North derby explained

North Derby
Currentunbeatenstreak:Aberdeen, 3 games. (10 September 2016 to present)
Currentstreak:Aberdeen, 2 games. (19 November 2016 to present)
Longestunbeatenstreak:Aberdeen, 17 games. (8 August 1998 to 29 March 2008)
Longeststreak:Aberdeen, 4 games. (21 October 2007 to 29 March 2008) and (27 September 2014 to 25 April 2015)
Largestscoring:Inverness CT 3–4 Aberdeen (29 March 2008) and (21 December 2013)
Largestvictory:Aberdeen 4–1 Inverness CT (31 October 2007)
Most Wins:Aberdeen (24)
Teams Involved:Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Top Scorer: Billy Mckay Inverness CT, 6 goals
Mostrecent:Aberdeen 1–0 Inverness CT (4 April 2017)
First Contested:Inverness CT 0–3 Aberdeen (8 August 1998)
Team2:Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Team1:Aberdeen
Smallestvictory:1–0, (12 times).
Aberdeen x10
Inverness CT x2

The term North derby is sometimes used to emphasise their relative geographical proximity, when matches are played between Scottish football clubs Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[1] The clubs first met in a Scottish League Cup tie played on 8 August 1998. Inverness first entered the Scottish Football League in 1994 alongside fellow Highland side Ross County, forming the Highland derby. However, Inverness progressed over the next 10 years to form a rivalry with Aberdeen, after winning promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2004.

The match is considered to be a derby despite the fact that the two cities are over 100 miles apart. Aberdeen have no immediate rival geographically, although they have a longstanding rivalry with Rangers and another with Dundee United, who have frequently competed with them for Scottish major trophies.

Before Ross County were promoted to the SPL in 2012, the lack of an alternative derby opponent for both clubs led to the development of the rivalry. Due to the redevelopment of the Caledonian Stadium to meet SPL standard, Inverness had to share Pittodrie Stadium with Aberdeen during the first half of the 2004–05 league season.

Initially, the match has also been given an edge by Aberdeen enjoying a long unbeaten record against Inverness, partly thanks to a remarkable number of very late goals. This record was finally ended on the opening day of the 2008–09 league season when Inverness won 2–0 at Pittodrie. Other notable matches between the two clubs include a Scottish Cup tie in 2000. Aberdeen beat Inverness after a replay in the round after Inverness had caused a great shock by beating Celtic.[2]

The clubs met on 16 March 2014 in their most high-profile game to date, the 2014 Scottish League Cup final, with Aberdeen winning on penalties after a 0–0 draw (aet).[3]

