The First Big Test: Dundee v. Caley Preview

By: Ian Rose | August 21st, 2009

It’s been a good start to the 2009-10 campaign for my beloved Caley Thistle. In our first five competitive matches of the young season, we have yet to lose, with four wins and a draw. Three of those wins have been in the cups, and we’re on four points from the first two in the league. Some would say that our first major test on the road to SPL promotion was matchday 1, on the road at Dunfermline. But I disagree – to me, this week presents the real challenge. This week is a trial by fire, and we will emerge either stronger or singed.

Dundee is the most popular pick among Scottish pundits to win the league and join their rivals United in the SPL, mostly because of their strong transfer season. They picked up two former Caley men, Brian Kerr from us and Richie Hart from Ross County (spit), as well as Chris Casement from Ipswitch, all on frees. They also paid, handsomely by First Division standards, for Gary Harkins from Partick and Leigh Griffiths from Livingston. Altogether, they are probably the most improved squad in the league from last season.

But a lot of that quality is missing for the visit of Caley Thistle, and we must take advantage. If Dundee is the dragon of the First Division, they definitely look a little drowsy, if not asleep. Last week, they found themselves twice trailing Raith Rovers before fighting back for a 2-2 draw that kept them even with Caley on points and goal differential at the top of the league. This week, they’re back home, but find themselves without the services of Rab Douglas, Craig McKeown, Darren Young and Pat Clarke, with several other players either a doubt or just coming off of injuries themselves. There is an advantage here to be taken, and we must take it.

The Caley have not had much success on past trips to Dens Park, though it’s been a while since we’ve made the trek. In three matches there, we’ve lost two and drawn one, with 2 goals scored and 7 conceded. In other words, this is not Dunfermline. This is a tough, tough place to play.

Our own attack should be a bit on the mend this time around, with Andy Barrowman likely to make his first appearance of the season. Though Andy gives us another option, I’d still like to see him start on the bench, with Dani Sanchez and Richie Foran starting up front. But I’m not the manager, so we’ll see. In the back, Ross Tokely is still suspended (seems like forever now), and the back four should be unchanged in his absence.

Again, I can’t stress enough how important this match is. It basically determines the early promotion favorite. It’s not that losing takes us out of the race, or winning lets us rest on our laurels, but if we can notch away wins at both Dunfermline and Dundee in the first three weeks of the season, we have to be considered front runners. Let’s grab that title and not let go. I predict a scrappy 2-1 win for the Caley, with Foran and Coxy getting us on the board. Maybe Barrowman can make it three – we’ll just have to see. Mon the Caley.