Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 Dunfermline 2
Saturday, 21st Apr 2018Ladbrokes Championship: Andy Ryan in for Declan McManus. Andy Ryan (12) 0-1: Joe Chalmers (16) 1-1: Nathan Austin (48) 2-1: Nicky Clark (90+5) 2-2:
A fine spring day welcomed Dunfermline back to Inverness for what was basically a play off for a play off place. Fifth placed Caley Thistle were sitting on 50 points, Dunfermline on 55 but with the Highlanders with two games to play. The Pars final match is at home to Dumbarton but an away win at the Caledonian Stadium would end the contest.
Manager Allan Johnston made an unusual move for him, voluntarily changing a winning team. Declan McManus found himself on the bench to make way for goalscorer the previous week, Andy Ryan. Callum Morris had to pull out in the warm up last Saturday and his replacement Jean-Yves M’Voto retained his place.
Caley Thistle manager John Robertson, in search of his sixth successive win made three changes to his starting eleven. Gary Warren was injured, Iain Vigurs suspended and Ricky Calder dropped to the bench. Into the team came Carl Tremarco, Collin Seedorf and Charlie Trafford.
Inverness CT 2-2 Dunfermline (goals)
Sat, 21st Apr 2018
Dunfermline kicked off through captain Nicky Clark attacking the goal at the bridge end and Ryan Williamson forced a corner within 48 seconds but when Fraser Aird centred from the right Collin Seedorf intercepted the cross.
The Fifers looked eager from the start and tried to get their passing game going but despite having the better of the territorial advantage, the ball spent much time off the park as the match became peppered with throw ins.
Ryan was caught by the Inverness offside trap in ninth minute and next minute George Oakley created the first chance for the home side but when Aaron Doran flicked the ball on Lee Robinson held.
Perseverance of Lewis Martin earned by the Pars the 12th minute opener. The left back hung on to possession up the left and laid the ball back for RYAN to hit the net from 12 yards out. 0-1
The only snagged was a yellow card shown to Higginbotham for booting the ball into the home support.
The lead lasted all of four minutes. Oakley first missed a chance that looked easier to convert but when Lee Ashcroft conceded a 16th minute free kick some 25 yards out, Joe CHALMERS stepped up and hit the ball low into the bottom right corner. 1-1
Higginbotham was being given the Pantomime baddie treatment from the home support but revelled in it as he fed the ball to Ryan who released a 30 yards shot that deflected off Brad Mackay for a corner on the right but that came to nothing.
Mark Ridgers came out and held a free kick that Higginbotham pumped in from the right while at the other end James Craigen cleared after Austin had lofted the ball in the Pars box. Then in 31 minutes Ryan got the better of Brad Mackay out on the right, he advanced and cut back an inviting ball but Aird delayed his effort and when executed did not have enough on it to beat Ridgers.
A Craigen cross was headed behind by Coll Donaldson to earn the visitors a 35th minute corner but Seedorf cut out Aird’s cross and Craigen fired the second chance wildly left of target. When Inverness ventured forward in 41 minutes they were disposssed by James Vincent and he sent Higginbotham up the right. The winger picked out Ryan on the edge of the box but unluckily could not control the chance.
The home side continued to threaten on the counter with Nathan Austin the main problem. Williamson was yellow carded for halting the no.8s progress just a minute from the break. When Liam Polworth lobbed the ball in from the free kick Robinson held the awkwardly falling ball.
52% possession to the Fifers in the first half but Caley had more shots. All to play for in the second half as the sides went in all square.
Half time: Inverness Caley Thistle 1 Dunfermline 1
The home side started the second 45 strongly with Robinson having to hold from Polworth after just one minute but then in 48 minutes a strong run by AUSTIN that left Ashcroft in his wake let the striker in to net from 16 yards. 2-1
Tremarco headed a 52nd minute chance from a corner narrowly wide but ICT kept up the heat. Robinson was swiftly out to put Polworth off his attempted chip over him and then Seedorf fizzed a cross through the Pars box.
Clark reduced the pressure in winning a 56th minute corner down on the right and after a stoppage for treatment to Austin, Aird’s delivery was fisted away by Ridgers and Craigen’s follow up was blocked. Higginbotham latched on to the loose ball and forced another corner as Ridgers turned the ball around his left hand post. M’Voto connected from the resultant corner but his effort fell wide left.
On the hour both sides committed their first subs of the game, Joe Cardle came on for Fraser Aird and Daniel Mackay replaced Austin. Two minutes later M’Voto and Oakley clashes heads but after a stoppage for treatment both players were able to continue with the Caley man with a bandage around his head.
