Inverness triumph over Hearts with late goals

Inverness CT 2 Wyness (64), Brewster (90)
Hearts 1 Black (34 og)

INVERNESS interrupted Hearts' recent renaissance with a come-from-behind triumph on Saturday thanks to goals from former Tynecastle forward Dennis Wyness and player-manager Craig Brewster.

The visitors had taken the lead through Ian Black's first-half own goal, however they hosts delivered a stirring second-half performance to overhaul the deficit and secure their first three points of the season.

Brewster's winner came in stoppage time to add insult to injury for the Edinburgh side, the veteran forward executing Alan Morgan's cross in the air to supplement Wyness' equaliser.

For Hearts, it may be time to return to the drawing board after last weekend's victory over Rangers. Anatoli Korobochka's side didn't play badly at a windswept Caledonian Stadium, however the application that was so emphatically in evidence at Tynecastle last week was seldom reproduced.

Michael Stewart was deemed insufficiently fit to start and, with Christian Nade ill, the Lithuanian pair of Andrius Velicka and Kestutis Ivaskevicius returned to Hearts' starting 11.

Inverness, seeking to end a frustrating sequence of seven straight defeats, gained an early foothold on proceedings and pressed their guests back. Save for a Larry Kingston drive at goalkeeper Michael Fraser, the visitors' began cautiously and seemed to miss Stewart's composure in midfield.

The blustery conditions weren't helping either side but Don Cowie's free-kick from the right flank found Ross Tokely unmarked on 15 minutes, however the defender's glanced header bounced harmlessly out for a goal kick. Marius Niculae, the Romanian internationalist, then tried an effort from distance which ended up amongst the 2000-strong visiting support.

Hearts' employment of Velicka as a lone forward meant they had plenty midfield reinforcements in order to fashion a passage through the home defence. The Lithuanian was often seen motioning colleagues forward - Kestutis Ivaskevicius in particular - in the hope of more support.

Inverness were showing more attacking nous at that stage and from another Cowie set-piece Munro's header flew goalwards until Christophe Berra's intervention. Wyness then attempted an acrobatic effort which Banks held.

The near loss of a goal roused Hearts from their slumber. They forced a corner from which Ksanavicius and Ivaskevicius both had shots charged down by Barry Wilson, but the opener arrived moments later.

An incisive charge down the left flank by Lee Wallace saw the home defence part unceremoniously and allow the full-back a sight of goal. Grant Munro's blocking tackle was as impressive as it was timely, but the rebounded ball was returned by Andy Driver and Ian Black only managed to divert it past his own goalkeeper.

Following Phil McGuire's misjudgment of Driver's header, Hearts almost extended their lead as Ksanavicius seized possession and drove the ball at Fraser for an instinctive save low to the right.

Down on their luck, Inverness replied with another deep cross by Cowie which Niculae headed back across goal. Wyness waited to convert just five yards from goal but Berra averted the danger, allowing his side to retmain in the ascendancy at the interval.

Hearts took the opportunity to re-organise during the break and, after introducing Stewart and Callum Elliot, they enjoyed an encouraging restart. Nonethless, in the 54th minute, Inverness surged forward with the game's most flowing venture. Wilson fed Wyness, who moved the ball instantly to Niculae on the left. His run and cross was met by the onrushing Wyness for a diving header which crept a foot wide of the away goal.

The suspicion was that Hearts were always going to require a second goal to ensure victory on this Highland sojourn. Brewster's side were relentless in their quest for an equaliser and Tokely's run provided Wyness with prime opportunity, but the striker's 18-yard shot ricocheted off Ibrahim Tall as the home support held their breath.

Then came the inevitable on 64 minutes. Tokely's measured cross was struck powerfully on the volley by Wilson but Banks made an impressive parry to deny the midfielder. To the goalkeeper's dejection, the ball fell from the air at the feet of Wyness on the goal line for the simplest of tap-ins.

Hearts survived a penalty claim in the 69th minute as Inverness were penalised for handball at a corner when the Senegalese defender looked suspiciously like the guilty party. Moments later Kingston diverted Niculae's header off the goal line as Korobochka's side toiled to emerge from their defensive third during a sustained spell of pressure.

Inverness were enjoying total dominance of Hearts' left flank, where Kestutis Ivaskevicius had been switched during the interval. That said, on the opposite side Kingston was excelling as a wide midfielder. He bent a 25-yard free-kick past the Inverness wall in the 82nd minute, fooling goalkeeper Fraser in the process, and could only look on in anguish as the ball bounced back off the post.

Just when both sides looked to be content with a point apiece, Brewster dispatched a spectacular acrobatic effort beyond Banks from substitue Morgan's cross, giving Inverness their first victory of the season.

Hearts could consider themselves unfortunate not to leave with a draw, but the hosts reaped rich rewards for their fighting qualities and refusal to give in.

Inverness CT: (4-4-2): Fraser; Tokely, McGuire, Munro, McBain; Cowie, Duncan, Black, Wilson; Wyness, Niculae. Subs: Malkowski, Morgan 86 (for Wilson), Hastings, McDonald, MacDonald, Vigurs, Brewster 86 (for Niculae).

Hearts (4-4-1-1): Banks; Neilson, Tall, Berra, Wallace; Ivaskevicius, Kingston, Zaliukas, Driver; Ksanavicius, Velicka. Subs: Kurskis, Pospisil 69 (for Ksanavicius), Elliot 46 (for Velicka), Kancelskis, Goncalves, Jonsson, Stewart 46 (for Driver).

Taken from the Scotsman