Inverness 0 Hearts 0

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hearts stand-in head coach Eduard Malofeev handed the reins back to Valdas Ivanauskas after a goalless draw in the Bank of Scotland Premier League at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Tynecastle goalkeeper Craig Gordon made a great save from an Ian Black header minutes before the interval just before Dennis Wyness blasted over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

But, on the evidence of this display, Ivanauskas, who was given a leave of absence for health reasons, will have his work cut out to rejuvenate the Edinburgh club.

Ivanauskas returned from Lithuania on Friday, but Malofeev was in the dug-out at the Caledonian Stadium and recalled captain Steven Pressley to the line-up.

Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov, who also flew back to Scotland to quell growing unrest among the supporters, was in the stand.

But Hearts started brightly and, with only 57 seconds gone, Paul Hartley flashed an angled drive over the bar from 16 yards out after Saulius Mikoliunas had sent him through on the right.

There appeared to be a purpose and drive about the Edinburgh side, which encouraged the hardy band of fans who made the journey north.

But Caley defended well as they slowly came to grips with the match and by the time the first 45 minutes had been completed the home side should have been ahead.

In the 26th minute, Gordon was called upon to prevent Barry Wilson's drive from the edge of the penalty area giving Caley the lead, with the Scotland keeper diving to his right to palm the ball behind for a corner.

The Tynecastle side survived a brief spell of pressure before Mikoliunas drew a decent save from Mark Brown at the other end with a left-footed drive from 18 yards out.

In the 36th minute, Gordon threw himself to Wyness' feet to prevent the former Jambos striker finishing off a Ross Tokely header which caused panic in the visitors' defence.

However, four minutes from the interval, Gordon excelled himself when he reached up brilliantly to tip a Black header onto the bar before catching the rebound.

Moments later, as Caley pressed, Wyness blasted over from close range when it appeared easier to score.

After the break, as the temperature dropped dramatically and rain cascaded down relentlessly, the war of attrition resumed.

There was no real sign of a breakthrough although Hearts defender Christophe Berra almost gifted the Highlanders a chance when he dallied in possession at the back before fending off Wyness and Craig Dargo.

The second half quickly warmed up though and, in the 55th minute, Hearts defender Takis Fyssas moved into the Caley area but his effort from 14 yards was comfortably saved by Brown.

At the other end, in a goalmouth scramble, Neilson threw himself to block a goalbound shot by Wyness with his legs.

Then Pressley popped up in the Inverness box to volley high over the bar.

Caley substitute Richie Hart replaced Black in the 72nd minute, but it was Dargo who tested Gordon with a glancing header minutes later, the Scotland keeper gathering with ease.

Dargo then finished off an exciting run by firing wide before Hart was also off-target with an effort from distance.

With four minutes remaining, Brown flew to his left to save a wonderful Hartley volley from 25 yards - a rare piece of excitement.

Teams

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson,Black (Hart 73), Duncan, McBain, Dargo (McAllister 88),Wyness (Bayne 79).

Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Rankin, Sutherland.

Booked: Dargo, Black.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Berra, Fyssas (Wallace 68),Mikoliunas (McCann 87), Aguiar (Mole 83), Hartley, Brellier,Barasa, Velicka.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Tall, Jankauskas, Zaliukas.

Booked: Velicka, Barasa.

Att: 5,603

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).

Taken from the Scotsman