BANNON LESS THAN IMPRESSED

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Former Hearts midfielder Eamonn Bannon claims Valdas Ivanauskas' experimental side had only mixed success despite trouncing Inverness Caledonian Thistle in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Tynecastle.

Due to defender Robbie Neilson's suspension, several injuries and a desire to rest some leg-weary players, the Gorgie head coach was forced into re-jigging his team for the visit of the Highlanders.

Ivanauskas gave five players - Mauricio Pinilla, Christos Karipidis, Tiago Costa, Marius Zaliukas and Jamie Mole - their SPL debuts with Andrew Driver making it six when he came on as a second-half substitute for Neil McCann.

Who knows what would have happened if Charlie Christie's side had turned their general outfield superiority into goals but a late collapse by the visitors resulted in them departing Edinburgh empty-handed.

Pinilla headed the Jambos into the lead in the 19th minute but Caley responded on the half-hour mark with striker Graham Bayne scoring from close range.

Mole notched just before the interval to give the home side an undeserved half-time lead then late second-half goals from Driver and substitute Bruno Aguiar tied up the points for the Jambos.

The former Scotland international, now working in the media, said:

"Inverness will be wondering how they lost 4-1. Hearts were disjointed and their defence was all over the place and better teams might have capitalised on that.

"Looking at the game objectively, a draw or a narrow win for Hearts would have been about right

"But if Hearts can win with a makeshift team then that's good for them.

"Only Ivanauskas can judge if he is left with more questions than answers from the guys who came in but the young boys who have come through the ranks, Mole and Driver, did well.

"Mole is only 18 but led the line well. He is full of running and looks as if he has something to offer.

"I was impressed with Pinilla as well, he looked dangerous and he also scored.

"The regular strikers Roman Bednar and Edgaras Jankauskas are big and strong but they don't look like they will score a lot of goals whereas Pinilla looked like a predator.

"Hearts need goalscorers and they are not easy to find but they can make the dfference over the season.

"Karipidis looked the part but the right-back Costa is small and I would say Robbie Neilson is a better player.

"The midfielder Zaliukas struggled with his passing and he might not do.

"But you can have too many players as well as not enough. Sometimes you need to give young players seven or eight games to show you what they can do.

"Bringing players in for one game then chopping and changing again makes it very difficult and you can see that Hearts lack the cohesion of last season."

Inverness defender Darren Dods insists he will not sign a pre-contract with Dundee United in the January transfer window.

The former St Johnstone player was pursued by the Tannadice club all summer but the Highlanders resisted the overtures of United boss Craig Brewster, formerly the player/manager at Caley.

But Dods insists it is not simply a matter of time before he joins the Taysiders.

He said: "Signing a pre-contract with United is not in my mind.

"I will see my contract through to the end then I will see what is available who is interested in me.

"But I will do my best for Inverness until then."

Taken from sportinglife.com