Hearts came up trumps...

...at Inverness after coming from behind to take all three points in the early kick off.  Eric Odhiambo had given the hosts an advantage, but a Chris Innes own goal seconds before half time changed the complexion of the match.  Hearts took full advantage of sloppy defending in the second period to wrap up the three points with goals from Ryan Stevenson and Calum Elliot to leave Inverness without a home point.

Davie got the short straw for this one, here is his report

For the first 36 minutes of this match, ICT positively welcomed back Ian Black to TCS and everything was rosey. Yet in that pivotal minute, he was forced off by injury and replaced by Kevin Kyle and our day became as dreich as the weather in Inverness.

The sides lined up at mid-day for ESPN along lines that were predicted all week, the biggest cheer being reserved for one R. Foran, occupier of the bench. Chris Innes fitted into central defence, sporting a new natty skinhead and a sense of purpose in the early exchanges. Hearts first corner in 3 minutes was cleared by him, closely followed by Cox’s first foul on Ian Black in 4. The inevitable first yellow for a foul on Hayes after a typical tilt down his wing was for Palazuelos in 7. He wouldn’t be the last for the book in a nip and tuck first twenty that saw chances for both sides, most notably an Innes header that Kello had to look sharp with. The first of a succession of Hearts penalty claims started from Suso (is that really his name?) around then but the game changed. Stuart Duff breenged into Black, earning yellow in the process and the wee man hobbled off into renewed exile to be replaced by that man Kyle, 36 minutes.

Kyle is an enigma. He is roughly the size of a small bungalow and just about as mobile. And yet, he’s as difficult to hit a ball around as one, attracting cross balls like a magnet and causing mayhem. It's like watching a fault line shift. Before the mayhem could start though, the third sweet passing move through the Hearts defence resulted in a finish for Eric Odihambo. Cue much happiness. In truth, the second move in the series could have been a finish for Rooney so 1-0 for ICT looked a good bet for a half time score, Nick Ross controlling most things with incisive pass and go movements to feed Rooney. In 43 minutes, just as half time looked distinctly welcome Jonny Hayes tackled Templeton in a manner that absolutely proved why he’s a forward. The yellow was bad enough, but the resultant free had a veritable herd of wildebeest charging at Ryan Esson, orchestrated by Kyle. In the end, it was Innes that got a hoof to it. 1-1. My notes said “Kevin f’n Kyle” It was about to get worse.

Half Time 1-1 Half time was enlivened by a wee laddie’s kick about and a cracking announcement that the trains back to auld reekie were alcohol free. You could have heard the groan in Dingwall.

The second half took about a minute to reveal a game more open than Paris Hilton, and it was obvious that defence was not the keyword of the day. Kyle was winning everything in the air by this time and was countered by a couple of good Eric chances and a hairs breadth escape from the second OG of the game for Bouzid. Something had to give, and it did in 55 minutes when Stevenson scored from a knock down header. I’m not telling you who by. Our fragile defence was beginning to look tattered and it was no real surprise that another goal arrived in 69 minutes from Elliot, courtesy of Suso. In between there were chances for Rooney and Ross, along with a glaring miss for a penalty from referee Brines. Roscoe will be glad. Foran appeared for some game time shortly thereafter, and ran manfully but in truth the game was gone by that time. Golly replaced Innes after an injury (hamstring, apparently) and Shane Sutherland came on for Ross. He thought he’d scored but Foran was offside giving him the pass that skelped off him and into the net.

Full Time 1-3

It’s hard to be too disappointed or frustrated about the result. It showed the differences between contenders for a top four place and survival. Inverness suffered again due to the fact that our central defence has never recovered from the loss of Darren Dods, whilst Hearts proved they can import unpronounceable prospects to cover their deficiencies. We need a good commanding centre back and soon. There was enough today to suggest that the goals will come, and they need to next Saturday. This early, a result in Paisley looks crucial and a win at the methadome will go a long way to establishing a status quo with St. Mirren bottom of the heap.

Just don’t talk to me about Kevin f’n Kyle.