Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC

[DavidMc]

Falkirk v Inverness CT
Scottish Premier League
Wednesday 26th December 07

Falkirk defender Darren Barr serves the first of a two-match suspension when Inverness visit on Boxing Day.
That could mean a recall for Gerard Aafjes should he shake off the foot knock that kept him out of Saturday's 3-0 victory over Motherwell.

Inverness have a fully fit squad to choose from with Dennis Wyness back in contention after recovering from a hamstring injury.

And David Proctor is available again after serving a one-game ban.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Falkirk (from): Krul, Olejnik, Ross, Holden, Aafjes, Scobbie, Milne, Riera, Thomson, Cregg, Latapy, Arfield, Moutinho, Finnigan, Higdon, Barrett, Allison, Mitchell.

Inverness (from): Fraser, Proctor, Tokely, Hastings, McCaffrey, Munro, McGuire, Black, Duncan, Rankin, McBain, Cowie, Bayne, Vigurs, Wilson, Niculae, McAllister, Wyness, Kerr, Brewster, Malkowski

.

[DavidMc]

Inverness 3-1 Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 29th December 07
Caledonian Stadium

Inverness bounced straight back to winning ways thanks to a brace from Marius Niculae and a Don Cowie volley.

The deadlock was broken on 42 minutes when John Rankin's drive was blocked by goalkeeper Alan Combe, only for Niculae to pounce from close range.

Soon after the restart, Cowie cracked in a sweet finish from defender Richard Hastings' neat cross.

And, with 15 minutes remaining, Niculae drilled in his second before Colin Nish grabbed a late penalty for Killie.

Caley Thistle stay in eighth spot but are now just one point behind fourth-placed Dundee United in a congested mid-table.

The Highlanders were the stronger team throughout and could have won by a more handsome margin but for the form of Combe.

The visiting keeper had to look smart to turn away Phil McGuire's well-improvised over-head kick.

Home striker Graham Bayne then directed a firm header wide from Cowie's cross.

Kilmarnock finally threatened in the 25th minute, but when Gary Wales found David Fernandez with a perfectly-weighted through-ball, Michael Fraser was in the right place to make a stop with his foot.

Nish then made his presence felt for the first time in latching on to a cross from Garry Hay, but Fraser dived low to save.

Niculae came close seven minutes before the interval when his 25-yard shot was beaten away by Combe.

But the Romanian was not to be denied and turned the ball into the net after Rankin's expertly controlled shot was too hot to handle for the Kilmarnock keeper.

Inverness took control of the game following the restart and it did not take them long to double their advantage.

Hastings turned the ball into the path of Cowie, who showed a touch of class in dispatching his shot past Combe.

Hastings then had a shot saved by Combe and when the ball came back to the Canadian he carelessly stabbed over.

The impressive Niculae clipped a 25-yard drive just wide and then slalomed through a ragged Kilmarnock defence to crack a shot off Combe.

Niculae had another shot which was marginally off target but the forward's persistence paid off when he finally got a second goal.

The visiting keeper did well to stop Bayne's well-struck effort, only for the ball to land at the feet of Cowie.

An eager Niculae nicked the ball from the midfielder's toes and blasted a shot into the net that Combe could not keep out despite managing to get a hand to the ball.

With four minutes remaining Nish scored a consolation from the penalty spot following a handball by Grant Munro.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire (Proctor 88), Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, Rankin, Bayne (Wyness 83), Niculae. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Duff, Wilson, Vigurs, McAllister.

Goals: Niculae 42, Cowie 52, Niculae 76.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Hamill, Ford, O'Leary, Hay, Fernandez (Johnston 79), Fowler, Bryson (Koudou 72), Taouil, Nish, Wales. Subs Not Used: Harpur, Clancy, Noble, Locke, Flannigan.

Goal: Nish 87 pen.

Att: 4,169

[DavidMc]

Inverness 3-1 Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 29th December 07
Caledonian Stadium

Inverness bounced straight back to winning ways thanks to a brace from Marius Niculae and a Don Cowie volley.

The deadlock was broken on 42 minutes when John Rankin's drive was blocked by goalkeeper Alan Combe, only for Niculae to pounce from close range.

Soon after the restart, Cowie cracked in a sweet finish from defender Richard Hastings' neat cross.

And, with 15 minutes remaining, Niculae drilled in his second before Colin Nish grabbed a late penalty for Killie.

Caley Thistle stay in eighth spot but are now just one point behind fourth-placed Dundee United in a congested mid-table.

The Highlanders were the stronger team throughout and could have won by a more handsome margin but for the form of Combe.

