2007–08 Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. season

The 2007–08 season was Inverness Caledonian Thistle's fourth in the Scottish Premier League and 14th since the merger that created the club. They also competed in the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
2007-08 season
ManagerCraig Brewster
Scottish Premier League9th
Scottish Cup4th round
Scottish League CupQuarter-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Don Cowie (9)
All: Marius Niculae (10)
Highest home attendance7,753 vs. Rangers, 20 January 2008
Lowest home attendance3,420 vs. Kilmarnock, 19 April 2008
Average home league attendance4,753

Scottish Premier League

Caley Thistle finished 9th of 12 teams in the SPL, on 43 points from 38 matches. They managed only a disappointing −11 goal differential, from 51 goals scored and 62 allowed. It was a mixed season for statistics, as this tied the club's record for goals scored in an SPL season, set in 2004–05, but also demolished their record for SPL goals conceded by 14. But overall, it could be called a poor season for the Caley, with the lowest total points and lowest finishing league standing since their promotion in 2004.

The exception to this poor form, and the main reason for the team's survival in the SPL, was the month of December. A streak that included wins against Hearts and Celtic earned Craig Brewster Manager of the Month and Marius Niculae Player of the Month honors.

Scottish Cup

To go along with the lackluster league season was a short and poor Scottish Cup. Caley Thistle entered the tournament in the fourth round, and faced Hibernian at Easter Road. Dean Shiels scored a hat trick and sunk Caley's hopes for a cup run at the first possible point as the match finished 3–0 to Hibs.

League Cup

The League Cup provided a bit more positive news for Caley Thistle fans, as the club reached the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons, on the strength of a 4–1 win over Arbroath and a 3–0 win over Gretna. The run stopped abruptly, however, away to Aberdeen, who beat Caley Thistle 4–1 on the strength of another hat trick (albeit including two penalties), this time from Barry Nicholson.

Results

All the results of the regular matches [1]

Scottish Premier League
Main article: 2007–08 Scottish Premier League
4 August 2007 Premier League Inverness CT 0–3 Rangers Caledonian Stadium
12:30 Ferguson 16' 90' Novo 64' Attendance: 7,711
Referee: Clarke
11 August 2007 Premier League Motherwell 2–1 Inverness CT Fir Park
15:00 O'Donnell 85' McCormack ((goal|90}} Tokely 82' Attendance: 4,259
Referee: Freeland
18 August 2007 Premier League St Mirren 2–1 Inverness CT Love Street
15:00 Miranda 19' Corcoran 55' Cowie 58' Attendance: 3,309
Referee: Collum
25 August 2007 Premier League Inverness CT 0–3 Dundee United Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Dillon 46' Robson 58' 81' Attendance: 4,178
Referee: Underhill
1 September 2007 Premier League Hibernian 1–0 Inverness CT Easter Road
15:00 Fletcher 2' Attendance: 13,258
Referee: Smith
15 September 2007 Premier League Celtic 5–0 Inverness CT Celtic Park
15:00 Vennegoor of Hesselink 15' 59'

Donati 41' Nakamura 56'

McGuire og70'		 Attendance: 56,020
Referee: Thomson
22 September 2007 Premier League Inverness CT 2–1 Hearts Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Wyness 64' Brewster 90' Black og34' Attendance: 4,918
Referee: Tumilty
29 September 2007 Premier League Inverness CT 4–2 Falkirk Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Wyness 7' 54'

Duncan 18'

Black 32'		 Milne 28' Arfield 47' Attendance: 4,011
Referee: Somers
6 October 2007 Premier League Kilmarnock 2–2 Inverness CT Rugby Park
15:00 Koudou 1' Nish 56' Ford og22' Cowie 61' Attendance: 4,456
Referee: Brines
21 October 2007 Premier League Inverness CT 1–2 Aberdeen Caledonian Stadium
14:00 Wyness {goal|58}} Young 8' Tokely og62' Referee: Smith
27 October 2007 Premier League Gretna 0–4 Inverness CT Fir Park
15:00 Wyness 2'

Cowie 31' Wilson 73'

