Match preview: Inverness Caledonian Thistle host Dunfermline in final match of 2020
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle have home advantage for their final match of 2020 as they welcome Dunfermline to the Caledonian Stadium.
It kicks off the second round of fixtures in the shortened Championship campaign, with the Pars winning 3–1 on the opening day of the league season.
Dunfermline started as the meant to go on, sitting second in the table, but they are beatable as the likes of Greenock Morton have shown.
Caley Thistle meanwhile should be well-rested after their trip to Cappielow was called off last Saturday, which may bode well ahead of a busy stretch of matches.
Team News
Inverness Caledonian Thistle: James Keatings picked up a thigh strain in training, ruling him out of tonight's match.
He joins long-term absentees Lewis Toshney and Kevin McHattie on the sidelines, but everyone else is fit and available for Caley Thistle.
Dunfermline: Lewis Martin will definitely miss out for the Pars with a foot injury, but there are a couple of other question marks for Stevie Crawford to deal with.
Defender Miller Fenton and midfielder Fraser Murray are both doubts with ankle and hamstring issues respectively.
Recent form
Inverness Caledonian Thistle: lost 2–1 away at Alloa Athletic, drew 2–2 at home against Dundee, won 3–0 away at Queen of the South, won 2–0 at home against Raith Rovers, won 1–0 at home against East Fife.
Dunfermline: won 1–0 at home against Arbroath, drew 3–3 away at Dundee, drew 1–1 at home against St Johnstone (3–4 on penalties), lost 2–1 at home against Morton, drew 2–2 away at Raith Rovers.
Head-to-head (all competitions)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 17
Draws 16
Dunfermline 10
Last five meetings
Dunfermline 3–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Championship, Saturday, October 17, 2020
Dunfermline 1–2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Championship, Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2–0 Dunfermline – Championship, Saturday, December 21, 2019
Dunfermline 0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Championship, Saturday, September 14, 2019
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–0 Dunfermline – Championship, Saturday, May 4, 2019
Ones to watch
Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Roddy MacGregor – in the absence of James Keatings, the homegrown teenager may well find himself moving further forward to plug the gap behind the strikers.
That is where he usually featured last season, making his name in the youth ranks as an attacking threat, so after gaining more experience in the middle of the park in recent months he should relish a chance to be more of a playmaker once again.
While Kai Kennedy's goal away at Queen of the South a few weeks ago stole the headlines, MacGregor's strike was arguably just as impressive, and tonight he should have another chance to deliver as part of the forward unit.
Dunfermline: Declan McManus – sometimes a player is just the right fit for a club, and after leaving the Pars to move to Ross County two years ago McManus has once again found form at East End Park.
He is the club's top scorer in the league with six strikes to his name already, and he may well feel like he has a point to prove on his return to the Highlands after becoming a bit-part player in Dingwall.
His work rate has never been in doubt, but he has shown his quality too with some spectacular finishes, so he is someone ICT's defenders will have to keep a close eye on.
ICT manager John Robertson's pre-match thoughts
“We have got to cut the gap as we don’t want to go 10 points behind them. We hope the gap is four with a game in hand at full time.
"We’ve talked about their threat in the air because that was what undone us last time.
"In open play, there was very little between the teams, so we’re wary of it and we’ve worked on aspects of it.
“The simple thing is not to give away cheap corners and cheap free-kicks. It is up to our lads to stand up to it.
“Dunfermline have won points from a losing position. They’re a team that doesn’t give up.
“It is going to take a big effort and another big performance from us, which we’ve shown we’re capable of."
