Inverness Caledonian Thistle

  • 2-7-3
  • 10th in Scottish League One

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

SOCCER

    Dundee 2-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

    Inverness striker George Oakley earned his side a William Hill Scottish Cup replay as his late goal sealed a 2-2 draw with Dundee at Dens Park.Despite Aaron Doran's early opener for Inverness, the hosts looked to have booked their place in Sunday's draw for the last 16 when a shot from A-Jay Leitch-Smith deflected in off Sofien Moussa for a leveller and and Mark O'Hara added a second.But Oakley's strike with just two minutes left means the teams will have to do it all over again in the Highlands on January 31.Dundee, who started without Celtic target Jack Hendry, looked sluggish from the kick-off and paid the price as they fell behind on the quarter-hour mark.Brad McKay's long throw caused panic in the Dark Blues defence, with Josh Meekings misjudging the flight. The former Caley Thistle defender's sliced clearance fell straight to Doran to volley home.That setback, though, did at least fire up the hosts as they poured forward in search of an equaliser.It took a crucial last-ditch tackle to keep the Highlanders' lead intact as Scott Allan and Paul McGowan combined to put in Moussa, with Brad McKay arriving just in time to deny the Tunisian before he could pull the trigger.Moussa did get a effort away when he met Allan's outswinging corner with a full-blooded header but it came back off the crossbar. Allan was again the creator with a defence-splitting pass for Leitch-Smith who should have done better than fire straight at Ridgers.It was only another case of weak finishing which meant Dundee did not go in at half-time two down though. Oakley found himself clean through on Elliot Parish but again failed to find a way past.It appeared as though it would be a costly miss as the leveller arrived within three minutes of the restart.On-loan Shrewsbury striker Leitch-Smith exchanged passes with Allan on the edge of the box before taking aim, with his strike ricocheting off Moussa and bouncing past the wrong-footed Ridgers on its way into the net.Inverness almost hit straight back but Parish did brilliantly to claw away Connor Bell's header.But once more Caley Thistle's failure to take their chances cost them as O'Hara put Dundee in front after 65 minutes.And it was an alarmingly simple goal from John Robertson's point of view. O'Hara robbed Iain Vigurs on halfway but was then allowed to stride forward unchallenged and rifle home from 18 yards.With the clock ticking down, Oakley squared it up again, prodding home as Dundee switched off just as Riccardo Calder swung in the ball from the left.
    • 7Y
    • PA Sport

    Inverness Caledonian Thistle

    SOCCER

      Victory not enough as Inverness suffer relegation

      Inverness were relegated from the Ladbrokes Premiership despite a 3-2 win against Motherwell.Hamilton's 4-0 victory over Dundee rendered the Caley Jags' result redundant, condemning them to the Championship for the first time in eight years.Inverness's goals came in a frantic four-minute period, with Greg Tansey and an Alex Fisher brace giving the Highlanders a comfortable advantage. James McFadden pulled one back for the visitors before Ryan Bowman's stoppage-time penalty.Inverness held on to win but many difficult decisions will need to be made this summer, such as what happens with manager Richie Foran and the playing staff as well as potential changes in the boardroom.Given they had reduced a seven-point deficit a fortnight ago to just one before kick-off, many had believed a great escape was now possible after Caley looked doomed for so long.A miserable day in the Highland capital failed to put off a bumper home crowd, who ignored the downpour in Inverness to give their team a rousing backing.But they must now prepare for trips to Dumbarton and Queen of the South next season, likely watching a much-changed team.Caley Thistle named the same XI that beat Dundee 2-0 in midweek, while Motherwell replaced David Ferguson, Scott McDonald and Keith Lasley with Lionel Ainsworth, Shea Gordon and Allan Campbell.The task for Inverness was simple - win and hope Dundee did them a favour against Hamilton. They had won two of their last three and Accies had lost their last four, which meant an escape was not impossible.A driven effort from Louis Laing was the early sighter Caley Thistle needed to settle any nerves, with goalkeeper Russell Griffiths getting down to parry wide.Ainsworth had Motherwell's first chance, slaloming through the Inverness defence and rolling a shot across the face of goal which Ryan Esson watched nervously.Liam Polworth was the main goal threat early on and he turned on a smart ball from Iain Vigurs and headed for goal, only to send his left-footed effort over.The bad news for Inverness was that before they broke the deadlock, Accies were two goals up against Dundee. Chris Cadden's run and shot, taking three Caley Jags out of the game in the process, did little to improve the mood.Inverness started the second half with little of the verve needed to make a great escape happen, with Gary Warren coming the closest.But Tansey sparked the goal blitz on 64 minutes, walloping in from Polworth's lay-off, then two bits of opportunism from Fisher - both from Ross Draper miscues - put the Caley Jags three clear.McFadden scored with his first touch to scupper any chances of a clean sheet, but the fact Accies were drubbing Dundee meant few cared.The closing stages were a non-event until David Raven's foul on Craig Clay Bowman's penalty conversion, ending Caley Thistle's seven-year stay in the top flight.
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      • PA Sport
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      2024-25 SPFL League One Standings

      TeamGPWDLGDP
      Cove Rangers12624+620
      Alloa Athletic12552+620
      Arbroath12534018
      Stenhousemuir12525+117
      Queen of the South12525-217
      Kelty Hearts12444+616
      Montrose12444+216
      Annan Athletic12417-1313
      Dumbarton12264-412
      Inverness Caledonian Thistle12273-2-2

      2024-25 Team Leaders

      Scottish League One

      Rankings

      Scottish League One

      Goal Difference
      -2
      Tied-7th
      Goals Scored
      9
      9th
      Assists
      6
      9th
      Goals Conceded
      11
      3rd