McBain 75'		 Attendance: 1,096
Referee: McCurry
3 November 2007 Premier League Rangers 2–0 Inverness CT Ibrox Stadium
15:00 Boyd 1' Cuéllar 63' Attendance: 48,898
Referee: Collum
10 November 2007 Premier League Inverness CT 0–3 Motherwell Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Clarkson 15' 53' Smith 87' Attendance: 3,608
24 November 2007 Premier League Inverness CT 1–0 St Mirren Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Cowie 6' Attendance: 3,699
Referee: Allan
1 December 2007 Premier League Dundee United 0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Tannadice Stadium
15:00 Black 20' Attendance: 5845
Referee: Brines
8 December 2007 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2–0 Hibernian Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Niculae 42' 78' Attendance: 4224
Referee: Clark
12 December 2007 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–2 Celtic Caledonian Stadium
14:00 Rankin pen' (41),

Proctor 57', Red card 68'

Cowie 61'		 Vennegoor of Hesselink 24', 26' Attendance: 7004
22 December 2007 Premier League Heart of Midlothian 2–3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Tynecastle Park
15:00 Berra 62',

Kurskis Yellow card 86' Yellow-red card

Velicka pen' (88)		 Duncan 22',

Rankin pen' (52),

Bayne 90+3'		 Attendance: 16202
26 December 2007 Premier League Falkirk 1–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Falkirk Stadium
15:00 Aafjes 34' Attendance: 5265
29 December 2007 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–1 Kilmarnock Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Niculae 42', 76', Cowie 52' Nish 87' Attendance: 4169
2 January 2008 Premier League Aberdeen 1–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Pittodrie Stadium
15:00 Nicholson pen' (82) Attendance: 13327
5 January 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–0 Gretna Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Niculae 34', 42', Rankin pen' (39) Attendance: 3919
20 January 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0–1 Rangers Caledonian Stadium
14:00 Darcheville 89' Attendance: 7753
9 February 2008 Premier League St Mirren 1–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle St Mirren Park
15:00 Mehmet 75' Munro 27' Attendance: 3609
16 February 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–1 Dundee United Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Paatelainen 84' Buaben 68' Attendance: 4087
20 February 2008 Premier League Motherwell 3–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Fir Park
19:45 Clarkson 7', 42', Porter 10' Cowie 19' Attendance: 4526
23 February 2008 Premier League Hibernian 2–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Easter Road
15:00 Nish 3', Fletcher 5' Attendance: 12552
27 February 2008 Premier League Celtic 2–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Celtic Park
19:45 McDonald 45', Samaras 61' Niculae 70' Attendance: 56787
1 March 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0–3 Heart of Midlothian Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Karypidis 22', Elliot 33', 47' Attendance: 4489
15 March 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0–1 Falkirk Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Clarke 86' Attendance: 4012
22 March 2008 Premier League Kilmarnock 4–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Rugby Park
15:00 Wright 37',

Bryson 50', 57',

Flannigan 64'		 Black 13' Attendance: 5100
29 March 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–4 Aberdeen Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Bus (o.g.) 20,

Duncan 40', Yellow card 46' Yellow-red card, McBain 57',

Munro Red card 90+10'		 Aluko 7',

Nicholson 45', Miller 53',

Maguire 90+3'		 Attendance: 5655
5 April 2008 Premier League Gretna 1–2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Fir Park
15:00 Barr 80' McBain 71', Cowie 73' Attendance: 431
19 April 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–0 Kilmarnock Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Imrie 10',

Lilley (o.g.) 71,

Niculae 79'		 Attendance: 3420
26 April 2008 Premier League Heart of Midlothian 1–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Tynecastle Park
15:00 Glen 80' Attendance: 15423
4 May 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6–1 Gretna Caledonian Stadium
14:00 Imrie 1',

