INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE v DUNFERMLINE - PREVIEW

Last updated : 14 August 2004 By Pars Mad
Special Brew - Set to start after his super sub performance against FH
After the build-up to Thursday night's game you could be forgiven for thinking that the Pars didn't have a game this weekend!


All the focus had been on the UEFA Cup tie against FH Hafnarfjordur - and rightly so with the match being the Pars first European game in 34 years - however Sunday's match against newly promoted Inverness Caley Thistle seems to have sneaked in quietly.

However, don't for one minute think this fixture is any less important for the Pars than Thursday nights game!
With the Pars throwing away a lead to draw with Dundee Utd in the first game of the season, it is vital that the Pars get off to winning ways as soon as possible, however doing that against John Robertson's Caley Thistle side will be no easy task.
With Caley suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat away to Livingston in their first ever SPL game, Robbo's team will be desperate for a confidence booster.

Any Pars fans looking for encouragement going into this game wouldn't have to look far, the Pars have never lost to Caley Thistle in the regulation ninety. The only time the Pars have lost to Thistle was in the League Cup at East End Park when the game was decided on penalties.
Pars fans will also, no doubt, remember the two matches played against Inverness Caley Thistle in the latter stages of last season - the Scottish Cup semi-final and consequent replay fixture. The first match, a dull 1-1 game played in the plush surroundings of Hampden followed by the memorable 3-2 win at Pittodrie - the venue for Sunday's match.

While the Pars have retained the vast majorityof the squad which faced Caley in the Cup, John Robertson's have lost, among others, Paul Ritchie - a scorer in both Cup fixtures - and David Bingham - a scorer in the replay at Pittodrie.

After the heroics of Thursday night, it remains to be seen whether the Pars will have the freshness and the stamina to get their first win of the season against an Inverness Caley Thistle side desperate to prove they are not just here to make up the numbers.

However, after poor first-half displays in both matches so far this season it is very important that Davie Hay's side come out of the traps quickly and give a performance good enough to get the Pars their first win of the new season.

Recent encounters between the teams:
2003/2004Tue 20 AprInverness CT2 - 3Dunfermline A.SFAC
2003/2004Sat 10 AprDunfermline A.1 - 1Inverness CTSFAC
2001/2002Tue 09 OctDunfermline A.1 - 1Inverness CTSLC
1999/2000Sat 22 AprInverness CT1 - 2Dunfermline A.SCD1
1999/2000Sat 18 DecDunfermline A.1 - 0Inverness CTSCD1
1999/2000Sat 23 OctInverness CT1 - 1Dunfermline A.SCD1
1999/2000Sat 07 AugDunfermline A.4 - 0Inverness CTSCD1


COME ON YE PARS!!!