JAGS MAKE IT HARD FOR A HACK TO SWALLOW

Granted, they still have an enormous amount of work to do and games are running out for them.

But if they can beat Hibs and Hearts and get a draw at Ibrox, who is to say that closing the six-point gap on sixth-placed Motherwell is beyond the Highlanders?

If there is one thing Inverness can never be accused of it is underachieving. Heavily-backed for a quick return to the First Division following the opening-day defeat at Livingston, Caley Jags have responded magnificently. Those who based their opinion on just one game had better prepare to swallow some humble pie - or, in one case, a hat. A writer from a Glasgow paper insisted he would eat his if Caley Thistle stayed up.

Nothing in football is certain, but it would take a collapse of massive proportions for Craig Brewster's side - coupled with an equally improbable Lazarus-style comeback from bottom club Dundee United - for the opening-day prediction to be realised.

Inverness have made their unlikely top-six challenge possible with some excellent recent results. The win over Hibs and the last-minute equaliser at Ibrox had raised expectations before Saturday's game at Tynecastle - and the news that John Robertson's Hearts side was decimated by a flu bug did little to dampen spirits.

Robertson's pre-match insistence that he would not risk the lives of his players by fielding them in this game was a tad melodramatic - especially when eight of his starting 11 from the previous week's game at Dunfermline were named in the starting line-up.

The only area in which Hearts looked weak was midfield, with Neil Janczyk, Graham Weir, David Cesnauskis and Dennis Wyness asked to plug the gaps.

The emergency midfielders did a fine job too in a forgettable opening 45 minutes as the visitors struggled to get going in attack.

Both sides were giving their all, but the performance was more workmanlike than silky football.

Thankfully, the second half was a much more entertaining affair, with Brewster's men finally sparking into life in an attacking sense. When John Robertson was the Inverness manager, Caley Jags developed a reputation as being a side which specialised in set-pieces. It is ironic, therefore, that they opened the scoring from one.

Richie Hart's inswinging free kick was tempting, but the Hearts defence made no attempt at all to clear and Darren Dods rose unchallenged to send a superb header looping high over the helpless Craig Gordon in the home goal.

The inevitable response from the Jambos followed but, as they have done so often this season, the Caley Thistle back four flung themselves in front of shots - to the extent that Mark Brown was untested in goal.

With the Hearts supporters growing increasingly frustrated, Inverness grabbed a second goal when Christophe Berra's woeful back-pass was intercepted by Barry Wilson - who was then illegally tackled by Gordon in the box. Wilson made no mistake with the penalty kick, driving home low to Gordon's right.

Hearts continued to offer little and Inverness supporters are now dreaming of what would have been unthinkable back in August.

Such is the belief among those associated with the Caledonian Stadium club that "bring on the Celtic" was the cry from the Inverness fans, who are now looking forward to the Hoops' visit on Wednesday night.

The daunting task of facing the champions, firing on all cylinders no less, would have most teams worrying. But, as we all know, when it comes to shocks and Celtic, the words Caley and Thistle are not far behind.

Taken from the Press and Journal