Scottish Championship leaders Queen’s Park earned a Scottish Cup win at Inverness Caledonian Thistle – but their last-16 place is in doubt after they fielded an ineligible player.
Euan Henderson joined on loan from Hearts after the tie was postponed on 21 January, but Scottish FA rules state that only those registered before the initial date are permitted to play.
It remains unclear what the punishment might be but it could render this victory, earned with goals by Dom Thomas and Scott Williamson, moot.
Queen’s Park thought they had set up a tie at Livingston but it may be that the top-flight side will welcome Inverness Caledonian Thistle instead next weekend.
Inverness CT head coach Billy Dodds: “Queen’s Park had a lot of possession and a few chances. But we had really good chances – if we take the lead then it’s a different game.
“We made two big errors and lost two bad goals and you are never going to win games if you make those type of errors.”
Queen’s Park manager Owen Coyle: “Inverness are a very good team. I think that’s three times we’ve been up now this season and there’s not many teams leave unbeaten over the three games.
“Our level of performance was excellent tonight. We scored two very good goals. We thoroughly deserved to win and to move into the next round of the cup.”
Line-ups
Inverness CT
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ridgers
- 8carson
- 6devine
- 2DuffyBooked at 39mins
- 23Delaney
- 20Henderson
- 4Welsh
- 18AllardiceSubstituted forHydeat 65′minutes
- 22ShawSubstituted forMackayat 65′minutes
- 3HarperSubstituted forDoranat 45′minutes
- 9mckay
Substitutes
- 10Doran
- 16Hyde
- 17Mackay
- 21MacKay
- 30Boyd
- 34Strachan
Queen’s Park
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1ferries
- 12DavidsonSubstituted forBannonat 77′minutes
- 66Eze
- 5Fox
- 3Robson
- 7LongridgeBooked at 81minsSubstituted forbiggarat 89′minutes
- 42BoatengBooked at 83mins
- 11Thomas
- 21Savory
- 10McPake
- 9HendersonSubstituted forWilliamsonat 69′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Kilday
- 17Heraghty
- 18biggar
- 19Williamson
- 22healy
- 25Bannon
- Referees:
- Chris Graham
- Attendance:
- 869
Live Text
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Match ends, Inverness CT 0, Queen’s Park 2.
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Second Half ends, Inverness CT 0, Queen’s Park 2.
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Attempt saved. Sean Welsh (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top center of the goal.
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Malachi Boateng (Queen’s Park) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lewis Hyde (Inverness CT).
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Substitution, Queen’s Park. Calum Biggar replaces Louis Longridge.
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Attempt missed. Tommy Robson (Queen’s Park) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Louis Longridge (Queen’s Park) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by David Carson (Inverness CT).
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Joshua McPake (Queen’s Park) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Danny Devine (Inverness CT).
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Goal! Inverness CT 0, Queen’s Park 2. Scott Williamson (Queen’s Park) left footed shot from the center of the box to the center of the goal.
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Foul by Danny Devine (Inverness CT).
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Calum Ferrie (Queen’s Park) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Malachi Boateng (Queen’s Park) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Jay Henderson (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Malachi Boateng (Queen’s Park).
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Attempt missed. Danny Devine (Inverness CT) right footed shot from the center of the box is too high from a direct free kick.
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Louis Longridge (Queen’s Park) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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David Carson (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.