Inverness CT V Aberdeen at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium : Match Preview

24 April 2015 16:31
Inverness CT V Aberdeen - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


No Dons for Draper

Inverness midfielder Ross Draper is suspended for the Scottish Premiership game against Aberdeen.

The midfielder begins a two-match ban sparked by his 12th yellow card of the league season.

Dean Brill and Richie Foran are out for the season with knee injuries.

Midfielder Ryan Christie has been brought up in and around the club given his father Charlie played for and managed the team and now runs the youth academy.

And he is delighted to see their profile rise with the latest accolade his own appearance on the PFA Scotland young player of the year shortlist.

"It's brilliant, not just for me but the whole club," he said. "It puts us on the map a wee bit more. Last year having Graeme Shinnie get in the team of the year had an effect as well.

"To get to the Scottish Cup final was a massive thing for the club. It boosts our reputation and hopefully we are seen in a new light now. We are a top-six team now, we have proved that over the last few seasons.

"This season we have competed with Dundee United and Aberdeen and we are right up there. The manager tells us to aspire to play as well as Celtic.

"We are not looking to challenge Aberdeen or Dundee United, we are looking to go further than that."

Christie wants to be part of that upwards spiral for the foreseeable future despite the plaudits coming his way.

"Right now I'm in Inverness, I was born in Inverness, and have got a really good base of people around me and there's no better place to learn my trade than Inverness and under John Hughes," he said.

"My mind is on Inverness this season and next season. I have still got plenty of learning to do in the Scottish Premiership."

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has told his players second place is still an achievement to be proud of despite some feeling disappointed with their ailing title push.

Aberdeen would need Celtic to lose at least three of their last five matches to have a chance of snatching the Scottish Premiership title with the Hoops' 2-1 win at Dundee on Wednesday putting them eight points clear.

But Aberdeen can cement the runners-up place on Saturday and McInnes wants his players to recognise the achievement.

"It should not be underplayed," he said. "There is a sense of disappointment from the players in the dressing room but I've been telling them time and time again that they should not be disappointed.

"For an Aberdeen team to finish second for the first time in 21 years, it shows you how difficult it is to do."

Midfielder Barry Robson is suspended after his appeal for wrongful dismissal was rejected following his red card against Dundee United last week.


Source: PA