Inverness CT 0 Dunfermline 0

Wednesday, 2nd May 2012

Hardie and Boyle make way for McMillan and McCann but yet another draw between these sides.

MATCH PICTURES
Bright sunshine and clear blue skies welcomed the Pars to the Highlands. For this vitally important match Manager Jim Jefferies brought back Austin McCann and Jordan McMillan meaning Paddy Boyle and Martin Hardie dropped to the bench. Terry Butcher dropped Owain Tudur-Jones to the bench while Jonny Hayes was suspended for his red card at Kilmarnock on Saturday. Kenny Gillet and Nick Ross started for Caley.

Caley Thistle had more of the early play and in third minute a Doran run up the right sent an inviting ball towards Billy McKay in front of goal but the striker failed to get a touch. At the other end David Graham put in the first Pars shot on target but Ryan Esson dropped on one knee to hold.

In seventh minute Chris Smith made a spectacular save when Aaron Doran`s corner was headed low on target by Steve Williams. McKay then had a low shot that Smith held easily as the home side hit on the counterattack. Play flowed from end to end without either keeper getting anything to tax them.

The home fans were shouting and whistling in 19 minutes when Doran chased a Williams pass down the right. The far side linesman was right in front of Doran as he tumbled in a challenge from McCann and no decision by either him or referee Stevie O`Reilly.

There was not a lot to encourage the vocal Pars posse behind Smith`s goal and Christian their drummer did his best to rally a reaction. The two inflatable bananas and numerous flags were ceaselessly swirled but all they could watch was Keddie and Dowie mop up a dangerous long ball and Smith hold a less than convincing shot from distance.

Doran chipped the ball in from the right but that landed on the roof of the net. At the other end McMillan touched the ball into a space on the right where Hutton smashed it through the penalty box without a touch from either side. On 34 minutes Dowie pumped a free kick from the centre circle in his own half.  Richie Foran failed to make a good clearance with his header and Joe Cardle latched on to the loose ball to drive in from the left and his lay off teed up Hutton but his shot was held by Esson.

Three minutes later Mark Kerr was tackled by Ross to earn a free kick 30 yards out in line with the left post but Hutton`s attempt was driven into the Caley Thistle wall. That broke for McMillan and his return was turned over the crossbar by Gillet. Unfortunately Cardle`s corner in from the left changed nothing and the home side cleared.

The visitors began to look far more purposeful and play was kept in the Caley half much to the frustration of the home fans. It had not been that exciting a first half but towards the break Dunfermline had looked a good bit better. With news of Hibs two goal lead at Aberdeen no doubt being related to the players, surely the second half will be addressed by a much greater push.

Half time: Inverness Caley Thistle 0 Dunfermline 0

By the time Inverness got the second half underway, the sun had gone down and the floodlights were suddenly noticeable.  It looked brighter for Dunfermline in just the second minute when Hutton`s break almost reached Kirk but the ball broke wide towards McMillan but Gillet ushered the ball out.

Caley were shot shy in 49 minutes when it looked like a shot would have been lethal. Doran took the ball away from goal and then when Shinnie did get in a shot he mishit it from ten yards out, making it easy for Smith to hold.  Shinnie next provided a dangerous cross in from the left and the central defence had to be sharp to deny McKay.

Three minutes later there were great expectations from the Pars support as Cardle lobbed in a free kick but the save was bread and butter for Esson. In 55 minutes Hutton pushed up and fed McMillan on the overlap but the final ball was simply blocked. Then a minute later Greg Tansey`s push on Hutton allowed Cardle to pump another high ball into the Caley box but after a scramble the defence came out on top.

Inverness then made a rapid break to the other end and a great chance was passed over by Shinnie who shot narrowly wide of the right post with the main stand all rising to welcome an opener. On the hour a Doran free kick from the left touchline brought all the big men up but after some tennis Andy Dowie got it away. Caley kept up the pressure and yet again thankfully looked shot shy as they tried to create the perfect opportunity.

In 64 minutes a late decision for offside didn`t matter since Shinnie blasted the shot high over the bar. Martin Hardie was the first tactical change of the evening for either side as Gary Mason as withdrawn as the match entered its final quarter.  HIs first contribution was am up and under from an Austin McCann throw in but Esson held without any trouble.

On 70 minutes Tansey pinged the ball across the six yard box and it looked as though it would be 1-0 but Doran directed the ball wide left when it could have been easier to net. Phew!

Kerr made a great pass in front of the dugout to send Graham away down the left but his progress was ended by Foran who earned a booking for the rather cynical tackle. Cardle sent the 74th minute free kick in for Keddie to meet at the near post but his glancing header ended up on the wrong side of the roof of the net. Graham was dispossessed as he tried to twist and turn his way in from the right and Caley burst forward again looking threatening but the Pars survived.

Then on 80 minutes a ball from Graham on the right caused problems for the central defence under pressure from Kirk.  They sent the ball to the edge of the box where Hardie got a great connection only to see Esson save; a great chance but Hardie not the hero this time. Three minutes later Foran conceded another free kick 30 yards out and Hardie was given a chance to shoot on goal but his shot was cleared both the wall and the bar.

In 88 minutes Gregory Tade replaced Billy McKay but after three added minutes the game fizzled out for yet another draw between these teams. The draw assured the Highlanders SPL status for next season but the one point leaves the Pars five points behind Hibs who won 2-1 at Pittodrie.