The home crowd got in their final boos as Kallum Higginbotham was replaced by Declan McManus in 66 minutes and Dunfermline pushed another player up front. It was the other sub, Cardle who livened things up however barbering away on the edge of the box to pick out Clark and then get the ball back to launch a shot that fell narrowly wide right.
Oakley has a glorious chance of putting the game beyond the Pars when he ran on to a long ball from Charlie Trafford in 71 minutes but the striker delayed his attempt and M’Voto closed him out. Doran supplied young Daniel Mackay with a fine pass to allow him to test Martin but having poked the ball round his marker he played the ball out.
With the time draining away McManus did well on the left side of the penalty box to lay the ball off for Clark 15 yards out but he was off target. Cardle launched a high ball into the Caley box from a free kick on the left but Ridgers held.
A Tremarco run in 80 minutes set up Daniel Mackay on the right side of the Pars box but his shot trundled narrowly outside the left upright. A slick move from Clark to Ryan and on to Craigen just failed to create the chance for an 85th minute equaliser. The home side got deeper and the clearances more desperate.
Cardle at the left corner flag cut back for Martin to cross. The ball evaded Clark but Ryan made a connection only to find the keeper’s arms. Callum Morris was thrown on in 90th minute in place of Craigen and the home side were to face six nervous minutes of added time.
In the fifth minute of added time Joe Cardle swept a free kick in from the right and CLARK got the touch to send the travelling support delirious. 2-2
No time for Caley to respond and it was Allan Johnston’s side who were nearer to the play offs. A draw next week at home to Dumbarton would be enough to assure that,
Even though Dundee United went down 3-0 away to Queen of the South they had their play off place.
SUBS NOT USED: Connor Bell, Jake Mulraney, Jack Brown, Zach Elbouzedi, Ryan Esson (GK).
SCORERS: Chalmers (16), Austin (48)
YELLOW CARD: B Mackay (32)
DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Jean-Yves M’Voto, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham(Declan McManus 66), James Vincent, James Craigen (Callum Morris 90), Fraser Aird (Joe Cardle 60): Andy Ryan, Nicky Clark (c).
SUBS NOT USED: Dan Armstrong, Nat Wedderburn, Jason Talbot, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Ryan (12), Clark (90+5)
YELLOW CARD: Higginbotham (13), Williamson (44)
REFEREE: Stephen Finnie
WEATHER: 18C Sunny
ATTENDANCE 3316
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (home) v Dumbarton, Saturday 28th April 2018, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park.
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Preview Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Saturday, 21st Apr 2018Ladbrokes Championship (away) Saturday 21st April, 3.00pm kick off at the Caledonian Thistle Stadium
This has the makings of being an absolute cracker. Having struggled to adapt to life in the Championship for most of the season after their relegation last season, John Robertson’s side have managed to pull together a nine game unbeaten run and now have a genuine chance of gaining a promotion play off place this season.
Inverness’ game in hand (v Livingston) gives them continuing hope of clinching a play off place at the expense of Dunfermline or even Dundee United. A home win over the Pars would leave the Highlanders needing to win their last two games to be certain to finish above Dunfermline.
On the other hand, a Dunfermline win over Inverness would secure Allan Johnston’s men a play off place.
Inverness has certainly not been Pars favourite hunting ground and in fact Athletic have only twice travelled back down the A9 with a league win under their belts, in April 2000 and March 2007. That last Pars win at Inverness on St Patrick`s Day 2007, was Stephen Kenny`s first league win in 16 attempts.
So this is just Dunfermline’s second match in Inverness since May 2012. The last time the Pars arrive sitting second in the Championship to meet eighth placed Caley Thistle but lost by the only goal of the game.
Milestones Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Away)
Last League Victory: 17/03/07: 3-1 SPL
Last League Defeat: 28/10/17: 0-1 Championship
Best League Victory: 22/04/00 2-1 Sc Div 1
Worst League Defeats: 15/08/04 & 29/01/05 0-2 SPL
This is the twenty eighth league match between the sides, so far Dunfermline have won six of them, there have been eleven draws and ten have ended in defeat.
The first meeting this season at East End Park was a resounding 5-1 win for Allan Johnston`s side. The recent meeting at home was also a Pars win by the only goal but the first match at Inverness was a 1-0 reversal.
Last 12 League matches v Inverness CT
13/03/18: (H) 1-0 [1-0] Craigen.
