With Darren Dods suspended Stuart McCaffrey came back into the side after an extended period on the sidelines due to injury. Dennis Wyness was ineligible because of the terms of the loan agreement with Hearts and Barry Wilson captained the side on his 250th appearance.

The vocal home support, the healthy Caley Thistle contingent and some great football added up to an entertaining afternoon for all. The visitors had a goal disallowed, a penalty denied and the best chances of the game.

Hearts pushed forward from the start but achieved little. In four minutes Mark Brown easily saved a Stephen Simmons header then Michal Pospisil headed over. At the other end Ian Black sent an angled volley past Craig Gordon’s right-hand post.

Both defences held firm under pressure then in 36 minutes Craig Dargo set up a glorious chance for his manager. He cut the ball back from the byeline on the right but Craig Brewster hit first time over the bar from eight yards.

Apart from a wide Rudi Skacel shot Hearts rarely troubled the Inverness goal in the first half. Robbie Neilson left significant marks on the game twice. In the first half he stopped a David Proctor shot on the line then, in the second half, he blocked a Barry Wilson ball en-route to Dargo with his arm – the referee deemed the offence to be accidental but you would be hard pushed to find an Inverness supporter who agreed.

The closest Hearts came to a goal was in 54 minutes when Deividas Cesnauskis (surprisingly named ‘Man of the Match’) was sent through by Pospisil but Mark Brown parried his shot. Gordon turned a long-range effort from Black round the post in 67 minutes then six minutes later Brewster let fly from an acute angle on the left and forced an excellent save from Gordon.

A minute later the away fans were incensed when a McCaffrey pass found Ross Tokely and he ran through before netting clinically. The goal was disallowed however as Dargo was in an offside position - despite the striker taking no part in the move.

In the closing minutes Pospisil and Edgaras Jankauskas hit over for Hearts then Brewster hit wide for ICT with three minutes left. There was still time for Dargo to hit over before the final whistle.

Full Time 0-0

Another fine performance on the road and sixth place maintained.