Ian Black (50)
|
MacKay (57)
Strong (57)
Dair (61) |
Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Ross Tokely (26 years 319 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Craig Dargo (2007 years 167 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 29 years 303 days |
| Domestic Players: | 10 (90.91 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | David Proctor (21 years 320 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Rory McAllister (2007 years 167 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 27 years 307 days |
| Domestic Players: | 17 (94.44 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
The pain of the departure of Craig Brewster, Malky Thomson and a couple of the coaching staff fades as the players prove that its business as usual with a 3-0 win over Paul Lambert's Livingston side. Ian Broadfoot reports from the match.
What a week!! Caley Thistle lose a player, manager and 4 coaches in one fell swoop when Craig Brewster and his backroom team agree terms with Dundee United but in typical ICT style, the players proved it was business as usual as they rose above all the turmoil and turned in a winning performance.
There was one piece of important business before the game could begin a minutes silence to honour team coach driver Tony Fraser who died last Wednesday. Tony was a long-serving and valued member of the organisation and much more than just a driver. He was there on day one when the club played its first competitive match and he followed the fortunes of the team avidly. His enthusiasm and friendship will be sorely missed by all.
With Craig Brewster gone, the management duties were shared, as they were just 14 months ago, by Charlie Christie and John Docherty. The line-up for last week's cup match was amended to bring back Grant Munro, Richard Hastings, Ian Black and Roy McBain with fit-again Craig Dargo partnering Dennis Wyness up front. Livingston included former Caley Thistle favourite Steve Hislop for his debut after arriving from Gillingham.
On with the football and a rather drab first period. The first realistic chance fell to Livi's David McNamee in 13 minutes when he hit over from 18 yards then McBain hit wide at the other end two minutes later.
Mark Brown produced the save of the match in 20 minutes from McNamee. A Paul Lambert free kick from long range was sent goalwards by Wesley Hoolahan and McNamee’s six-yard header looked certain to open the scoring. Brown’s reactions were superb and he touched the ball over the bar.
Four minutes later referee Craig Thomson somehow denied the home side a penalty when Dargo was dispatched into the net by McNamee from a few yards out as the striker attempted to latch onto Barry Wilson’s cross. Dargo gained some revenge within two minutes when he rose to head home an excellent Ian Black cross from the right – a rare headed goal from the striker.
A 36th minute header from Hislop was blocked in the box then Darren Dods stepped in as Hislop was about to turn a Lambert free kick goalwards. The home side were in control for the rest of the match and it was only a matter of time before their lead was extended.
Half Time: 1-0
In 52 minutes a Hastings cross from the right reached Wyness at the back post but a little too high for an accurate header – it went over the bar. Three minutes later Wilson raced into the Livi box and went down under a tackle from Dave MacKay and, after a moment’s hesitation, referee Thomson pointed to the spot. There was delay while the referee attended to protests and, two Livi bookings later, Dargo took the kick and hit low past McKenzie for 2-0. This was Dargo's 9th goal in as many games.
In 59 minutes Wyness scored a magnificent goal to seal the victory. McBain passed inside from the left and Wyness turned a defender beautifully before sending a rising angled shot into the roof of the net.
Substitute Rory McAllister took on the Livi defence in 76 minutes before setting up Dargo with a hat-trick chance. Dargo made it past McKenzie but stumbled and the ball went over for a goal kick. There were half-hearted claims that McKenzie had impeded him but this was of no interest to the referee.
Livi had few second half chances – the best fell to Paul Dalglish in 77 minutes but he headed wide from close range. McAllister hit a low shot just wide in 81 minutes then Livi’s Jason Dair sent a rising ball over the bar from 25 yards.
Richard Brittain was stretchered off with five minutes left and the visitors had to see out the remaining minutes with 10 men. Dalglish headed for goal in added time but tripped at the vital moment. The final action was a McAllister effort in the Livi box – he created space on the right of the box but it was intercepted as he was about to shoot.
Full Time: 3-0
With Motherwell not playing until Sunday Caley Thistle moved back into the top six and have now gone 10 games undefeated.
Match report written by Ian Broadfoot
