Preview Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Ladbrokes 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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