ICT v St Mirren- PREVIEW

[Andrew Fraser]

Inverness CT v St Mirren

Saturday 24th November @ 3pm

Tulloch Caledonian Stadium

SPL

Referee: Crawford Allan

Others: Gordon Middleton, Steve Pullar (Assistants), Steve Mckendrick (4th official)

FIXTURES

Saturday 24th November:

Falkirk v Rangers (Setanta, 12:30pm)

Celtic v Aberdeen

Hibernian v Dundee Utd

Inverness CT v St Mirren

Kilmarnock v Motherwell

Sunday 25th November:

Gretna v Hearts (Setanta, 2pm)

SPL SO FAR

After 12 games, it is of course the 2 old firm teams that are setting the early pace, but no-one has told Dundee Utd or Hibernian yet. Both teams (Utd and Hibs) are on the 25pt mark with Rangers, with Rangers ahead due to goal difference. Even though Rangers beat Celtic in the only old firm game so far this season, Celtic have 28pts and are in pole position.

There is a 5 point gap to a surprisingly rejuvenated Motherwell, who have progressed massively since last season.  Mark McGhee has got his team to an unexpected 5th place and they will do really well if they can stay there into 2008. Hearts and Aberdeen have both had ok starts to the season, with 18pts a piece, but both know there is room for improvements.

Kilmarnock have 16pts and St Mirren without star man Dargo who has yet to play a game have 14 pts and will be happy. Falkirk have 12 pts in 10th place and Inverness CT have 10pts in 11th. Inverness have yet to produce a run of results but I am sure we are due a run of victories sooner rather than later. If Inverness are to climb the league however, they must give away less penalties and tighten the defence. But thankfully for the Highlanders, Gretna are in the SPL and have a mere 4pts, but I have a feeling eventually Gretna will get a wee run going at some point. However so far this season, Gretna only look like going back to the 1st division.

So, lets hope the SPL can add more thrills and spills over the coming weeks before we get our appetite ready for turkeys at Christmas. (sorry, had to mention xmas!!)

PAST MEETINGS

The teams have played a total of 25 times (11 League, 4 Cup) with 69 goals (49 Inverness CT, 21 St Mirren) between them.

Inverness CT: 14 wins (9 League, 4 Cup)

Draws: 6 (6 League, 0 Cup)

St Mirren: 5 wins (5 League, 0 Cup)

A GAME TO REMEMBER

For this weeks game to remember we take you back to the first ever match between the teams. It took place on the 10th of August 1999 in the Scottish Challenge Cup. Inverness CT won the match 1-0 thanks to an 88th minute Mike Teasdale goal. The attendance on the day was 1334.

The teams were as follows:

INVERNESS CT: Fridge, Mann, Tokely, Hastings, Golabek, Teasdale, Christie, McCulloch, Sheerin, Stewart, McLean. Subs- Robson, Shearer, Glancy.

ST MIRREN: Roy, McLaughlin, Turner, Baltacha, Nicolson, Murray, Drew, Kerr, McGarry, Brown, Yardley. Subs- Mendes, Lavety, Ross.

The referee was Garry Mitchell and there were no bookings on the day. Two Inverness players still play for the club and there is one who is now the manager of the club.

FACTS BETWEEN THE TEAMS

? All League meetings between the teams have taken place in the First Division so far apart from three.

? Inverness CT have won all cup meetings between the sides.

? Inverness CT?s Paul Ritchie is the top scorer in the fixture with 8 goals. Next is Dennis Wyness with 7.

? St Mirren?s top scorer in the fixture is Yardley with 3.

? The biggest win in the fixture was when Inverness CT won 5-0 on 6/5/2000. McCulloch got 2, with Xausa, Wilson and Bavidge all getting one goal.

? Inverness CT were unbeaten in 9 games against St Mirren at Love Street until the earlier fixture this season. St Mirren beat Inverness 2-1 with Don Cowie scoring his first ever goal for Inverness CT.

? This fixture averages 2.76 goals a game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marius Niculae (Inverness CT): The Romanian internationalist made his long awaited debut for the club back in August. He is looking to get back into the Romanian squad for Euro 2008 and to do that, he will need to start banging in the league goals for the Highlanders first and there will be no better way to start than helping Caley Thistle get a much needed victory this weekend. With Bayne suspended, he is bound to start, and surely this time, the goal will come.

Craig Dargo (St Mirren): Craig left us during the summer and joint the Paisley buddies in July. He is very prone to injuries but during his spell in the highlands he was very lucky and only had one injury that lasted more than a month. However he chose to leave us and what happens, he has now been injured for 3 months, and is not expected to return until Christmas or even the New Year. I do feel sorry for Craig as he was great for us, but as long as he is on the sidelines we have a better chance of getting 3pts on Saturday. I?m sure he will be there on Saturday watching.

[Johnboy]

Andrew...

I always enjoy reading your reviews and previews...

Not sure though if you should be listing Craig Dargo as a "player to watch" tomorrow..!!

[Yngwie]

Two Inverness players still play for the club and there is one who is now the manager of the club.

:024:

[IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER]

Mmm .. interesting - Here is the latest phottie of Lardley:

[Andrew Fraser]

1. sorry i just had to mention dargo, but the player to watch is actually billy mehmet!!

2. for a second i still thought christie was the manager!!  :029: :029: :029: oops!! of course i meant to say two inverness players still play for the club and one is now the lottery manager.

[Guest macgint71]

heres the team for today

Proctor    MacGuire  Munro  Rankin

Wilson  Black  Macbain  Cowie

      Marius      Dennis

[tm4tj]

Good content Andrew

I'll settle for winning 2.76 - 0

Playing without goalie McGint, some say we have been doing that anyway.

[Guest macgint71]

I know I spotted it once I hit the send button.

Its Fraser but I like your sarcasm

[EWS]

Hmm interesting, Blackie says today in the paper that he isn't playing and doesn't know if he is on the bench or not.

[Guest macgint71]

Thats definately the first 11

[Alex MacLeod]

Just 1 little point on the following fact Andrew

?  All League meetings between the teams have taken place in the First Division so far apart from three.

We played them 4 times last season and once already this.

That aside, keep up the previews. There well appreciated

[Andrew Fraser]

Yep, i deliberately did these mistakes to see if someone would notice :rolleyes02: :rolleyes02: :rolleyes02: :rolleyes02:

seriously,

Cheers Alex for the point, its just not my week, too many mistakes!! Hopefully next weeks will be better as i will need to go back to basics! :001: :001: :001:

[caley100]

If this feckin rain keeps up there wont be a game  :008:

[CaleyD]

Bring yer water wings

[EWS]

Thats definately the first 11

Aye, sure it is.