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[monks data]
Inverness CT
Scottish Premiership
Oct 20, 2013 at 12.45pm UK
 
Partick Thistle

1-2

Warren (46')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Doolan (20', 82')

Live Commentary: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-2 Partick Thistle - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's coverage of the Scottish Premiership match between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Patrick Thistle.
2

Two goals from Kris Doolan have helped Partick Thistle record an excellent 2-1 victory away at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Doolan netted a superb opener for his side on 20 minutes, before Aaron Doran had a goal controversially ruled out just before the break.

Inverness equalised straight after the restart through Gary Warren, but Doolan struck with eight minutes remaining to earn his side the three points.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Caledonian Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Scottish Premiership match between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Partick Thistle.

First of all, I should tell you that the game will definitely go ahead. Mist had descended upon the Caledonian Stadium early this morning that put the fixture in a little bit of doubt, but fortunately, it has lifted and we will be getting underway in around 25 minutes time.

The team news is in from Scotland. I will bring you it in full in just a couple of minutes.

INVERNESS CT STARTING XI: Brill; Raven, Shinnie, Warren, Meekings; Draper, Foran, Doran, Ross, Greenhalgh; McKay

INVERNESS CT SUBSTITUTES: Esson, Devine, Watkins, Tremarco, Williams, Polworth, Agdestein

PARTICK THISTLE XI: Fox; O'Donnell, Muirhead, Balatoni, Sinclair; Welsh, Osbourne, Craigen, Bannigan, Higginbotham; Doolan

PARTICK THISTLE SUBSTITUTES: Forbes, Lawless, Gallacher, Piccolo, Elliot, Baird, Fraser

Inverness have enjoyed a superb start to their 2013-14 campaign. Six wins in nine have seen them maintain a position at the top of the Scottish Premiership table and a seventh success this afternoon would move them to within a point of league leaders Celtic.

Partick had endured a mixed start to the season, but they will be confident of causing a surprise this afternoon after picking up seven points from four matches away from home.

PREDICTION! Inverness suffered a heavy defeat to St Johnstone before the international break, but manager Terry Butcher would have motivated his players ahead of a match that could see them open up a three-point advantage over third position. Inverness to win 3-1.

Inverness will be relying on striker Billy McKay to net them a goal today. He has scored eight of his side's 15 goals so far this season.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch at the Caledonian Stadium. It doesn't look like the biggest of crowds, but there is a decent atmosphere inside the 7,918 capacity ground.

Partick get us underway. Can they end the 100% home record of Inverness?

It's already noticeable that Inverness are going to try to find striker McKay at the earliest opportunity, but the Partick backline have been equal to the task so far.

BOOKING! It hasn't taken long for the referee to get his yellow card out, but it is a deserved yellow for Aaron Muirhead after hauling down Ross. From the free kick, Doran fired a shit marginally over the crossbar.

Partick put together a fine move but Ross Draper is on hand to block a shot on the edge of the area. It has been a confident start from both teams.

WOODWORK! A fine clip over the Partick defence gives Ben Greenhalgh the chance to score on his first start for the club, but his volley from an acute angle rattles the post. That's a bit of a let-off for the visitors.

BOOKING! That's harsh! Isaac Osbourne does fantastically to track back and win the ball but it is deemed by the referee that he fouled Ross. It was barely a foul, never mind a yellow card.

Every time the ball enters the Partick penalty box, McKay looks an instant threat, but on this occasion, he fails to get a proper connection on the ball and the defence clears.

GOAL! Inverness CT 0-1 Partick Thistle (Doolan)

What a terrific goal, that has come completely out of the blue. James Craigen broke down the left-hand side of the penalty area before crossing the ball to Kris Doolan. The striker's first touch wrong-foots Josh Meekings and he strikes the ball across the goalkeeper with his second to give his side the lead.

That was the first goal that Inverness have conceded at home this season. Partick had hardly threatened before that opener, so it will be interesting to see how Terry Butcher's team responds to falling behind.

SHOT! Draper drills a thunderous left-foot volley towards goal from 20 yards, but it is well tipped over by Scott Fox.

Inverness are attempting to dominate possession after falling behind, but Partick are sitting deeper and it is preventing the home side from creating anything behind the defence. Doran tries his luck from 25 yards but it is easily saved by Fox.

CHANCE! Partick have been deceptively threatening on the break, and they nearly double their lead. The ball found itself at the feet of Craigen on the edge of the box, but despite having plenty of time to pick his spot, he curled the ball over the crossbar.

You can certainly see why Partick have had more success on the road than at the Firhill Stadium. They are starting to get on top of Inverness now, and another impressive passage of play concludes with O'Donnell driving the ball over the bar from 30 yards.

OUCH! Gary Warren challenges with Isaac Osbourne for the ball after it was floated towards the penalty area, but he jumped straight into the midfielder's elbow. He looks extremely dazed after the incident, but he is back on his feet.

BOOKING! Kallum Higginbotham has been booked for kicking the ball away after the referee had awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Greenhalgh takes on the responsibility, but it was never threatening Fox's goal.