Matches played

SeasonDateVenueCompetitionHome scorer(s)Away scorer(s)AttendanceReport
1998–9908.08.1998Caledonian StadiumLeague CupDodds (1, 66, 70)5,164Sunday Mirror
1999–0020.02.2000Caledonian StadiumScottish CupMann (50)Guntveit (81)6,290BBC Sport
29.02.2000PittodrieScottish CupStavrum (75)18,451Sporting Life
2004–0516.10.2004Pittodrie[4] SPLMcBain (36)Adams (28, 64 pen.), Mackie (90 pen.)9,530BBC Sport
27.12.2004PittodrieSPL18,250BBC Sport
05.02.2005PittodrieScottish CupMackie (15, 34)Brewster (24)10,595BBC Sport
02.04.2005Caledonian StadiumSPLWhelan (38)7,026BBC Sport
2005–0615.10.2005Caledonian StadiumSPLBayne (73)J. Smith (55)6,809BBC Sport
31.12.2005PittodrieSPL12,266BBC Sport
01.04.2006Caledonian StadiumSPLLovell (83)7,368BBC Sport
2006–0705.08.2006PittodrieSPLCrawford (29)Wilson (89)11,955BBC Sport
06.11.2006Caledonian StadiumSPLBayne (78)Lovell (90)5,744BBC Sport
13.01.2007PittodrieSPLLovell (90)Rankin (86)10,300BBC Sport
2007–0821.10.2007Caledonian StadiumSPLWyness (58)Young (8), Tokely (68 o.g.)6,023BBC Sport
31.10.2007PittodrieLeague CupNicholson (10 pen., 21 pen., 78), Miller (45)Bayne (68)7,270BBC Sport
02.01.2008PittodrieSPLNicholson (83 pen.)13,372BBC Sport
29.03.2008Caledonian StadiumSPLBus (21 o.g.), Duncan (40), McBain (57)Aluko (7), Nicholson (45), Miller (53), Maguire (90)5,655BBC Sport
2008–0929.08.2008PittodrieSPLBarrowman (27), McBain (90)12,659BBC Sport
20.12.2008Caledonian StadiumSPLMulgrew (6), McDonald (51), Mackie (56)5,862BBC Sport
11.04.2009PittodrieSPLMcDonald (79)11,114BBC Sport
2010–1102.10.2010Caledonian StadiumSPLHayes (19), Rooney (61)6,144BBC Sport
09.11.2010PittodrieSPLVelicka (49)Rooney (34 pen.), Munro (81)5,917BBC Sport
26.01.2011Caledonian StadiumSPLJack (44), Blackman (49)4,468BBC Sport
30.04.2011PittodrieSPLPawlett (75)6,280BBC Sport
2011–1220.08.2011PittodrieSPLMilsom (12), Vernon (27)Foran (79)7,989BBC Sport
24.12.2011Caledonian StadiumSPLGolobart (64), Tade (69)Fallon (76)5,888BBC Sport
24.03.2012PittodrieSPLTade (10)8,939BBC Sport
21.04.2012Caledonian StadiumSPLGolobart (46 o.g.), Gillet (89 o.g.)3,487BBC Sport
2012–1315.09.2012Caledonian StadiumSPLForan (67 pen.)Smith (84)4,499BBC Report
27.11.2012PittodrieSPLMagennis (45, 50)McKay (36, 82), Warren (58)9,193BBC Report
19.01.2013Caledonian StadiumSPLShinnie (53), McKay (61, 78)4,734BBC Report
2013–1421.09.2013Pittodrie PremiershipVernon (81)11,251BBC Report
21.12.2013Caledonian Stadium PremiershipMcKay (47, 57), Shinnie (90)Robson (22 pen., 32), Pawlett (37), McGinn (44)4,810BBC Report
18.01.2014PittodriePremiershipWilliams (22)12,021BBC Report
16.03.2014Celtic ParkLeague Cup51,143 BBC Report
18.04.2014Caledonian Stadium Premiership4,224BBC Report
2014–1527.09.2014PittodriePremiershipRooney (24), Logan (40), Hayes (59)Meekings (16), Watkins (50)11,414 BBC Report
28.12.2014Caledonian Stadium PremiershipPawlett (12)6,614 BBC Report
08.04.2015PittodriePremiershipTaylor (47)11,319 BBC Report
25.04.2015Caledonian Stadium PremiershipOfere (48)Raven (69 o.g.), McGinn (74)4,530 BBC Report
2015–1626.09.2015Caledonian StadiumPremiershipStorey (8), Christie (29)Taylor (35)6,410BBC Report
26.12.2015PittodriePremiershipPolworth (41), Tansey (47 pen.)McGinn (73), Rooney (90 pen.)15,142 BBC Report
15.02.2016Caledonian StadiumPremiershipVigurs (18), Tansey (51 pen.), Tremarco (65)Rooney (7)4,544BBC Report
2016–1710.09.2016PittodriePremiershipMcGinn (51)Vigurs (68)11,356BBC Report
19.11.2016Caledonian StadiumPremiershipDoumbouya (15)McLean (28, 89), Rooney (33 pen.)4,867BBC report
04.04.2017PittodriePremiershipWarren (22 o.g.) 11,507 BBC report

Head-to-head summary

CompetitionAberdeen winsDrawsInverness CT winsAberdeen goalsInverness CT goals
SPL / Premiership20 10 10 53 42
Scottish Cup 2 1 0 4 2
League Cup2 1 0 7 1
Overall24 12 10 64 45

Goalscorer records

Players with 3 or more goals in the North derby.

ScorerTeam(s)LeagueScottish CupLeague CupTotal
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6 6
Aberdeen
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
4
2


6
Aberdeen 2 3 5
Aberdeen 4 4
Aberdeen 2 2 4
Aberdeen 3 3
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3 3
Aberdeen 3 3
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 1 3
Aberdeen - 3 3

Notes

  1. Web site: Inverness CT v. Aberdeen . RedWeb, Aberdeen FC . 20 February 2013.
  2. News: Caley's minnows slay Celtic. BBC Sport website. 8 February 2000.
  3. News: Aberdeen win Cup on penalties. BBC Sport website. 16 March 2014.
  4. Inverness played a "home" game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie because the Caledonian Stadium was being redeveloped to meet SPL standards.