having to go back as far as Barry Robson for the last player I can recall who you could trust to either score or at least make the keeper work hard.

Delighted on a Sunday  morning with two wins on the trot for the first time this season I think.

Some on here spent the season being continually critical and there were many negative comments about Big Dunc recruiting defenders,but frankly we needed to get a strong back line and my how we now seem to have got there.This takes care of keeping the back door shut as evidenced by our record,but what is  glaringly obvious now is that we are and have been desperate for a proven striker.Billy in his day was that person, but now, despite his ongoing efforts and tireless running,he  no longer has that striker skill set and it is clear that a good part of our problem this season was and is lack of  goals.

Of course it is a team game and the boys have to defend and attack as a unit,but now we need to look at our attacking players and options and recruit well in the summer.We need to start by trying as hard as we can to keep Samuel and some of the other loanees.We need to try and keep our defence intact,enhance the midfield and go out a find a ' nugget'who is a proven goal scorer.

 

 

 

Credit where credit is due Big Dunc got the result despite his many doubters so he should be loudly applauded for that alone. 
We are obviously not still safe but it gives us a platform for the last few games and it’s basically in our own hands. 
Even more surprising though seeing the Immoral Green brigader at the game tickets at Porkheid must be on the scarce side while the title race is so tight.

Well done to Big Dunc and the players delighted for Cameron Harper being a local

Dougal

Edited April 14, 20241 yr by dougal

4 hours ago, robbo1985 said:

Big Dunc has been criticised on here and on Wyness Shuffle for fist pumping at the end of matches.  It’s a shame if he feels he can no longer celebrate with the travelling fans as for me him celebrating with the fans at Arbroath in September was highlight of the season - admittedly there haven’t been too many.  

Pretty sure the guys on the podcast didn't criticise him for fist pumping at the end of games rather doing it when we lost and hadn't played particularly well. Which is a little odd. 

15 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

What is happening folks - was Dunc spot on in his summing up ? 🤔

Honestly It's the same post match he's done for the past two months...but let's not deflect from a great result against a poor queen's side.

Results improving as duff signings are out injured and Ferguson is having to use players that were here already and not being utilised?

I also see from the P&J that the standard of pitches is now being used as an excuse for poor past performances.

Really not sure he should be getting the praise some are bestowing upon him for masterminding anything.  Save it for the players who are the ones working hard and literally putting their bodies on the line to save the season.

Raith will be a tougher match on Friday.  They'll have one eye on playoff preparations so I think we need to go at them and hope they're not interested in over exerting themselves or picking up bookings and injuries.

Any points keeps things in our own hands and stops QP from any chance of immediately leapfrogging us again on Saturday.

Everything crossed.