INVERNESS CT: Ryan Esson; Josh Meekings, Steve Williams, Ross Tokely, Graeme Shinnie (Andrew Shinnie 71); Greg Tansey, Kenny Gillet, Nick Ross (Shane Sutherland 71), Richie Foran, Aaron Doran, Billy McKay (Gregory Tade 88).
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas Piermayr, Roman Golobart, Owain Tudur-Jones Jonathan Tuffey (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Foran (74)

DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith; Jordan McMillan, Andy Dowie, Alex Keddie, Austin McCann (c); David Graham (Andy Barrowman 84), Gary Mason (Martin Hardie 67), Mark Kerr, Kyle Hutton, Joe Cardle; Andy Kirk (Liam Buchanan 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Willis, Paddy Boyle, Ryan Thomson, Bernardo Fernandez (GK)
YELLOW CARD: McMillan (64), Keddie (73)

REFEREE: Stevie O`Reilly
WEATHER: Sunny 11°C
ATTENDANCE 3036

NEXT MATCH: (away) SPL v Hibernian
Monday 7th May, kick off 7.45pm

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Preview Inverness CT

Monday, 30th Apr 2012

Inverness`s last home win was a 1-0 win over Hearts on 21st January. Dunfermline`s last away win was at Kilmarnock on the same day.

Dunfermline return to Inverness this Wednesday for the third time this season..  Both the SPL game in October and the Scottish Cup tie in January ended up as 1-1 draws.  The first meeting at East End Park was another score draw and the two were only separated after extra time, last time they met, in the cup replay. 

It was at Inverness on 12th May 2007 that Dunfermline last experienced relegation and it is avoiding that fate again that will be in the forefront of the team`s thoughts as they drive up to the Highland Capital. Caley Thistle are not yet 100% safe yet so they could be tough opponents as they need a point to secure their SPL status and avoid their destiny dragging on to the final game of the season when Hibs go to the Caledonian Stadium.

		Home					Away
Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Goal Diff
ICT	35	4	4	9	17	27	4	4	10	22	33	32	-21
Hibs	35	1	7	10	13	30	5	2	10	21	34	27	-30
Pars	35	1	7	10	21	42	4	2	11	18	34	24	-37

The Pars record in Inverness is none too impressive and  they have won only twice at Inverness in 11 league visits. 

League Record v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A)
Pld	W	D	L	F	A
11	2	3	6	10	16

The 2-1 win in April 2000 won them promotion to the Premier League after a year`s absence and the other a 3-1 win on St Patricks Day 2007 was Stephen Kenny`s first league victory after 16 attempts.

Milestones Inverness Caledonian Thistle (Away)
Last League Victory	17/03/07	3-1	SPL
Last League Defeat	17/04/10	0-2	Sc Div 1
Best League Victory	22/04/00	2-1	Sc Div 1
Worst League Defeat	15/08/04 29/01/05	0-2	SPL
*Pre league reconstruction

This is the twenty fourth league match between the sides, so far Dunfermline have won four of them, there have been ten draws and nine have ended in defeat.  The first meeting this season at East End Park was rescued by a special from Martin Hardie after Andy Kirk had twice put his side in the lead. Dunfermline are 3-1 against for the win but the bookies are giving 40-1 for another 3-3 draw.

Last 12 League Matches v Inverness CT
Date	H/A	F-A	Scorers
18/02/12	H	1-1	[1-0] Card;e, [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
23/12/06	H	0-0
30/09/06	A	0-1	[0-1] Tokely
06/05/06	H	0-1	[0-1] Morgan

Terry Butcher`s men have won only one game at home since Christmas.  Dunfermline`s away form has thankfully been better than their home form and having taken four points from their last two games their confidence should be the greater. Saturday`s win over Aberdeen came after 12 matches without a win.

Current League Form
Inverness CT	Dunfermline
League Points
32	24
League Position
10	12
Goal Difference
-21	-37
Form Last 6 League Matches
WLLDLL	LDLLDW
Home / Away Record
P17, W4, D4, L9	P17, W4, D2, L11

Inverness`s last home win was a 1-0 win over Hearts on 21st January.  Dunfermline`s last away win was at Kilmarnock on the same day.

Recent Form - home / away
Inverness Caley Thistle (home)				Dunfermline (away)
Aberdeen	W	4-2		St Mirren	D	4-4
Hibs	L	0-2		Dundee United	L	0-3
St Johnstone	L	0-3		St Johnstone	L	1-3
Kilmarnock	D	1-1		Celtic	L	0-2
Rangers	D	0-0		Aberdeen	L	0-1
Celtic	D	1-1		Motherwell	L	1-3

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Aberdeen): Chris Smith; Gary Mason (c), Andy Dowie, Alex Keddie, Paddy Boyle; David Graham (Ryan Thomson 88), Mark Kerr, Kyle Hutton, Joe Cardle; Martin Hardie (Paul Burns 72), Andy Kirk (Andy Barrowman 84).
SUBS NOT USED: Paul Willis, Steven McDougall, Kerr Young, Bernardo Fernandez (GK)

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE: (v Kilmarnock): Ryan Esson; Josh Meekings, Steve Williams, Ross Tokely, Graeme Shinnie; Greg Tansey,  Owain Tudur-Jones, Jonathan Hayes, Richie Foran, Aaron Doran, Billy McKay.
SUBS: Roman Golobart, Gregory Tade, Kenny Gillet, Nick Ross, Shane Sutherland,  Andrew Shinnie, Jonathan Tuffey (GK)

Referee will be Stevie O`Reilly

Come on ye Pars!

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