Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 - 1 Dunfermline Athletic

Only the hardest of hearts could fail to feel some sympathy for Chris Smith after his late fresh air shot added to his collection of recent high profile blunders and gifted Hayes a 95th minute equaliser. Of course if the Pars had made use of their numerical advantage held for over an hour after Gillet was red-carded for denying Kirk a clear goal-scoring opportunity, then it wouldn’t have mattered. However, when your luck is out, it is out and Smith will hope to redeem himself in the replay.

It was the 4th round of the cup, but the draw wasn’t one to set the pulse racing – the prospect of a long journey up the A9 followed by a even longer one in the other direction after being knocked out wasn’t one to look forward to. However, for once, the only problems on the road were the average speed cameras on the motorway, and even the weather held off over Drumochter.

Turning to the teams – the fevered speculation regarding who might or might not be signing hadn’t been matched by any actual transfer action and so Macca had the some pool from which to select, minus Pat Clarke (who was playing, and scoring, for Raith Rovers). The beleaguered Chris Smith was in goals behind the same back four as last week – Dowie, Potter, Keddie and Boyle. Willis and Mason dropped out of midfield, which was reduced to 4 in number – Burns and Hardie in the middle, Cardle on the left, and Graham on the right. For the first time in ages, there was a twin strike force of Barrowman and Kirk. Only 5 substitutes were named as it was the cup – Goodfellow as keeper, 2 under 21s in Ryan Thomson and Kerr Young, and Buchanan and Mason.

Terry Butcher only made one change, opting to rest keeper Esson and let Jonny Tuffey have a taste of first team action. Otherwise it was a 4-4-2 as well, with Tadé coming from deep to help out Billy MacKay up front.

The home team won the toss and unusually elected to attack the end housing its own fans on the first half. The Pars had kick off therefore, and the advantage of the wind and enjoyed some brief early pressure before Kirk needlessly got himself booked for an obvious trip on Golobart as they both chased the same ball.

Inverness adapted first to the blustery conditions and managed better to get the ball on the deck. Hayes in particular beat Boyle a couple of times to get his cross in, but Tadé too used his awkward bustling style to good effect and drew the game’s second booking in 15 minutes after Keddie did what two other players had just failed to do, namely stop the former Rovers’ player, if not exactly within the laws. This latest indiscretion led to a free-kick 35 yards out which Hayes took and although he struck it well, it was always heading just too high.

Neither keeper had been tested yet, although Tuffey was forced into what looked an easy save when Hardie was fouled and took the free-kick himself, but he couldn’t get any Mulgrew-style late whip and bend on the ball. Smith eventually got his own gloves dirty when collecting a simple punt forward from Shinnie and the game continued in scrappy mode before bursting to life just before the half hour. The Pars hit a long ball for Kirk to chase but Tuffey got there first at the edge of the box, but totally fluffed his attempted clearance, playing the ball off his standing leg. Kirk therefore had an open goal, or he would have had had Gillet not tripped him. A clear red card, but not a penalty as the offence was marginally outside the box. No matter, Hardie drilled the free-kick through the wall where Tuffey parried but the ball looped up for Barrowman to nod over the keeper and into the net for the game’s opening goal. 1-0 Pars.

The Pars briefly had their tails up with Burns having the confidence to have a go from distance, but soon reverted to type, allowing Inverness plenty of the ball. MacKay put in a shot from the angle that Smith just touched away, Boyle read the situation well in 37 minutes with a saving tackle on Tadé as he looked to get clear and Foran had a half-chance beyond the back post when he got his head on Shinnie’s cross.

In a reverse of recent events Tuffey’s every involvement was jeered and Smith looked comfortable, coming off his line to make a couple of safe takes and getting down low to his right to stop Hayes’ shot in 44 minutes. Get to half time safe and sound was the order of the day as more free-kicks were conceded, but the defence held firm and the Pars had the lead at the break.

Half Time: Caley Thistle 0 – Pars 1

We expected Inverness to come flying out of the traps and so they did winning two corners straight off the bat, and they kept up the pressure for the first 15 minutes, with the Pars hardly getting out of their own half. Nevertheless, they defended soundly, putting their bodies on the line with both Potter and Boyle requiring treatment as they fought for the cause.