The visiting keeper had to look smart to turn away Phil McGuire's well-improvised over-head kick.

Home striker Graham Bayne then directed a firm header wide from Cowie's cross.

Kilmarnock finally threatened in the 25th minute, but when Gary Wales found David Fernandez with a perfectly-weighted through-ball, Michael Fraser was in the right place to make a stop with his foot.

Nish then made his presence felt for the first time in latching on to a cross from Garry Hay, but Fraser dived low to save.

Niculae came close seven minutes before the interval when his 25-yard shot was beaten away by Combe.

But the Romanian was not to be denied and turned the ball into the net after Rankin's expertly controlled shot was too hot to handle for the Kilmarnock keeper.

Inverness took control of the game following the restart and it did not take them long to double their advantage.

Hastings turned the ball into the path of Cowie, who showed a touch of class in dispatching his shot past Combe.

Hastings then had a shot saved by Combe and when the ball came back to the Canadian he carelessly stabbed over.

The impressive Niculae clipped a 25-yard drive just wide and then slalomed through a ragged Kilmarnock defence to crack a shot off Combe.

Niculae had another shot which was marginally off target but the forward's persistence paid off when he finally got a second goal.

The visiting keeper did well to stop Bayne's well-struck effort, only for the ball to land at the feet of Cowie.

An eager Niculae nicked the ball from the midfielder's toes and blasted a shot into the net that Combe could not keep out despite managing to get a hand to the ball.

With four minutes remaining Nish scored a consolation from the penalty spot following a handball by Grant Munro.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire (Proctor 88), Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, Rankin, Bayne (Wyness 83), Niculae. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Duff, Wilson, Vigurs, McAllister.

Goals: Niculae 42, Cowie 52, Niculae 76.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Hamill, Ford, O'Leary, Hay, Fernandez (Johnston 79), Fowler, Bryson (Koudou 72), Taouil, Nish, Wales. Subs Not Used: Harpur, Clancy, Noble, Locke, Flannigan.

Goal: Nish 87 pen.

Att: 4,169

[DavidMc]

Aberdeen 1-0 Inverness CT

Final score

Aberdeen scraped three points at Pittodrie, thanks to Barry Nicholson's late penalty against Caley Thistle.

Lee Mair came close to putting the Dons ahead in the 21st minute, but his header was saved by Michael Fraser.

Inverness failed to replicate their impressive recent form, and Richard Hastings missed their best chance in a poor game after 32 minutes.

Ross Tokely blundered in bringing down Lee Miller for an 83rd minute spot-kick from which Nicholson duly converted.

With this narrow win, Aberdeen now extend their unbeaten home run to 12 games.

But the Dons had to cope with a string of key absentees for the Highlanders's visit, while Craig Brewster had a full squad to choose from.

Darren Mackie, Michael Hart, Andrew Considine, Jackie McNamara and Zander Diamond were all forced to miss out with injury.

Inverness - who defeated Kilmarnock 3-1 in impressive style at the weekend - were hoping to build on the recent form which saw them claim six victories in their last seven SPL outings.

The players, officials and supporters of both sides paid tribute to Phil O'Donnell with a minute's applause before kick-off.

However, Sone Aluko almost broke the deadlock for the Dons in the sixth minute.

But before the on-loan Birmingham player could shoot he was tackled by the alert Ian Black, and Scott Severin's drive from distance monents later flashed wide.

Aberdeen were on top, but could not convert their chances and missed a pair of headers in quick succession.

Firstly, Miller was off-target as he looped an effort wide following a pinpoint centre from Derek Young.


Caley Thistle's Marius Niculae takes possession at Pittodrie

Caley Thistle goalkeeper Fraser was then in the right place to stop a powerful close-range Mair header as the Reds were poised to break the deadlock.

The visitors began to edge into the game, and Graham Bayne and John Rankin managed to set up Hastings only for the left-back to lift the ball over the bar.

But it was the best Brewster's men could conjure up in a turgid first period.

Marius Niculae, who scored against both Celtic and Kilmarnock recently, was a largely anonymous figure for Inverness, and the Romanians' showing mirrored the lacklustre performance from his team-mates.

Steve Lovell - who scored a late winner at St Mirren in Aberdeen's previous fixture - came off the bench for Aluko, with Calderwood seeking to bring some punch into the Pittodrie attack.

As a spectacle, the match was poor fare for both sets of supporters, and even though Lovell's introduction sparked the Dons briefly, the cutting edge was lacking.

Jamie Langfield, who was mainly untroubled, fumbled a Hastings drive from 30 yards around his post as the Highlanders asserted themselves for a late winner.

