Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Ross Tokely (27 years 318 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Graham Bayne (2008 years 166 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 30 years 302 days |
| Domestic Players: | 10 (90.91 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | Ross Tokely (27 years 318 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Ian Black (2008 years 166 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 30 years 302 days |
| Domestic Players: | 17 (94.44 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
This match was Caley Thistle's 100th SPL game and a first ever victory over the Dons was the hope. John Rankin appeared to have achieved this when he scored in the 86th minute but Steve Lovell equalised in the 3rd minute of injury time to salvage a point for the Dons.
ABERDEEN 1-1 ICT
As the 100th SPL match played by Caley Thistle this was a milestone, but a second was just missed as once more Aberdeen’s scalp proved elusive.
For the third time this season the teams drew 1-1 and, as in November, both goals were late on with Stevie Lovell saving the Dons in the last minute. This time the equaliser was well into added time after John Rankin had made it 1-0 with four minutes of normal time left – this was the club’s 777th league goal and the 118th in the SPL.
Richard Hastings was fit again so it was back to ICT’s familiar 4-4-2 formation and Craig Dargo moved to the bench. Aberdeen were missing the suspended Zander Diamond but Craig Brewster made his first start against his former club. It was to be a dismal afternoon for Brewster as he left the field with a dislocated shoulder just before half time and will be out for an extended period.
Wild weather throughout Scotland caused a number of postponements but this game went ahead despite a gale-force wind. Barry Nicholson shot over in 11 minutes for Aberdeen then Dennis Wyness had the first chance for ICT in 16 minutes when he hit from 25 yards but Jamie Langfield saved with little trouble.
Wyness headed over seven minutes later then Graham Bayne shot over. In 26 minutes Barry Wilson appeared to be brought down by Langfield after a mix up between the ‘keeper and Michael Hart but the referee waved play on despite strong protests from the visitors. Just before half time a Wilson free kick curled past the wall and over the bar. Brewster then sustained his shoulder injury and had to head for hospital.
Half Time: 0-0
At the interval he was replaced by Andrew Considine and Gary Dempsey also replaced Christopher Maguire. Aberdeen were looking for a penalty when Lee Miller went down in the box but once more Mike McCurry made no award. Rankin curled a long range shot wide then in 66 minutes Bayne hit over following a Rankin corner.
Bayne was the provider in 86 minutes when he stroked the ball into the path of Rankin and he hit past Langfield from 18 yards to make it 1-0. This was no more than the visitors deserved but it was not enough. With nearly three minutes of added time on the clock, substitute Lovell came to the Dons rescue when he lobbed over Mark Brown to make it 1-1. This was a bitter blow for Caley Thistle who richly deserved all three points.
Full Time: 1-1
There was no time for a comeback as the whistle went before the match could even restart. Caley Thistle remain eighth on 28 points and Aberdeen stay third on 39.
Match report written by Ian Broadfoot
