Rangers 0 - 1 Inverness CT

League Match
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009, 7:45 PM at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Attendance: 48,129
Referee: Calum Murray
Rangers Inverness CT

Goalscorers
None. Ian Black (pen.) (90)

Team Managers
Walter Smith Terry Butcher

Starting Eleven
Allan McGregor
Kirk Broadfoot
David Weir
Sasa Papac
Madjid Bougherra
Steven Davis
Maurice Edu
Barry Ferguson
John Fleck
Kenny Miller
Kris Boyd
Ryan Esson
Ross Tokely
Grant Munro
David Proctor
Lionel Djebi-Zadi
Pavels Mihadjuks
Russell Duncan
Ian Black
Filipe Morais
Adam Rooney
Richie Foran

Bench
Neil Alexander
Christian Dailly
Steven Whittaker
DaMarcus Beasley
Aaron Niguez
Steven Naismith
Kyle Lafferty
Michael Fraser
Richard Hastings
Jamie Duff
Roy McBain
Brian Kerr
Dougie Imrie
Eric Odhiambo

Substitutions
Kyle Lafferty -> Maurice Edu (64)
Steven Naismith -> John Fleck (74)
Aaron Niguez -> Kenny Miller (82)
Dougie Imrie for Filipe Morais (62)
Eric Odhiambo for Adam Rooney (77)
Richard Hastings for Richie Foran (87)

Bookings
Madjid Bougherra (90) Ian Black (42)

Red Cards
David Weir (90) None.
Appearances & Goals To Date
Ryan Esson (GK) 21 apps -
David Proctor 84 apps5 goals
Ross Tokely 471 apps31 goals
Grant Munro 272 apps7 goals
Lionel Djebi-Zadi 9 apps -
Pavels Mihadjuks 9 apps2 goals
Filipe Morais 5 apps2 goals
Russell Duncan 285 apps9 goals
Ian Black 133 apps7 goals
Richie Foran 6 apps1 goal
Adam Rooney 30 apps6 goals
Richard Hastings (sub) 362 apps4 goals
Eric Odhiambo (sub) 6 apps1 goal
Dougie Imrie (sub) 47 apps6 goals

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:David Proctor (25 years 5 days)
Oldest Player:Lionel Djebi-Zadi (2010 years 217 days)
Average Player Age:28 years 0 days
Domestic Players:11 (100.00 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:David Proctor (25 years 5 days)
Oldest Player:Lionel Djebi-Zadi (2010 years 217 days)
Average Player Age:28 years 104 days
Domestic Players:17 (94.44 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones

Off the bottom for now:

WE'RE NOT BOTTOM ANY MORE!!! - Since the arrival of Terry Butcher, spirits among everyone at Inverness Caledonian Thistle have been high, but few would have thought that it would have been a victory over Rangers that would finally take us off the bottom of the table.

The Caley Jags set out to make things difficult for Rangers and everyone was playing their part....especially the back 5, with Esson making some vital saves and the defensive line executing some important last minute tackles.  They were reward for the "never say die" attitude when they forced Weir to make an error and foul Proctor....conceding a penalty on 90 minutes.  Black made no mistake in sticking it away.

Inverness seem to be back to their old selves, full of belief and prepared to take the game to anyone and everyone.

Caley Stan was walking on air: 

From Ibrox to Brechin's, Govan to Queen Street to Waverley, up the bridges and into the Royal Oak with my chest pumped out, ICT badge shining in everyone's eyes, folk either asked me what the score was or hugged me.

When i finally made it to the Oak an Irishman kissed me and bought me a pint of Guiness and a large dram.

Honestly, we didn't create a chance in the whole game. We defended brilliantly, as we have done ever since Butcher took charge. Two back fours and a front two who's primary role is to defend. It worked. It was pretty spawny but it worked and we're off the bottom.

Eveybody that played and sang tonight deserve praise but i have to give special mention to Ryan Esson, the back 4 and Russell Duncan for immense defending.

Ian Black, cool as you like shot himself into legendary status if he didn't have it already.

We all danced home. Thank-you Blackie. Thank you Caley. Thank you all ICT players and fans,

Match report written by tm4tj



Pld W D L F A +/- Pts
1. Celtic 28 19 6 3 62 27 35 63
2. Rangers 28 18 6 4 57 20 37 60
3. Hearts 28 14 6 8 31 29 2 48
4. Dundee Utd 28 11 10 7 37 34 3 43
5. Aberdeen 28 11 7 10 33 30 3 40
6. Hibernian 28 9 9 10 32 35 -3 36
7. Motherwell 28 10 6 12 32 37 -5 36
8. Hamilton Academical 28 10 2 16 25 40 -15 32
9. Kilmarnock 28 8 5 15 26 38 -12 29
10. St. Mirren 28 7 8 13 23 39 -16 29
11. Inverness CT 28 7 4 17 27 44 -17 25
12. Falkirk 28 5 9 14 28 40 -12 24