Inverness are ending the half in the ascendancy, but they can't create anything significant. It should be noting that Isaac Osbourne has been outstanding in the centre of the park for Partick.

CONTROVERSY! What has happened here? Ross Draper attempts to take a corner without Partick realising, but the ball does not leave the arc. Play continued and Doran netted for Inverness, but after celebrating with his teammates, the goal was chalked off after the assistant alerted the referee to what had happened. It was the correct decision, but Inverness, and specifically Draper, are fuming.

HALF TIME: Inverness CT 0-1 Partick Thistle

Draper and a couple of his teammates are still remonstrating with the officials as they walk off for the break, but I'm not too sure why they are complaining. The ball has clearly not left the arc, and Draper played the ball towards the touchline rather than into play!

Anyhow, Partick are ahead at half time, and despite the best efforts of Inverness, they will feel that they deserve their advantage. It has been a classic away performance so far, and the home side have plenty of work to do if they are to secure anything from this encounter.

The ruling regarding whether the corner had been taken or not seems a little unclear, but Inverness could have an argument. Apparently, the ball is considered in play as soon as the ball is kicked, regardless of whether it leaves the arc or not. Draper has also informed the assistant of what he was doing. So forget what I just said - it should have been a goal! Another interesting observation is that the assistant only put up his flag after protests from the Partick defenders, rather than before the goal was scored. It doesn't look like he was aware of the rules himself...

That incident is sure to be a major talking point should Inverness not win this match. It probably still will be even if they do.

Inverness get us underway at the start of the second half.

GOAL! Inverness CT 1-1 Partick Thistle (Warren)

I think that decision before the break might have inspired Inverness! They win a set piece on the left side of the pitch, and after the ball is curled into the area, Gary Warren rises highest to head the ball into the bottom corner.

There's definitely been a bit of extra bite to this match since the break! The tackles are flying in, but at the same time, the ball is being played about well. This has been a decent game so far.

The chances have dried up a little since the tempo of the match has intensified. There's a real commitment from both sides to stamp their authority on proceedings, but they are cancelling each other out.

Osbourne is a bit of a lucky boy there. He clatters into the back of Draper, but the referee looks to have given him his final warning. That was more of a yellow card than the one he actually received in the first half.

What a tackle from Meekings! A long diagonal ball from Taylor-Sinclair nearly creates an opportunity for Doolan, but Meekings gets back to make one of the best last-ditch tackles that you are ever likely to see.

Greenhalgh does superbly to get his cross in from the left, and Fox is forced to tip the ball over as the ball threaten to fly straight into the net.

BOOKING! McKay gets sandwiched between goalkeeper and defender, but surprisingly, the referee gives the foul the other way! Warren is furious, and he has been booked for his protests.

The action is flying from end-to-end, and Welsh shows good strength to win a free kick around 25 yards out for Partick. However, Higginbotham's strike is poor, but he wins a corner for his side.

SHOT! It's Inverness' turn to break forward and after some good work from McKay, he tees the ball up for Foran, but his first-time shot clears the bar.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Inverness boss Terry Butcher has introduced Liam Polworth and Marley Watkins in the past few minutes. Partick also make their first alteration, bringing on Christie Elliott for James Craigen.

There's just 15 minutes remaining at the Caledonian Stadium. Neither side deserves to lose this game, but you feel as though there is still a winning goal just around the corner.

CLOSE! Watkins has been terrific since his introduction, and he very nearly contributes to Inverness taking the lead. He sent a low cross in from the right that seemed destined for McKay, but he fails to make connect at the near post.

SUBSTITUTION! Steven Lawless is being sent on by Alan Archibald for the final 10 minutes. He has replaced Kallum Higginbotham.

GOAL! Inverness CT 1-2 Partick Thistle (Doolan)

What an error from Inverness goalkeeper Dean Brill! Taylor-Sinclar's cross from the left went straight to the stopper, but the ball squirmed out of his hands and Doolan was on hand to convert the ball from two yards. Disaster for the home side!

That's a shocking decision from the referee! He should have played advantage with Inverness driving in on goal, but he brought the play back. They earn a cprner from the free kick, but Partick clear.

CHANCE! Doolan comes agonisingly close to netting his third. Another ball came in from the left from Taylor-Sinclair, but a slight deflection took the ball slightly in front of the striker, who couldn't make a proper connection.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

BOOKING! Bannigan picks up a late booking for a foul on Watkins. Inverness create a final opportunity through Warren, but his header goes over the crossbar.

FULL TIME: Inverness CT 1-2 Partick Thistle

The final whistle goes at the Caledonian Stadium, and Patrick have held on to secure an impressive win against Inverness. It was a super display from the visitors, who move up one place into seventh in the Scottish Premiership table.

As I alluded to at the break, there is sure to be much debate after the disallowed goal for Inverness. By the letter of the law, it should have stood, and it appeared as though both the referee and assistant were not aware that the ball did not need to leave the corner arc for the ball to be in play.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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Darren Plant
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