Just when Caley Thistle felt they had earned a vital point, struggling Tokely barged into Miller in the box for a clear cut penalty.

Nicholson calmly drilled home the spot kick to draw the only tangible highlight of a dull afternoon.

It was enough to keep the points in the Granite City, with Inverness, despite a late flurry, still to record their first win against the Dons.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aberdeen: Langfield, Mair, Severin, Byrne, Foster, Young (De Visscher 76), Nicholson, Clark, Aluko (Lovell 64), Miller, Jamie Smith. Subs Not Used: Soutar, Touzani, Daniel Smith, Jonathan Smith, Crawford.

Booked: Byrne.

Goal: Nicholson 83 pen.

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Munro, McGuire, Hastings, Cowie, Duncan, Black, Rankin (Hart 80), Bayne, Niculae. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Wyness, Vigurs, Proctor, Gillespie, Duff.

Booked: Black, Niculae.

Att: 13,372

[DavidMc]

Inverness CT v Gretna
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 5th January
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Inverness will be without the suspended Phil McGuire for their match against basement side Gretna.
McGuire is about to start a three-game ban and, with Stuart McCaffrey on loan at St Johnstone, either Steven Watt and David Proctor may step in.

Gretna chief David Irons will have limited options at his disposal for their Highland trip after offloading seven players this week.

However, only defender Martin Canning is missing for the Black and Whites.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inverness squad: Fraser, Proctor, Tokely, Hastings, Munro, Watt, Black, Duncan, Rankin, McBain, Cowie, Wilson, Hart, Bayne, Niculae, Wyness, Duff, Gillespie, Vigurs, Brewster, Malkowski.

Gretna squad: Caig, Cowan, Horwood, Innes, Collin, Murray, Skelton, Yantorno, Deverdics, Deuchar, Makinwa, Fleming, Barr, McLaren, McGill, Jenkins, Buscher, Osman.

[Doc-Bhoy]

Inverness CT 3-0 Gretna

Inverness striker Marius Niculae scored his fourth goal in three games to secure victory over lowly Gretna.
The Romanian striker drilled home his first with a crisp 25-yard drive after 33 minutes from Russell Duncan's pass.

John Rankin doubled the home side's lead from the spot after Niculae was fouled by Chris Innes.

Niculae compounded Gretna's misery with his second and Inverness' third with a volley on 44 minutes, after Ross Tokley headed on Grant Munro's corner.

Inverness striker Dennis Wyness shook off a hamstring injury and was preferred to Graham Bayne.

With Phil McGuire suspended, the only other change from Wednesday's single-goal loss to Aberdeen saw David Proctor return in defence.

Gretna made three changes to the team who lost at Celtic in their last outing.

David Cowan has been released, Ryan McGuffie moved to Morton, while Nicky Deverdics dropped to the bench.

Craig Barr, Chris Innes and Henry Makinwa were all handed starts.

Gretna goalkeeper Tony Caig was forced into action early on when Don Cowie and Tokely combined well on the right and Ian Black's 25-yard drive was well saved.

In the 23rd minute, the visitors survived a scare when Tokely's header from a John Rankin corner caused chaos in the Gretna penalty area and Proctor's shot was deflected over.

Niculae gave the hosts the lead with a superb shot after collecting Duncan's pass and rifling the ball past the despairing Caig.

Gretna were finding it increasingly difficult to contain Niculae and he earned his side a penalty when Innes fouled him in the box.

Rankin scored from the spot and Niculae added a third before half-time with a sweet volley after Munro's corner was headed on.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inverness CT: Fraser; Tokely, Proctor, Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, Rankin, Niculae, Wyness. Subs: Malkowski, McBain, Bayne, Paatelainen, Vigurs, Gillespie, Duff.

Goals: Marius Niculae 33, 41. Rankin 38.


Gretna: Caig, Barr, Collin, Innes, Horwood, Jenkins, Yantorno, Murray, Skelton, Deuchar, Makinwa. Subs: Fleming, Canning, Grady, Deverdics, McGill, McLaren, Osman.

Ref: D McDonald

ICT look to be making quite steady progress, sitting just below the split just now in 7th place.

[DavidMc]

Brewster set to hang up boots

Inverness player-manager Craig Brewster has revealed he will hang up his boots at the end of the season.
The 41-year-old has combined playing and coaching since returning for his second spell in charge at the Highland club in August.

"I've enjoyed my playing career but I'll definitely be hanging my boots up at the end of this season," he said.

"I think even this season it would need some kind of unforeseen crisis for me to appear again."

Brewster was named Clydesdale Bank manager of the month for December.

