The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Friday night will not be for faint-hearted
Caley Thistle can make Championship relegation rivals Queen’s Park feel the heat with an early goal on Friday.
The beauty of these final night endings to the Championship campaign is there can be twists and turns aplenty as goals go in around the grounds after the games kick off at 7.45pm.
Second-bottom Inverness – in the relegation play-off spot – must better eighth-placed Queen’s Park’s result against Airdrie at Hampden when they go for the win at home against Morton.
As ICT tried to defeat Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park on Saturday, Queen’s raced into a 3-0 lead inside half an hour (and ultimately achieved a 5-0 rout) at already-relegated Arbroath.
The Inverness away support’s buoyant mood early on in Fife was quietened by the worsening news coming from Gayfield.
In Caley Thistle’s game, Kyle Benedictus’ goal for Dunfermline just before half-time was followed by a saved Billy Mckay penalty, and it was clear it was not going to be ICT’s day.
Though Aribim Pepple’s equaliser for Inverness saved them from a defeat, it meant they dropped one point behind the Spiders in the play-off berth.
The club who ultimately finish ninth are in line to face League One Montrose in the Championship play-off semis next Tuesday and Saturday.
Should Queen’s Park fail to beat fourth-placed promotion contenders Airdrie, a draw for ICT against Morton will be enough to keep them safe on goal difference
In Caley Thistle’s favour is the fact Airdrie, though they have already all but secured fourth, will be looking to end their first term back in the second tier on a high.
Next week, they will be battling it out with thirdplaced Partick Thistle.
Highly-rated Airdrie player-manager Rhys McCabe will be determined for his freeflowing team to deliver a sixth win within 10 fixtures.
They beat Queen’s Park 2-1 at Hampden in December, while the two other meetings this term ended in draws
However, just like Queen’s grabbing control of their match at Arbroath was felt when Inverness were playing last weekend, the Highlanders can turn the tables on the Spiders on Friday.
If they can get their noses in front, the “live” table will move them above Queen’s Park.
Despite their five-star victory at the weekend, it was only the Spiders’ second win in 10 games overall. ICT have three wins in their previous 10 fixtures – including their crucial 1-0 win at Hampden on April 13.
Without that Cammy Harper wonder strike, ICT would already be certain for the play-offs
The ultimate destiny is not in their hands this week – but they can ask big questions, firstly of Morton, then of Queen’s Park. Get set for a night of tension.