Dods preys on Hearts

MOIRA GORDON
AT TYNECASTLE

HEARTS 0
INVERNESS CT 2 Dods, 55; Wilson, 72 pen

IF HEARTS were feeling sick before this game, this result won’t be one the doctor prescribed as a pick-me-up. Hammered by a flu epidemic that prompted the closure of the training academy at the beginning of the week, Hearts had appealed to the SPL for a postponement of the match. However, despite being denied the experience of several key players, including captain Steven Pressley and vice- captain Paul Hartley, the Tynecastle club were forced to fulfil the fixture.

It meant fielding a revamped side, with Hartley, Robbie Neilson and Jamie McAllister being replaced in the starting line-up by Graham Weir, Neil Janczyk and 17-year-old Jason Thomson, who made his debut at right-back and completed a back line in which stand-in skipper Andy Webster was the old man, aged just 22.

In fact, the average age of the starting 11 was under 21, while the only outfield player on the bench to have left his teens behind him was the out-of- favour Ramon Pereira.

The circumstances had forced the bookies to slash the odds on an away win, which had been ridiculously generous anyway, given Inverness’ recent record. Now undefeated in six league games, and high in confidence following last weekend’s trip to Ibrox where they earned a well- deserved share of the points, they welcomed back player/boss Craig Brewster to their ranks, following the failure of last week’s supersub Bryan Prunty to do enough to better his perch on the bench.

Three matches into a five-game spell which sees them pit their wits against the top five teams in the Premierleague, the top division’s newcomers had already defeated Hibs and drawn with Rangers. Yesterday’s victory at Tynecastle means that Inverness have taken an impressive seven points from nine and given themselves more than a fighting chance of finishing the season in the top six, rather than the relegation berth many had forecast for them at the start of the campaign.

They almost took the lead in the 13th minute when Brewster laid off a pass to Stuart Golabek, who was rampaging down the left flank, and his ball across goal was headed goalward by Roy McBain, only for Webster to scoop it off the line and away. But Hearts were not looking too perturbed by the enforced personnel changes and, managing to break forward, David Cesnauskis was felled to allow Joe Hammill to send a free-kick into the box. Lee Miller got his header on target but this time it was Inverness who cleared off the line, Ross Tokeley heading away at the back post.

Hamill then tried a long-range screamer, belting the ball from 30 yards out, but it whizzed just over Mark Brown’s crossbar.

The second half started with Inverness showing the greater intent and eventually they capitalised on the inexperience of the young backline. In the 55th minute, another 17-year-old full-back, Lee Wallace, fouled Juanjo in a dangerous area and from the set-piece, former Hibs player Darren Dods directed his header well beyond Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon to break the deadlock.

"That was my first goal of the season and it’s always nice to score here," the defender said. "I don’t have a good record at Tynecastle. That’s my first goal here and I think I’ve only won once before. I had a good chance last week at Ibrox, so I was happy to see that go in. That’s games against Hibs, Rangers and Hearts, and we would have been happy to get a couple of points from them."

At that stage, the young heads did not drop, as Hearts immediately ventured upfield, and Tokely breathed a sigh of relief when his attempted clearance from a cross into the box was sclaffed on to his own bar. A minute later, Christophe Berra was poised to pull the trigger deep in the box when Tokely dived in to block.

But when the next goal came it was for the Highland side, whose recent performances mean they will not be quaking at the prospect of Celtic calling on Wednesday, despite the Parkhead side’s six-goal demolition of Dunfermline. This time it was Berra who made the boo-boo, and his slack back pass allowed the veteran Barry Wilson to pounce.

He homed in on goal and when the onrushing Gordon took his legs from under him, the ref had no hesitation in pointing to the box. The young keeper was still protesting his innocence as everyone departed the park at full-time, but he could consider himself lucky the officials deemed his foul worthy of only a yellow card.

Wilson took the spot-kick himself, and while Gordon dived the right way it was too low and precise to be halted. That was with 18 minutes remaining and while some teams might have staged a fight-back at that point, Hearts looked devoid of the energy, the enterprise or the mental strength to conjure up the necessary opportunities, and Inverness never seemed like helping them out.

A well-organised and fit team, they also have a real winning desire and can splay the ball about a bit too when they need a release.

Now their focus is the defending league champions. "Since it is a home game, there’s always a chance," said Dods, "but it’s always going to be tough. They’ve beaten us twice already this season, but we’ll give it a go."

The odds may be longer on a win on Wednesday, but the shrewd bookies will ensure they are not too long.

Taken from the Scotsman