The Highlanders won five of their six SPL games last month and are just four points off third spot in the table.

[DavidMc]

Inverness CT 0-1 Rangers
Scottish Premier League
Sunday 19th January 08
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Rangers moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a late goal from Jean-Claude Darcheville.

The substitute striker prodded a high ball home on 88 minutes, with the home defence slow to react.

Rangers' Charlie Adam clipped the crossbar from 20 yards and was denied a goal when Daniel Cousin was ruled offside inside the six-yard box.

Inverness came closest with a strike from Marius Niculae which was well saved by Allan McGregor.

It was a far from vintage performance from Walter Smith's side but, just as they did against Gretna on Wednesday, Rangers ground out a vital win away from home.

Inverness never looked like adding to their five-match winning run at home but will feel aggrieved after containing Rangers with relative ease for so long.

A subdued first half saw both sides moving the ball around without too much opposition and making little impression in the final third of the pitch.

After 15 minutes, Rangers striker Cousin muscled his way past a couple of defenders on the edge of the penalty box only to blaze his shot high over the crossbar.

And, ten minutes later, the home side threatened when Markus Paatelainen burst into the penalty area but goalkeeper McGregor got down smartly to block with his feet.

A cross to the far post from Rangers winger Chris Burke found Cousin but the Frenchman's header was comfortably gathered by the diving Michael Fraser.

Shortly before the interval, Rangers right-back Steven Whittaker got forward to collect a neat pass from Steven Naismith and his powerful strike was beaten away by Fraser.

The visitors threw on Darcheville in a bid to inject some life into their attack and he sent a scuffed effort straight at Fraser before Inverness midfielder Ian Black tried his luck with a tame long range shot.

Darcheville then sent a rising strike narrowly over the crossbar, while Adam looped a dangerous first-time strike in the same direction.

Inverness striker Niculae had been starved of service but found room for a rasping shot from 25 yards on 68 minutes and McGregor was at full stretch to keep it out.

Adam thought he'd scored when he curled in a shot from a narrow angle but Cousin was flagged offside.

The same player was denied on 83 minutes when he crashed a fantastic strike against the crossbar.

However, Rangers found a way through when the home side failed to deal with a high, hopeful ball into the box and Darcheville was able to steer it home from 12 yards out.

Inverness were given a glimpse of goal in injury time but defender Ross Tokely thrashed the ball wildly off target.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Proctor, Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, McBain, Paatelainen (Wilson 69), Niculae. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Bayne, Wyness, Vigurs, Gillespie, Duff.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Burke, Ferguson, Hemdani, Adam, Naismith (Darcheville 46), Cousin (Novo 75). Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Boyd, Broadfoot, Lennon, McMillan.

Booked: Burke.

Goal: Darcheville 89.

Att: 7,753

Ref: C Richmond

[DavidMc]

Motherwell v Inverness CT
Saturday 26th January 08
Match postponed

Motherwell's match against Inverness has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Fir Park.
The match will be rescheduled after the pitch failed an inspection on Saturday.

"It's very disappointing that the game has been cancelled," Motherwell chief executive Ian Stillie told the club's official website.

"We've had the groundsmen working on the pitch all day yesterday and since 0300 this morning, but the rain has just not stopped."

[DavidMc]

St Mirren 1-1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 9th February 08
Love Street, Paisley

Inverness Caley Thistle netted the 1000th goal since their formation in 1994 but had to settle for a share of the spoils at St Mirren Park.
Grant Munro hammered a drive from 12 yards past the helpless Chris Smith to put the visitors ahead on 38 minutes.

Inverness wasted chances to increase their lead and St Mirren battled back in the second half.

Michael Fraser made a good save to deny Jim Hamilton but Billy Mehmet was on hand to drill in the equaliser.

It looked a long way back for the Paisley side who failed to test Fraser in a dreadful first-45 minute display.

But they hit back in determined fashion and it was Caley who were the more relieved to hear the final whistle.

Inverness first threatened when Dennis Wyness, with only keeper Chris Smith to beat from 14 yards, failed to connect properly and the ball spun well wide of the target.

Ian Black then teed the ball up and drew a fine save from Smith with his volley from the edge of the penalty box.

In the 21st minute, Caley midfielder Don Cowie tried his luck with a free-kick from distance which troubled Smith as he fumbled.

Smith was again called in to action when he had to get down sharp to his right to beat away a Wyness drive.

However, the milestone goal was only delayed by seconds. After Cowie whipped in the corner, the Buddies' defence allowed Wyness to head back to Munro who took a touch before driving into the net.

Inverness, compact and organised, were breaking with purpose when the occasion arose and in the 58th minute Dougie Imrie's drive had Smith diving low to his left to gather.

