Back to earth with a bump.

After the euphoria of Tannadice, normal service was resumed as Hamilton stunned the home support.  A sensational strike from ex Caley Jaggie Dougie Imrie inside the first minute was the difference between the sides as Inverness struggled to recreate the free flowing football of the previous week.  Simon Mensing closed the door at every opportunity to stifle the home attack, while hitting effectively on the break through new boy Nigel Hasselbaink as Inverness toiled.

It’s all Academic.

Inverness started this game as big favourites but failed to live up to the billing as once again our bogey team left with the three points.  Ross Tokely was on the bench alongside Chris Innes, Sanchez, Sutherland, McBain and Tuffey.  With Foran still out Nick Ross kept his spot on the left flank and the same starting eleven that blitzed Dundee United took to the field. Hamilton boss Billy Reid fielded Nigel Hasselbaink up front and Simon Mensing in the heart of the defence, two players who were to have a big impact on the game.   Hamilton had lost both of their opening fixtures 4-0 and were dumped out of the CIS cup by Raith Rovers, Inverness on the other hand were buoyant after whitewashing the Arabs last weekend.  Things were about to change in 40 seconds.

Nobody made a bigger impact than the man they all love to hate, Dougie Imrie.  Before ref Mckendrick’s pea had stopped rattling in his whistle, wee Dougie incensed the home fans by slamming an unstoppable shot high past a startled Ryan Esson.  It was a goal fit to win any match, unfortunately for us, Dougie was now playing against ICT.  Lee Cox got the ball tangled under his feet and lost out on the half way line.  Imrie drifted goalwards as the defenders backed off.  A couple of drops of the shoulders and Dougie found himself thirty odd yards out, but still with plenty to do.  What happened next was stunning, he unleashed a rocket that flew high through Essons left hand as the power and accuracy of the shot caught everyone cold.  It looked as though the ball moved considerably as it fizzed towards the net.  He had every right to show his delight as he glared merrily into the North Stand as his name was chanted, well not quite chanted, but I’m sure he was enjoying the battle already, and it was one that he won convincingly.

Last weeks hero Kevin McCann went off injured after 22 minutes and this meant a reshuffle at the back with Proctor moving wide and Tokely teaming up with Munro.

Esson pushed away a Flavio Paixao curling effort as Hamilton continued to impress and we seemed unable to hold onto the ball.

Our worst nightmare was happening all over again.  Hamilton know how to frustrate us and to be honest they bossed the entire first half as we could not put together one attempt of any note.  Nigel Hasselbaink looked very sharp, and his direct running at our defence was causing problems.  With Simon Mensing and Andy Graham mopping up every ball we lofted forward it was no surprise that ICT trooped off at half time to the sound of disgruntlement.

Half Time 0-1.

This must have been how United’s fans felt last week and it was difficult to see where Inverness were going to get a foothold in the game.  Butcher must have been an unhappy bunny at half time and I’m sure the players would have felt the wrath of the management.  Jonny Hayes was posted missing in the first half, as was Rooney, it’s maybe not their fault entirely as the service from midfield was non existent.  Nick Ross looked to be our best bet to get us back into the game but he needed the senior players to help him out.  Sadly he was left with too much to do although he never stopped trying.  He may have chosen the wrong option when getting into the box on one occasion, but at least he tried to make an impact, winning numerous corners for his endeavours, and flashing a dangerous ball across the face of the six yard box, but no takers.  Rooney lobbed the keeper before being bundled over but the ball was cleared as it bounced towards the empty net.  Nigel Hasselbaink was playing effectively as Hamilton were reduced to hitting on the break, a ploy we have used to great effect over the years.  It sure as hell frustrates the opposition and this is exactly what the Accies did.  At one point Hamilton looked set to increase their lead as they queued up in the box to round off a three man move, fortunately for Inverness we shut the danger down before the trigger was pulled.

Substitute Joel Thomas whistled a shot high into the side net as yet another home attack floundered and Accies swept forward.  This was the pattern of the game and Inverness can have little complaint as we seriously lacked a cutting edge and a creative midfield which left the strikers chasing lost causes.  Thomas Cerny enraged the locals with his usual time wasting, but if truth be told, we could have played till after the international break and still not scored.  We finished the game with a few flurries around the Hamilton penalty box but it was another too little too late scenario.

 Full Time 0-1.

 Tm4tj MotM

If it were to go to a home player it would have been an injustice.  Nobody in blue performed with any great conviction and we were second to every loose ball.  Nick Ross was the pick of the home players and with a few more spl games under his belt he may have been the one to unlock the Accies rearguard.  Hasselbaink can be pleased with his debut, Andy Graham snuffed out Rooney and Co, but My MotM goes to Simon Mensing.  He won every ball in the air and was solid in the tackle.

The International break will give us time to regroup and maybe give Foran some hope of making his season’s debut.  Easter Road in a couple of weeks, maybe the away days will bring more joy.

ICT -V- Hamilton - Half-Time Report

ICT -V- Hamilton - Full-Time Report