Butchered

Inverness all but secured their top-six place with a draw against Hibernian in a low key match ahead of Sundays League Cup final. In truth this was a poor game not helped by the recovering pitch which made ball control almost impossible. The ball was butchered from one end of the park to the other and would have been as pleased to hear the final whistle as the crowd.

John Hughes made mass changes for this game with three players suspended and Ross, Williams, Polworth, Tremarco and Devine starting. Gary Warren played as needs must with so many out and Devine played at centre back with Meekings at right back. Rested were Shinnie and Raven.

Dean Brill looked nervy against United but he made the only save of the first half, and a good one at that tipping over a close range Ryan McGivern effort.

Neither side mastered the tricky conditions and the ball bypassed the midfield for long spells. Hibs did look livelier when going forward but the final ball usually floundered on the first defender.

Half Time 0-0

The second half matched the first for boredom and Aaron Doran tested Williams from the angle but the keeper blocked his shot well. Billy McKay latched onto a long ball into the area and took a touch before firing wide but that was about it as far as attempts went.

A football match threatened to break out after Ryan Christie entered the field of play but despite his tenacity, he too floundered on the last defender. Aaron Doran was subbed after stretching for a through ball, let's hope it was just a precaution, but Aaron was feeling his hamstring as he left the field.

I would like to tell you more, but there was nothing to tell.

Full Time 0-0

tm4tj MotM:- with so many regulars missing it was difficult for Inverness to get any continuity going and we struggled to create much for most of the game. The bonus tonight was a confidence boost for Brill, the introduction of Christie and nobody badly injured or sent off. my MotM goes to Nick Ross, one of the few players who could hold the ball and find a team mate with his pass. The rest of the team were poor to be honest, but Christie did his chances of regular footie no harm at all with a nice wee cameo. Danny Williams tried hard and Devine did OK. Let's hope they were all wary of inflicting damage on themselves before Sunday. Aaron Doran looked to be the player most likely to unlock the Hibs defence before he came off.

Yogi was left with little choice for his team selection and he probably got it right, but one or two seem destined for the bench on this display.

Not sure where BBC found 5 minutes of highlights from, but there you go..........

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Date: 12.03.2014   Venue: Caledonian Stadium    Attendance: 2537
Referee: Stephen Finnie

 
Inverness CT: 0
Lineup: Brill, Meekings, Devine, Warren, Tremarco, Foran, Ross (Christie 78), Polworth, Williams, Doran (Evans 78), McKay

Booked: Tremarco (28), Foran (60)
Sent Off: none

Hibernian: 0
Lineup: Williams, Forster, Nelson, Hanlon, McGivern, Cairney, Taiwo (Heffernan 90), Stanton, Watmore (Stevenson 70), Haynes (Craig 76), Collins

Subs (not used): Murdoch, Maybury, Handling, Cummings

Booked: McGivern (63), Forster (90)
Sent Off: none