28/10/17: (A) 0-1 [0-1] Bell.
12/08/17: (H) 5-1 [1-0] Smith, [2-0] Ashcroft, [2-1] Vigurs, [3-1] Cardle, [4-1] Hopkirk, [5-1] Cardle.
18/02/12: (H) 1-1 [1-0] Cardle, [1-1] Ross.
22/10/11: (A) 1-1 [0-1] Tade, [1-1] Buchanan (pen.)
06/08/11: (H) 3-3 [1-0] Kirk, [1-1] Tansey, [2-1] Kirk. [2-2] Hayes, [2-3] Tansey, [3-3] Hardie.
17/04/10: (A) 0-2 [1-0] Rooney, [2-0] Foran.
19/12/09: (H) 0-0
17/10/09: (A) 1-1 [0-1] Proctor, [1-1] Kirk.
08/08/09: (H) 0-1 [0-1] Cox.
12/05/07: (A) 1-2 [1-0] McIntyre, [1-1] Hastings, [1-2] McAllister.
17/03/07: (A) 3-1 [0-1] Paatelainen, [1-1] Glass, [2-1] McIntyre, [3-1] Glass.
Last time at the Caledonian Stadium
Inverness Caley Thistle 1 Dunfermline 0
Premier League, Saturday 28th October 2017
Midway into the first half Mulraney provided a cross in from the right and a deflection off Lee Ashcroft in his attempt to clear, appeared to wrong foot both Morris and Murdoch allowing Connor BELL to stick the ball away from close range. 1-0
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: Mark Ridgers: David Raven, Brad McKay, Coll Donaldson, Carl Tremarco: Jake Mulraney (Ricki Calder 72), Liam Polworth, Iain Vigurs (c), Joe Chalmers, John Baird (George Oakley 78), Connor Bell (Gary Warren 90+1)
SUBS NOT USED: Charlie Trafford, Matthew Elsdon, Daniel Mackay, Ryan Esson
(GK).
DUNFERMLINE: Sean Murdoch: Ryan Williamson, Callum Morris (c), Lee Ashcroft, Jason Talbot: Kallum Higginbotham, Aaron Splaine (Dean Shiels 76), Nat Wedderburn, Fraser Aird (Joe Cardle 66): Callum Smith (Declan McManus 66), Nicky Clark.
SUBS NOT USED: Andy Ryan, Lewis Martin, Jean-Yves M`Voto, Cammy Gill (GK).
Form last six matches
Dunfermline are unbeaten in their last eight matches. Caley Thistle are also unbeaten in their last eight games.
DUNFERMLINE
Brechin City (H) 4-0
Falkirk (A) W 2-1
Livingston (H) W 1-0
Queen of the South (H) W 3-1
Dundee United (A) D 1-1
Brechin City (A) W 3-0
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE
Dumbarton (A) W 1-0
Dumbarton (H) W 5-1
Falkirk (H) W 1-0
Queen of the South (A) W 2-0
Brechin City (H) W 4-0
St Mirren (H) D 2-2
Recent Form
DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 4th
League Points: 55
League Record: P34 W15 D10 L9 GF54 GA33
Goal Difference: +21
Last Six League Match Form: WDWWWW
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE
League Position: 5th
League Points: 50
League Record: P34 W14 D8 L11 GF47 GA35
Goal Difference: +12
Last Six League Match Form: DWWWWW
Last time out
DUNFERMLINE: (v Brechin City) Lee Robinson: Ryan Williamson, Jean-Yves M’Voto, Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Kallum Higginbotham, James Vincent (Joe Cardle 74), James Craigen, Fraser Aird: Declan McManus (Andy Ryan 53), Nicky Clark (c)(Dan Armstrong 72).
SUBS NOT USED: Dean Shiels, Nat Wedderburn, Jason Talbot, Cammy Gill (GK)
INVERNESS CT (v Dumbarton) Mark Ridgers: Gary Warren (Collin Seedorf 25), Riccardo Calder, Brad McKay, Joe Chalmers, Coll Donaldson, Liam Polworth, Aaron Doran (Carl Tremarco (67)! iain Vigurs (, Nathan Austin (Connor Bell 88), George Oakley.
SUBS NOT USED: Jake Mulraney, Zak Elbouzedi, Charlie Trafford, Ryan Esson (GK).
Other Ladbrokes Championship Fixtures
Dumbarton v Falkirk
Livingston v Brechin City
Queen of the South v Dundee United
St Mirren v Morton
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