McAllister 24', Wilson 51', Cowie 70', Tokely 88',

Vigurs 90+1'		 Hogg 26' Attendance: 3639
10 May 2008 Premier League Falkirk 2–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Falkirk Stadium
15:00 Higdon 28', Finnigan 68' Wilson pen' (90) Attendance: 5631
17 May 2008 Premier League Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0–0 St Mirren Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Proctor Red card 54' Attendance: 3783
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
7 Falkirk 38 13 10 15 45 49 −4 49
8 Heart of Midlothian 38 13 9 16 47 55 −8 48
9 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 38 13 4 21 51 62 −11 43
10 St Mirren 38 10 11 17 26 54 −28 41
11 Kilmarnock 38 10 10 18 39 52 −13 40
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 2007–08 Scottish League Cup
Round Date Opponent H/A Score ICT Scorer(s) Attendance
R2 28 August Arbroath H 3–1 Niculae (2), Wyness 1,246
R3 25 September Gretna H 3–0 Bayne, Wilson, Wyness 1,717
R4 31 October Aberdeen A 1–4 Bayne 7,270

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2007–08 Scottish Cup
12 January 2008 Round 4 Hibernian 3–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Easter Road
15:00 Shiels 5', 53', 84', Morais Yellow card 88' Yellow-red card McGuire Yellow card 88' Yellow-red card Attendance: 9622
Referee: Conroy}

Club Records Set
  • (+) Tied - Most SPL goals scored: 51 (also scored 51 in 2004–05)
  • (−) Lowest SPL finish: 9th (previous was 8th in 2004–05 and 2006–07)
  • (−) Least SPL points: 43 (previous was 44 in 2004–05)
  • (−) Worst SPL goal difference: −11 (previous was −6 in 2004–05 and 2006–07)
  • (−) Most SPL goals allowed: 62 (previous was 48 in 2006–07)

Transfers in
DateNameMoving fromFee
8 May 2007Scotland Ally RidgersScotland ClachnacuddinFree[2]
1 July 2007Scotland Don CowieScotland Ross CountyFree[3]
4 July 2007England Dean McDonaldEngland GillinghamUndisclosed[4]
17 July 2007Romania Marius NiculaeGermany Mainz 05Free[5]
14 August 2007Scotland Steven WattWales Swansea CityLoan[6]
31 August 2007Poland Zbigniew MałkowskiScotland HibernianLoan[7]
31 August 2007Scotland Phil McGuireScotland Dunfermline AthleticLoan[8]
31 August 2007Scotland David ProctorScotland Dundee UnitedFree[9]
31 January 2008Scotland Dougie ImrieScotland ClydeUndisclosed[10]

Transfers out
DateNameMoving toFee
1 June 2007Scotland Stuart GolabekScotland Ross CountyFree[11]
28 June 2007Scotland Craig DargoScotland St MirrenFree[12]
1 July 2007Scotland Darren DodsScotland Dundee UnitedFree[13]
31 August 2007Scotland Ally RidgersScotland Elgin CityLoan[14]
31 August 2007Scotland Zander SutherlandScotland Elgin CityLoan[14]
1 January 2008Scotland Alan MorganScotland KilmarnockFree
17 January 2008Scotland John RankinScotland Hibernian£110,000
29 April 2008Scotland Stuart McCaffreyScotland St JohnstoneFree

References
  1. "Caleythistleonline 2007-08 results".
  2. "Ridgers poised for Inverness stay". BBC Sport. 8 May 2007.
  3. "Inverness line up County captain". BBC Sport. 1 July 2007.
  4. "McDonald joy at Inverness switch". BBC Sport. 4 July 2007.
  5. "Romania striker joins Inverness". BBC Sport. 17 July 2007.
  6. "Defender Watt moves to Inverness". BBC Sport. 14 August 2007.
  7. "Malkowski heads to Caley Thistle". BBC Sport. 31 August 2007.
  8. "Transfer Window". caleythistleonline.com. 31 August 2007.
  9. "Proctor moves back to Inverness". BBC Sport. 31 August 2007.
  10. "Caley Thistle sign Clyde's Imrie". BBC Sport. 2 March 2008.
  11. "Golabek & Bullock back at County". BBC Sport. 1 June 2007.
  12. "St Mirren sign up striker Dargo". BBC Sport. 28 June 2007.
  13. "Dods seals move to Dundee United". BBC Sport. 22 June 2007.
  14. "Inverness duo farmed out to Elgin". BBC Sport. 31 August 2007.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.