Queen’s Park welcome Inverness Caledonian Thistle to The National Stadium at Hampden on Saturday with the Spiders out to ensure that the points stay at home for the first time in the games between the teams this season.
The Black and White Hoops started season 2023/ 24 with a 1-0 win in The Highlands with Dom Thomas scoring the winner however Inverness took the points home with a 4-1 success in Glasgow in December.
For that second meeting the visitors had a new manager in place with Duncan Ferguson replacing Billy Dodds. Jack Turner slotted Queen’s into the lead that afternoon however Max Anderson replied before the break with the points won in the second half when Caley’s Nikola Ujdur, David Wotherspoon and Billy McKay scored.
The visiting side came out on top a third time in February when Callum Davidson, who had recently come in for Robin Veldman as Head Coach, led Queen’s Park to a 1-0 success.
With points precious to both sides in this meeting all three of them staying with the home side this time would be welcome from a Queen’s Park point of view.
Pre-Match Interviews
Head Coach Callum Davidson spoke to QPTV about their match with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Callum covered –
– Getting the balance right from looking back and moving on.
– The importance of starting well.
– Unlucky Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
– Niggles and injuries.
– The fans.
There was also a captain’s catch-up with Dom Thomas.
– Putting last week behind us.
– Being better at the back.
– The mood in the squad.
The cinch Championship so far:
The last time Queen’s Park and Inverness Caledonian Thistle met they sat ninth and eighth respectively in the Championship Table before kick-off with the win for the Spiders reducing their hosts’ advantage on them to one point.
This time out the clubs remain separated by just a point with the Spiders now sitting in eighth and their visitors in ninth. It is no surprise that the there is little daylight between the teams as their respective seasons have been similar in that a long period without winning has had an adverse effect on them.
After a positive start Queen’s waited over for over four months before winning again in January with Inverness having to wait until the last day of September before picking up their first three-point haul.
A win for Callum Davidson’s side would be a first Glasgow success since January 1995 although two wins over Caley were recorded last season at Stenhousemuir’s Ochilview.
Arbroath cannot catch Queen’s Park and whilst they can match Inverness’ total of points by winning their last four games a goal difference of -38 as opposed to -1 may be a higher obstacle to overcome in terms of avoiding finishing in tenth place.
Ruari Paton is Queen’s Park’s top goalscorer this season having found the net 21 times (although he has not scored against Inverness) with Billy McKay leading the way for the visitors on 11.
Remaining games
Queen’s Park – Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H) Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Queen’s Park (A)
Dunfermline – Queen’s Park (A) Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Raith (H)
Arbroath – Queen’s Park (A) Dunfermline – Inverness Caledonian Thistle (A)
Queen’s Park – Airdrieonians (H) Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Morton (H)
Squad News
Ben McPherson, Patrick Jarrett and Grant Savoury continue to be injury absentees with Dom Thomas’ fitness being monitored closely in training this week after missing the last two games.
Click HERE to buy tickets for the game.
Last Time Out – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 Queen’s Park 1
cinch Championship,
February 3, 2024.
Queen’s Park – Calum Ferrie, Ben McPherson (Louis Longridge 68), Alex Bannon, Will Tizzard, Tommy Robson, Cameron Bruce (Mackenzie Carse 60), Jack Thomson, Jack Turner, Stuart McKinstry (Joshua Scott 60), Dom Thomas, Ruari Paton (James Crole 90+6).
Unused substitutes – Sam Kane (G/k), Scott Williamson, Lewis Reid, Zach Mauchin, Callum Hapsell.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Mark Ridgers, Cameron Harper, Cammy Kerr, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (Nikola Ujdur 51), Daniel Devine, Charlie Gilmour, Billy Mckay (Aribim Pepple 74), Max Anderson (Sean McAllister 56), Nathan Shaw, Remi Savage (Luis Longstaff 74), Alex Samuel.
Unused substitutes – Cameron MacKay (G/k), Wallace Duffy, Aaron Doran, Morgan Boyes, Adam Brooks.
