Caley Thistle end Stenny's unbeaten run as Kellacher's side climb into contention
Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Rory Fraser
Someone was going to beat Stenhousemuir eventually. On Saturday, Inverness Caledonian Thistle made sure it was them.
Scott Kellacher's side won 2–0 at the Caledonian Stadium, handing the Championship leaders their first league defeat of the season. Both goals came in a dominant first half. Adam Mackinnon fired in a low shot from around 12 yards on 26 minutes after good work from Liam Sole, and right-back Calum MacLeod headed in an Alfie Stewart corner on 35 minutes. It was MacLeod's first goal of the season.
Kellacher was clearly delighted. "If it wasn't for their goalkeeper, we could have maybe another one or two in the first half. I thought we were excellent," he told the Press and Journal. "We passed, moved it and created problems. That's the sort of performance that we're needing to put in at home."
He was quick to praise Stenhousemuir too. "They're top of the league for a reason. They're organised, they work hard, they're a very good side," he said. "It was a difficult game, but we knew we had to be at our best. And I thought we were at our best today."
It's a big moment for Inverness. The result lifts them to fifth on 13 points from nine games, and they're now unbeaten in four league games. The Inverness Courier pointed out it's 10 points from a possible 12, which is a big turnaround after a winless start to the season.
Their recent form reads lost, lost, won, drew, won, won. There's a clear upward trend.
There was some good news on the injury front too, with Sole back in the starting line-up.
And that next game comes quickly. Inverness travel to bottom side Queen's Park on Tuesday 13 October, with kick-off at 19:45. The Spiders have lost five league games in a row, so this is a real opportunity. A win could lift Inverness into the top four.
Then Arbroath visit the Caledonian Stadium on Saturday 17 October at 15:00. The Lichties have lost two in a row and are dealing with injuries, so that's another game Inverness will expect to win.
After that, the fixtures get harder. Kellacher's side go to Raith Rovers on 24 October and then travel to Dunfermline on 31 October.
The table is very tight in the middle. Inverness are level on points with Livingston and Dunfermline, and just five points behind Partick in third. Two wins this week would put them right in the promotion conversation.
Saturday showed what this team can do when everything clicks. Now the challenge is to back it up on the road in midweek.
The left-hand goal is in front of the South Stand, where away fans sit. The right-hand goal is in front of the North Stand, the home Bridge End. This plan matches the club map and is not drawn with north at the top.
If you are following your team to Inverness, Caledonian Stadium is an easy ground to find and a memorable one to sit in. It stands in the Longman area, hard against the Moray Firth and a short run from the Kessock Bridge. The club still calls it Caledonian Stadium day to day. Sponsors have used other names, Tulloch for a long spell and Sarens PSG from 2025, but the ground opened on 9 November 1996 and has been home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle ever since.
Visiting supporters are housed in the South Stand, the covered end behind the southern goal. It can take up to about 2,200 away fans. You look straight down the pitch toward the North Stand, known as the Bridge End, where the home support gathers. On a clear afternoon the Kessock Bridge climbs over the firth beyond that end, which is the view most away fans remember. Wind off the water can be sharp, so pack a coat between October and April.
The Jock McDonald Main Stand runs along one touchline. Dressing rooms, the tunnel and both dugouts are on that side, so the technical area is in front of the Main Stand rather than either goal. Opposite it, the West Stand is a much smaller uncovered block, added in 2007 and only a few hundred strong. The ground holds 7,512 and is all-seater. Standing in the seats is not allowed. The record crowd is 7,753, for Rangers on 20 January 2008.
Buy the South Stand ticket through your own club. Recent prices have been about £20 for adults, £15 for concessions and £6 for under-16s, but check the fixture. Seats are numbered. Away turnstiles are at the southern end, beside the visiting car park. There are no pass-outs, the stadium is no-smoking, and flags on poles are not allowed in.
By car, stay on the A9 and at the roundabout just before the Kessock Bridge turn right down to the ground. Visiting parking is at the South Stand end, usually for a small charge. Do not park on Seawall Road. Inverness station is about a mile away, a 20 to 25 minute walk on the signed Longman Road route. Do not cross the A9 on foot. Shuttle buses have run back to town after some matches. The address is Stadium Road, East Longman, Inverness, IV1 1FF.
There is no pub on the doorstep. The Kings Highway, Gellions, the Phoenix and the Innes Bar are the usual town stops before the walk. Away fans with a match ticket have been admitted to the Sports Bar before kick-off on many matchdays, and the steak sandwiches are worth a look. Disabled supporters should book on 01463 222880. A higher Main Stand seat by the executive boxes is better than the front, where the dugouts can block the view. It is an open ground rather than a cauldron. Come for the away end behind the goal, the bridge and the water.