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Football makes a welcome return after a draining summer of off field activity as St.Mirren begin season 2012-2013 with a home match against bogey team Inverness Caley Thistle.
Danny Lennon has an immediate selection headache going into this one with three players suspended and another injured stretching his threadbare squad to the limit.
Marc McAusland, Jim Goodwin and Steven Thompson all breached the disciplinary barrier at the end of last season so must watch this one from the stand whilst Graham Carey has taken no part in pre-season and remains sidelined through injury.
Kenny McLean should be fit enough to compete for a place in the starting line up but his own lack of match fitness may relegate him to a riding pine for the opener.
Danny Lennon has an immediate selection headache going into this one with three players suspended and another injured stretching his threadbare squad to the limit.
Marc McAusland, Jim Goodwin and Steven Thompson all breached the disciplinary barrier at the end of last season so must watch this one from the stand whilst Graham Carey has taken no part in pre-season and remains sidelined through injury.
Kenny McLean should be fit enough to compete for a place in the starting line up but his own lack of match fitness may relegate him to a riding pine for the opener.
New boys Sam Parkin, Lewis Guy and Jon Robertson will be keen to impress the home crowd as they look to get their Saints careers off to a flying start.
The visitors will be full of the unknown with Terry Butcher having no fewer than 7 new signings in his squad, but the Caley gaffer will be without Ritchie Foran, who scored the winner the last time the sides met, who is also suspended for the game.
There will be no Ross Tokely to boo this time around either with the Caley veteran having finally moved on in the summer to sign for Highland rivals Ross County.
Caley simply LOVE coming to Paisley and have won on 4 of their last 5 visits to the town having never tasted defeat at the "new" St.Mirren Park.
Should be a cracker, with a decent crowd roaring in the new season.
COYS !
OPTA STATS
- Inverness took 10 points from four meetings with the Saints last season, over a quarter of their full season total.
- Caley Thistle are unbeaten in six with St Mirren in all comps and have won on four of their last five visits to their stadium.
- Inverness have a higher win % at St Mirren than at any other regular SPL opponent (50%).
- St Mirren Park saw the joint-most headed goals in the SPL last season (11), and the most from outside the box (12).
- St Mirren dropped the joint-most points from winning positions in the SPL last season (22) but also picked up the joint-most after coming from behind (12).
DIVS PREDICTION
Almost impossible to predict this one given that we know very little about the ICT team. Needless to say the buddies are going to miss big Steven Thompson and Jim Goodwin in particular. Sam Parkin will lead the line, probably partnering Lewis Guy in a new look attack.
Jon Robertson will have a baptism of fire in the middle of the park whilst I fancy Saints will go 4-4-2 with David Barron coming in at left back.
I'll sit on the fence and go for a 1-1 draw !
Jon Robertson will have a baptism of fire in the middle of the park whilst I fancy Saints will go 4-4-2 with David Barron coming in at left back.
I'll sit on the fence and go for a 1-1 draw !
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