On the hour mark, Mehmet got on the end of a Craig Dargo cross for almost the first time all day but headed over from 12 yards.

Moments later, Mark Corcoran's driven free-kick from wide on the right ended up at the unmarked Ian Maxwell at the far post but the left-back blasted over.

St Mirren got the equaliser on 75 minutes when Maxwell's deep cross to the back post was headed back by the stretching Dargo to Hamilton whose close-range drive was brilliantly saved by Fraser.

But the ball broke kindly to Mehmet who netted from 12 yards.

With five minutes remaining, Corcoran worked a neat one-two with Hamilton at the edge of the Caley box before driving inches over the bar.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Barron, Potter, Maxwell, Murray, Dorman, McGinn (Hamilton 65), Dargo, Mehmet, Corcoran. Subs Not Used: Howard, Kean, Brady, Miranda, McCay, Millen.

Booked: van Zanten.

Goal: Mehmet 74.

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Duncan, Proctor (Imrie 46), Hastings, Cowie, Black, McBain, Munro, Wyness (Wilson 76), Niculae. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Bayne, Kerr, Vigurs, Rennie.

Booked: Munro.

Goal: Munro 28.

Att: 3,609

[DavidMc]

Inverness CT 1-1 Dundee United
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 16th February 08
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Inverness and Dundee United had to settle for a share of the points at the Caledonian Stadium.
After a dismal first half, The Tangerines went in front, Prince Buaben netting in the 67th minute when he shot home from Noel Hunt's low cross.

As Inverness began to press, they finally earned a deserved leveller.

Midfielder Markus Paatelainen fired into the roof of the net with six minutes remaining, with United holding off a late home assault.

United manager Craig Levein decided to change five players for the visit to the Highland capital, following the midweek defeat to St Mirren.

Sean Dillon, Garry Kenneth, Danny Grainger, Jim O'Brien and Buaben returned after not starting in Wednesday's Scottish Cup fifth-round replay.

Darren Dods, Hunt, David Robertson and Craig Conway dropped to the substitutes' bench, while Christian Kalvenes was not named in the squad.

Recent Inverness signing from Clyde, Dougie Imrie, made his first start at the expense of Dennis Wyness, with Phil McGuire returning from a three-match league suspension.

United struggled to find any continuity in their play early on, as a much-changed team took time to in trying to gel.

Inverness, on the other hand, started well with Don Cowie flashing a right-footed shot wide.

In the 14th minute the home side called for a penalty when Kenneth appeared to handle, before Russell Duncan then took aim from distance and shot powerfully over the crossbar.

Caley Thistle's attacking efforts were predictable high balls to lone striker Marius Niculae, but the Romanian was receiving little compensation from United central defender Lee Wilkie.

Buaben had United's best effort of the half, but his low shot was well held by Michael Fraser.

The fans were hoping for better fare than the turgid first half offering, and the Tangerines introduced Mark De Vries for the injured Noel Hunt at the interval.

Brewster made a switch, substituting the ineffective Niculae for Graham Bayne.

But the visitors finally broke the deadlock just as the game looked to be listlessly heading for a scoreless bore.

Hunt twisted and turned on the right flank and the Irishman's dangerous cross was precisely driven home from six yards by Buaben.

The Highlanders kept persisting, without any real fluency in their play, and carved out a leveller in the 84th minute.

After fastening on to a pass from Roy McBain, Paatelainen shot instantly past Zaluska as United's defence failed to clear the loose ball.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black (Paatelainen 80), Imrie, Duncan, McBain, Niculae (Bayne 61). Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Watt, McAllister, Kerr, Vigurs.

Booked: Black.

Goal: Paatelainen 84.

Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dillon, Kenneth, Wilkie, Grainger, Flood (Swanson 58), Kerr, Buaben, Gomis, O'Brien, De Vries (Hunt 46). Subs Not Used: McLean, Dods, David Robertson, Conway, Odhiambo.

Booked: Kerr.

Goal: Buaben 68.

Att: 4,087

[LAF]

Hibs scored twice in the opening five minutes of their SPL encounter with Inverness Caledonian Thistle to secure a comfortable victory at Easter Road.
A fine Colin Nish shot opened the scoring with just three minutes played after Merouane Zemmama sent him clear.

Steven Fletcher's low drive from the middle of the penalty area doubled the tally just two minutes later.

Inverness have now failed to secure a win from their last six games, while Hibs retain fifth place in the league.


Interview: Inverness manager Craig Brewster
Interview: Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen

Hibs were boosted by the return of influential midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin, while Inverness manager