Steelmen Steal the Points

Inverness were pegged back twice as Motherwell came from behind to amazingly steal the points in an entertaining game at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

Davis opened the scoring only for Hutchinson to level before the break.  Andrew Shinnie deservedly put Inverness back in front but they were caught napping when Lasley equalised before Hateley's deflected free kick sealed our fate in controversial circumstances.

The result belies the performance, but at the end of the day it goes down as another defeat, despite very encouraging signs from the home side.

Granty24 must have gone home early as his report is ready for you to read, so read on............

Another late goal, another big refereeing call, another heartbreak and another defeat would be an accurate summary for ICT of today's proceedings with a late free-kick from Tom Hately securing an undeserved three points for the travelling Steelmen after Chris Hogg had controversially been sent off for a foul on Jamie Murphy that led to the goal that would keep Inverness rooted to the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

There were 4 changes to the ICT side that drew 1-1 with Dunfermline the week previous, with Josh Meekings, Shane Sutherland, Chris Hogg and Kenny Gillet coming in to replace Thomas Piermayr, Nick Ross, David Proctor and Graeme Shinnie respectively. 'Well midfielder Steve Jennings didn't play a part in today's match, after waking up this morning with a back problem.

Inverness started very brightly indeed, and managed to beat Irish 'keeper Darren Randolph on four minutes, Tim Clancy was beaten all ends up by Gregory Tade, before chopping down the Frenchman on the edge of the Motherwell penalty area. The resulting free-kick was drilled in by Greg Tansey, but it was cleared only as far as David Davis, who executed a nice 1-2 with Andrew Shinnie before bending the ball with his right foot past Randolph and into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

29/10/11	Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
I.C.T.	2 - Davis (4), A Shinnie (76)
	TEAM: Esson, Tokely, Hogg, Gillet, Meekings (Golobart 56), Tansey, A.Shinnie (Piermayr 85), Davis, Foran, Tade (Hayes 71), Sutherland
	SUBS: Tuffey, G.Shinnie, Cox, Chippendale
	Booked: Meekings (25), Hayes (84)
	Sent Off: Hogg (83)
Motherwell	3 - Hutchinson (39), Lasley (77), Hateley (87)
	TEAM: Randolph, Hammell (Forbes 28 (Carswell 80)), Craigan, Hutchinson, Clancy, Law, Hateley, Humphrey (Daley 64), Lasley, Higdon, Murphy
	SUBS: Bradley, Page, Halsman, Smith
	Booked: Murphy (22), Forbes (58)
	Sent Off: none
Referee	Crawford Allan
Attendance	3188

Greg Tansey hasn't managed to find the net since the 3-3 draw with Dunfermline in the third game of the season, he had the chance on 19 minutes, a tremendous angled ball from Meekings towards Sutherland who nodded back across goal into the feet of Tade, but he couldn't force the ball into the net and the ball fell back to Tansey, but his strike was well held.

Heavily linked with a move away from Fir Park in the summer, with a host of high profile clubs in England sniffing about, was Jamie Murphy who was booked midway through the half for simulation after going down in the box, but referee Crawford Allan reached for his top pocket to book the Scotland U-21 star.

Allan then had a decision to make three minutes later, a lunge from Meekings on Steven Hammell meant that the latter had to be taken off on a stretcher, with Meekings just receiving a yellow for his challenge.

Meekings was certainly at the heart of everything ICT did in the opening 45, again playing a superb diagonal ball which Richie Foran headed back into Tade who layed off Tansey but his bullet was expertly tipped wide by Randolph.

But the home side couldn't make the pressure count and the Steelmen grabbed the leveller six minutes before the break, a Tom Hately corner was cleared by Ross Tokely, but it only came as far as Hately, who had far too much time to pick his cross and find Shaun Hutchinson who's header was just too much for Ryan Esson to keep out and it crept into the top corner.

Murphy nearly gave 'Well an unlikely half time lead, his cross taking a slight nick off Meekings before dropping onto the bar, but the whistle went and the teams went in level at the break.

Half Time 1-1

Shane Sutherland was making his first start of the SPL season this afternoon and he had a huge chance on 53 minutes to double the home side's lead, Tade was given the ball at the edge of the 18 yard box, holding it up well before sliding in Sutherland, but his strike was well over the bar.

Tade had a chance of his own minutes later, an exquisite 1-2 between Tade and Shinnie and the previous found himself 1-on-1 from six yards out, but his effort rattled the bar when he should have scored.

Andy Shinnie was having an excellent game in the midfield and managed to put his side in front on 76 minutes, Foran played the ball into the feet of the returning Jonny Hayes who swivelled past his challenger, before leaving it to Shinnie who drove onwards before rolling the ball into the net, away from the helpless Randolph.

But seconds later, 'Well were level. Lasley scored a screamer in the opening day of the season when they beat Inverness 3-0, and he did it again today, picking up the ball and picking out the top corner from 25 yards with not a challenge from a blue and red shirt in sight.

3 minutes were remaining when the home side were hit with the sucker punch, Jamie Murphy looked to have broken free of the home defence before being upended by Hogg, but the referee then brandished Hogg with a red card, despite it looking as if there were other Inverness players back to prevent it being a last-man challenge. Crawford Allan waved away the home protests, booking Jonny Hayes and giving a warning to Terry Butcher for comments to the fourth official. The double whammy was completed when Hately drilled home the free kick via a deflection off of the unfortunate Hayes.

The misery was compiled three minutes into stoppage time when Davis looked to have levelled from 25 yards, his crashing drive falling just wide of the target with Randolph beaten.

The full time whistle brought the likes of Shane Sutherland to their knees, a valiant performance from the Caley Jags, but again with nothing to show for their efforts. Chris Hogg will now miss the trip to Kilmarnock next week, as will Thomas Piermayr who has a suspension also.

 Full Time 2-3

To summarise

Inverness can take great heart from an impressive performance, but the story remains the same, no points and still bottom of the SPL.  Positives are the return of Hayes and Hogg, and with Lee Cox in waiting then the treatment table is getting shorter.  Good performances by all in blue with Andrew Shinnie getting the sponsors MotM, no complaints from me about that and he capped a fine display with an excellent goal.  Unfortunately we switched off too early and allowed Well to snatch the three points, which was three points too many if you ask me, but things are looking brighter.

Killie away next week, it disnae get any easier.

BBC Sport has highlights

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/scotland/15513344