Long trip worthwhile

Last updated : 18 September 2010 By TwoTonTed

Jim Jefferies men came back from going a goal down to secure a 3-1 win against an Inverness side still searching for their first SPL win of the season at home. A Chris Innes own goal right on half-time was added to by Ryan Stevenson and Calum Elliot in the second half as Hearts packed up the three points for the long trip home. Yet it could all have been so different had Caley Thistle held on to the lead that was given to them by Eric Odhiambo in the 37th minute. Inverness made one change from the team that earned a point against Hibs at Easter Road last weekend with Chris Innes replacing the injured Kenny Gillet. There was a return to the bench for club captain Richie Foran, who was fit again after undergoing minor knee surgery at the beginning of the season. Injury also deprived Inverness manager Terry Butcher of the services of on-loan Hibs defender Kevin McCann and Spanish forward Dani Sanchez, As expected, new Hearts arrival Rudi Skacel was not involved in the squad due to a lack of fitness as Jefferies brought Elliot and Craig Thomson into the starting line-up with Kevin Kyle and Adrian Mrowiec dropping to the bench having started the 3-0 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead last Saturday.

Keen to make up for the disappointment for the loss to Celtic, the visitors began well, peppering the home penalty box with a number of crosses. David Proctor's attempted clearance cannoned off David Templeton and fell kindly into his path, but from a tight angle he fired the ball straight into Ryan Esson's body. Inverness had struggled to get out their own half, but a foul by Ruben Palazuelos on Jonny Hayes, which the Hearts player was booked for, presented the home side with a free-kick in a dangerous position. Hayes took the set piece and found the head of Adam Rooney, but his effort was easily held by Marian Kello. Stuart Duff was next to go into the referee`s notebook for a late challenge on Eggert Jonsson, while Ian Black failed to shake off a knock incurred from Rooney and the former Inverness player was replaced by Kyle. Inverness were posing an increasing threat and they took the lead in the 37th minute. Nick Ross won possession of the ball on the halfway line and played it to Duff, who quickly found Eric Odhiambo running through on goal. The forward took a touch to deceive Kello before sliding home the ball from close range. However, things were all square right on the stroke of half-time. Hayes brought down Templeton and was booked for his troubles. Templeton took the subsequent free-kick and delivered a dangerous ball that seemed to find the back of the net off Innes, although Kyle was in close attention.

Both sides pushed forward at the start of the second half and only a timely intervention by Ismael Bouzid inside the six-yard box prevented Odhiambo from converting Rooney's cut back. That missed opportunity was to prove costly for the hosts as Hearts went in front from a corner in the 55th minute. Kyle headed the ball into the path of Stevenson, who despite being under pressure from Ross Tokely, managed to get in a volley that bounced over Esson and into the corner of the net. Caley Thistle responded with a curling effort from Ross drifting narrowly wide of Kello's upright, before Rooney had an effort deflected past the post. From the resulting corner, Palazuelos had to clear Tokely's flick on off the line. Elliot appeared to held inside the area by Innes, but referee Iain Brines waved away their claims. After Rooney had passed up a decent chance to equalise when he blazed over, Hearts stretched their lead to two goals in the 69th minute. Suso Santana's trickery got him past Tokely and he picked out the unmarked Elliot who had little trouble in finishing from six yards to score his fourth goal of the season. Inverness then made a double change with Stuart Golabek replacing the injured Innes, while Foran was introduced into the fray for Odhiambo. Caley Thistle pushed hard to find a way back into the contest, but could not salvage anything from a game they will feel they should have taken something from.

Inverness: Esson, Innes, Munro, Tokely, Proctor, Duff, Hayes, Cox, Ross, Rooney, Odhiambo

Subs: Tuffey,  Golabek, McBain, Duncan, Morrison, Foran, Sutherland

Hearts:
Kello, Bouzid, Barr, Thomson, Stevenson, Black, Templeton, Jonsson, Palazuelos, Santana, Elliot
Subs: Balogh, Obua, McGowan, Mrowiec, Kyle. Glen, Novikovas


Attendance: 4,515

Referee: I Brines