McKay Blows Hearts Away

Billy McKay scored two second half goals at a windswept Tynecastle to secure John Hughes first three points as Inverness manager in his second game in charge. Our fifth clean sheet in a row ensured that Hearts would not take all three points and McKay made sure they took none with two clinical finishes. AJS has this report for us.................

Wild Bill breaks young hearts

We braved the winds and battled the rain...and that was just to get up the stairs but it was all very much worth it as ICT took a much needed 3 points and a 5th straight clean sheet against basement boys Hearts. At times the weather disrupted the play, other times the ref was a tad picky but at other times ICT produced the fluent, flowing attacking football that has been served up over the course of what has been so far a fine season. It was also nice to see John Hughes take to the dugout for the first time yesterday. A great start for him and hopefully the beginning of a prosperous time as ICT manager.

The game itself took a long time to get going. As said high winds and gusting rains played a large part in disrupting anything that both sides offered. Set pieces were overdone as well as passes and touches were a tad heavier on a slippery pitch. With the crowd on their side Hearts probably saw more of the ball in a cagey first half but Gary Locke's youthful eleven were struggling to carve out any real openings and against the run of play ICT carved out the first real opportunity.

Marley Watkins found himself heading towards the box and did well to cut inside Kevin McHattie and tee up Nick Ross whos first touch was unfortunately too heavy and the chance was gone. Watkins was on the ball again and tried to cut inside Danny Wilson, Watkins fell to the floor rather theatrically and referee Brian Colvin judged there to be no foul. Watkins either fell or dived. It was worth noting that he didn't argue. 

Billy McKay then missed a good chance to put the away side in the lead. Doran laid the ball back for Carl Tremarco who hit a lovely first time cross into the penalty area. McKay had a free header but struggled to get a good connection and saw his effort go well wide of the mark.

Hearts were playing some neat football but were finding chances hard to come by. Gary Oliver was one who saw plenty of the ball and he was unlucky to see his crisp drive fizz just over the bar. The home side were then awarded a free kick in a dangerous area when Callum Paterson was judged to be fouled by Tremarco. Kevin McHattie stepped up but was wasteful as his drive hit the wall.

With the half drawing to a close ICT were beginning to take more of the ascendancy. Graeme Shinnie was unlucky to see his crisp drive blocked by McGowan. Aaron Doran then tried a speculative effort from around 30 yards, with the ball dipping into the corner Jamie MacDonald was forced to make a fingertip save and from the corner Shinnie came close again with a strike from the edge of the area but it was deflected away and with that the first half drew to a close.

HT  0-0

The 2nd half saw ICT come out with a bit more urgency to their play. Foran and Draper were breaking up anything through the middle while Watkins and Doran were seeing plenty out wide with Tremarco and Shinnie overlapping. Hearts nearly caught Brill by surprise. Callum Tapping found himself at the edge of the area and with the goal in sight but his shot fell way wide of the mark. 

Ross Draper was next to have a go at the Hearts goal. Billy McKay's cut back eventually fell to the big man as he was charging towards the box but his effort flew high over the bar. A well worked set piece saw Josh Meekings then come close to his first league goal. Doran hit his corner across the surface, Foran dummied it and Meekings struck a curling effort from the edge of the area, unfortunately it curled wide. Given the sight of goal he had it should probably have been on target.

Jamie Walker was taken off injured and replaced by David Smith. He offered a decent option down the right and his cross was spilled by Dean Brill, hearts were in mouths but fortunately he was quick to salvage it.

Just before the hour mark ICT finally made the breakthrough. Marley Watkins stole the ball from Scott Robinson in midfield and he laid it out to Aaron Doran. Doran did just enough to feed it back to Watkins who laid out wide to McKay. The wee man did brilliantly to cut inside and beat his man before curling an absolute pearler beyond MacDonald and into the bottom corner of the net. 

The advantage was almost doubled with an even better shot from Billy. Watkins manged to push to the byline before delivering a wonderful ball into the area. Billy connected with it on the first time volley but he was terribly unlucky to see his effort cannon off the post and out of danger. Nick Ross then teed up the wee man who smacked an effort across goal. It went wide by a fair distance but with the angle being tight it wasnt a bad effort by any means. 

Hearts were struggling to make things happen, and with no real Plan B to call upon ICT were beginning to sense another goal was not far off. Marley Watkins was unlucky not to score and for his overall performance he probably deserved one. Doran flighted in a free kick and Watkins managed to stretch a leg to connect with it at the back post. Unfortunately for him it fell just wide of the mark. He was even more unlucky not to be awarded a spot kick after being wrestled to the ground by McHattie.

With the game entering the final stages it was put to bed by another cracking strike from ICT's classy number seven, the finish itself was good but it was a goal built from the back which was even more impressive. Smith's cross was intercepted by Meekings. The ball fell to Draper who fed the ball to Watkins. More and more gaps were opening as Hearts went in search of a way back into the game. Watkins raced into the Hearts half before threading it through to McKay. On his left foot and with a defender closing in the wee man struck it first time. It was a venomous shot from Billy and it crashed past MacDonald and into the rood of the net to send the big travelling support into raptures and help send the 3 points up the A9. 

Toby Agdestein and Danny Williams were brought on for Marley Watkins and Aaron Doran in the remaining minutes of the match but with the remaining minutes played out, the referee brought the match to a close.

FT 0-2

To summarize :- First half was a bit of a write off but the second half saw us play more like the side we've been throughout the season. Plenty openings carved out, 2 great goals and 3 valuable points taken back up the road as we go into the festive period. Hearts may be basement boys but there are no easy games in this league and I'm glad we treated Hearts with the respect they deserved and took the 3 points simply by having that cutting edge. Billy's goals were arguably 2 of his best so far. Great skill and composure for both. I think there will be major interest come January but with him being under contract and in the form of his life its vital we hang onto him. 

MotM - Watkins and Ross were dangerous every time they were on the ball while Foran and Draper were hard as nails in the midfield but for the sheer class shown in both goals it has to go to Billy McKay.

Date: 14.12.2013 Venue: Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 11950
Referee: Brian Colvin

Hearts: 0
Lineup:  MacDonald, Hamill, McGowan, Wilson, McHattie, Robinson, Tapping, Nicholson (B.King 66), Walker (Smith 46), Paterson, Oliver (Carrick 70)
Subs (not used): Hamilton, Mckay, A.King, Mcghee

Scorers: none
Booked: Tapping (33)
Sent Off: none

Inverness CT: 2
Lineup: Brill, Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, McKay, Draper, Foran, Doran (Agdestein 86), Ross, Watkins (Williams 90), Tremarco
Subs (not used): Esson, Raven, Devine, Greenhalgh, Polworth
Scorers: McKay (59, 83)
Booked: Tremarco (42), Foran (44), Draper (53), Watkins (89)
Sent Off: none