Last-gasp manager’s special

THE ultimate feel-good ending was delivered to Inverness Caledonian Thistle fans as Craig Brewster, their player-manager, produced a winner and their first points of the season five minutes from the end.

It was a spectacular climax to a pulsating second half in which the home side outplayed Hearts and withstood a serious amount of late pressure and a draw seemed the natural outcome.

With Hearts putting in a tremendous effort to find a winner, 40-year-old Brewster, in his first home game since returning to the Highland club, netted a last-gasp goal to secure a deserved victory.

Don Cowie's ball to the back post found Alan Morgan, who played it across to his manager and from eight yards Brewster hooked a spectacular shot high past Tynecastle goalkeeper, Steve Bank into the net. The Highlanders were impressive particularly in the second half, keeping cool under pressure and pushing forward.

Last night, a smiling Brewster pointed to a second-half free kick from Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston that rebounded off the post as a major turning point.

"My goal was an important one," he said, "because it is nice to get up and running with three points and hopefully, it is the first of many wins. I was delighted with our second-half performance against a quality Hearts side and I just hope we can kick on from here."

Andrew Driver, perhaps Hearts' best player in the opening 45 minutes, was replaced in the second half by Michael Stewart, raising eyebrows among their fans. It was a decision, said Stephen Frail, their assistant head coach, that was not taken by him.

Referring to Anatoly Korobochka and Angel Chervekov, in charge of the playing side of the Tynecastle business, he said: "The management team said they wanted to change it at half-time and that's what happened. When it was decided, I'm not sure but it wasn't before the game.

"No disrespect to Inverness, but they are bottom of the league and we have better players. So, whoever we put on should be professional and keep up the same level we showed in the first half and ensure we win the game. Even if we don't score any more goals, we should be able to shut up shop and go home with a 1-0 victory."

Driver's substitution was a welcome relief for the home side who had been troubled by his energy. Brewster was certainly pleased as it allowed Ross Tokely greater room for manoeuvre and create chances from the flank.

"I was pleased Driver didn't come out for the second half," he said, "because he was stopping Tokely getting forward and I think some of the runs Tokely made in the second half caused them all sorts of problems."

There was still plenty of euphoria among the Hearts fans, following their decisive win over Rangers the previous weekend, though Frail was unable to field that victorious side yesterday. Virus victim Christian Nade was replaced by Andrius Velcka, while Kestutis Ivaskevicius was preferred in midfield to Michael Stewart.

For all that, the home side produced open, attractive football in a largely uneventful first half, in which they won most of the second balls in windy conditions. Generally, their passing game was good and the visitors looked somewhat lethargic. They certainly had to have their wits about them just after the half-hour mark as a Grant Munro header from Don Cowie's nicely placed free-kick looked to have beaten Steve Banks, the Hearts goalkeeper, until Christophe Berra blocked the effort yards out.

The breakthrough, in the 34th minute, was the result of a quick counter-attack by Hearts, and a slice of good fortune as much as the determination of Driver who, when his first effort was blocked by Munro, fired in a second shot which was cruelly deflected into his own net by Ian Black.

Suddenly, Hearts had come alive and within a couple of minutes of that goal, they again forced the issue as Audrius Ksanavicius's ferocious shot was stopped by the diving body of Inverness goalkeeper, Michael Fraser.

But Dennis Wyness should have pulled the home side back into the game in the 54th minute when Marius Niculae found him unmarked 10 yards from goal. The striker, however, placed his header wide, although the move did perk up his team-mates. Wyness was to make up for his misdemeanour in the 64th minute in another move fashioned by Tokely. The towering full-back raced forward before finding Barry Wilson at the back post. The midfielder's powerful shot was brilliantly stopped by Banks but, as the ball spun clear, Wyness was on the scene to bundle home the much-coveted equaliser.

By now, Hearts had lost shape and struggled badly to keep tabs on the aggressive, attacking play of the home team, making constant headway down the right flank through Tokely.

However, the Tynecastle side were unlucky when Kingston's free kick from 23 yards, breached the home side's wall only to strike Fraser's left-hand post nine minutes from the end.

Shortly after, Brewster, keen to take the heat off his side, brought a calm head to proceedings, presenting the points they have been craving this season.

Inverness substitutes: Morgan for Wilson 85, Brewster for Niculae 85. Not used: Malkowski, Hastings, MacDonald, Vigurs. Booked: Wilson 45, McGuire 87, Duncan 89.

Hearts substitutes: Elliot for Velicka 46, Stewart for Driver 46, Pospisil for Ksanavicius 69. Not used: Kurskis, Kancelskis, Jonsson, Goncalves. Booked: None Referee: M Tumilty Att: 4918

Taken from the Sunday Herald