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Hugely unexpected but also unexpected win yesterday. The conditions were abysmal for most of the game and I feared the worst when the announcer told people to hold on to their ticket stubs in case the game was called off! Overall I was very disappointed with Hearts who offered very little in the final third of the pitch. The seemed reasonable enough at the back but how that team scored five goals last week is beyond me. In the first half we were able to limit them to a very tame effort from Templeton as well as that thunderous strike from Hammil which smashed off the crossbar. We on the other hand were creating a good number of chances which went begging thanks in part to poor finishing and solid keeping from Kello. Hayes in particular was a menace as he tore the Hearts left side to pieces throughout the opening 20 minutes. Barr probably should have been sent off after rugby tackling Hayes, which resulted in a yellow card, then following it up with a scything tackle on the same player on the touchline which, for some reason, went unpunished. Foran, Hayes, Sutherland and Tade all threatened to open the scoring but Kello was equal to their efforts or they squirmed wide of target. In the second half we found ourselves playing into the wind and I expected to see Hearts threaten more but whilst they enjoyed a wee bit more of the ball than they did in the first half we still created the better openings. Tansey and Hayes were the main creative forces for us and it was from a smart and direct run from Hayes that saw us opening the scoring. He drove right at the Hearts right back before standing a ball up into the box and Sutherland arrived to header down underneath the diving Kello. A fully deserved lead for ICT. The poor weather almost saw Kello caught out twice as cross cum hopeful shots looped over him and one, from Sutherland, struck the bar. The Hammil handball penalty appeal was an interesting one. At first he chests it back to Kello but then, as he falls over, the ball hits his arm. The referee needs to decide if, amongst other things, it was deliberate. It was a very difficult one to call but I was certainly appealing for it at the game. Hearts best effort, up to this point, had come from an Ian Black free kick. As the majority of players headed towards the back post Black fired a shot in towards the near post nearly catching Esson off guard but he did well to hold on in difficult conditions. By this time Suso Santan had come on meaning Hearts had two very pacey wingers on either side but both Meekings and Gillet, the latter in particular, snuffed out the threat of the Hearts wide men. Skacel lashed a shot over the bar and there was the Templeton penalty shout which, from my view, looked like he had slipped before there was any contact from Meekings anyway, but ICT were able to hold on to grab the three points. Looking at ICT specifically Hayes, Tansey and Gillet were absolutely outstanding. Hayes direct running caused Hearts problems all day as they didn't know how to stop him aside from employing Real Madrid style tactics to stop Messi i.e. kick the shit out of him. Tansey covered almost every inch of grass as he helped shield the defence and then was at the other end of the pitch helping to set up chances for his team mates. Gillet, having moved back to LB from CB, dealt well with the pacey and tricky Santana when he came on having previously nullified any Hearts attacks coming down his side. Foran again did well in his new midfield role and it was good to see Sutherland get a game although he took a wee while to come into things. The new lad Williams at the back was composed, solid in the tackle and distributed the ball well and Meekings continues to show excellent potential with another assured display. In fact, considering it was yet another back line for us they were remarkably solid throughout the game. Overall a very impressive ICT performance coupled with a pretty poor Hearts display. Hopefully we can keep this run going against St. Mirren next week.

looked at the penalty claim a few times and from my angle templeton used a neat bit of skill to play the ball back but his feet gave way on the surface causing him to fall, there does not appear to be any contact from meekings.

one of our better displays. thought willaims looked composed, tansey played his best game for club so far. foran was imense and hayes was unplayable. who picks the mom at the stadium. shane sutherland tripped over the ball, overran it most of the day. even his headed goal trickled over the line. with the goal gaping he headed straight at kello. every time he looses ball he jumps into the air. whats that all about. frustration he has messed up again ?? big surprise he started, but then we were missing several players. mom - could not choose between hayes or foran

Looked a cert pen But let's forget that and applaud Greg Tansey, best player on the park for me today

That was a potential ankle breaker on meekings from templeton he's a disgrace ban him from football etc

He's only on loan so will be parting with us soon.

Truth to tell some of the past results have surely been hairy. And here was me thinking that that last clip was that of Procol Harum. At least Bughtmaster will understand that one, him being quite old, like.

Thought we were fantastic today in terrible condidtions, delighted with the win and the clean sheet. I would just like to say a massive thank you to Chairman Kenny Cameron, Vice Chairman Graham Bennett and the under 19 squad who along with the ground staff got the game on. Covers were purchased to protect the park but let me assure you it took a super human effort to take the water off the covers and remove them in time for the game to go ahead. Well done guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just thawing out now. What a magnificent team performance, can't fault anyone although a little baffled by the sponsors MOM. Have not been an admirer fo Greg Tansey to date, but what a shift he put in. His passing was superb and also his tackling today was immense, never put a foot wrong. As for Richie Foran, what an inspiration as a club captain, the man was outstanding. Never mind looking at the teams below us after this performance, we should purely be concentrating on overtaking those above and aiming for our best ever league finishing position!!

Looked a certain slip to me, but would need to get a closer look. There were three men of the match today and they all had there best ever game for ICT. Take a bow Richie Foran, Jonny Hayes and Greg Tansey. We were all over Hearts like a rash in the first half. Their only moment of note came when Hammil??? smacked the bar with a snapshot early on from thirty swirling wind assisted yards. That apart, they were less than useless and we should really have put three past them. In the second half the goal was coming from the restart and Shane powered a header through Kelo, but it was not in doubt as it rolled in. Unfortunately that woke Hearts from their slumber and as the wind pushed us back Hearts looked more threatening as the game wore on, however we looked more likely to increase our lead on the break. Shanes cross cum shot was centimetres away from going the right way when it smacked the post. Make no bones about it, this was a great win, a victory for determination and massive desire to win. Richie Foran was everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Jonny Hayes was ripping past the Hearts players at will, just goes to show what being grabbed by the throat can do for you. Greg Tansey was simply fantastic. To be honest nobody did anything wrong and Williams and Proctor were particularly classy and solid. Meekings I would prefer to start at right back every week; at least he can take a throw in. Can't think of any negatives really, great performance in extremely difficult conditions as Esson could barely get thirty yards with any kick out, but he was dependable when required. Ian Black showed what a ned he was with petty fouling and it is a wonder Hearts ended with 11 men. Well done everyone, enjoyable game and great three points, more comfortable for the team than the fans probably. :banana:

To be fair on Hamill the ball hit his chest first and caught his arm as he went down. Similar to a Gillet handball claim against Motherwell last week Maybe our luck with penalties is starting to change when you consider those that have gone against us already this season???