Aguiar's goal edges another close game for Hearts

BARRY ANDERSON
AT CALEDONIAN STADIUM

A THIRD successive victory and third successive 1-0 scoreline propelled Hearts to third in the SPL on Saturday as Bruno Aguiar's first-half strike prised three monumental points from a difficult trip to the Highlands.

The Portuguese slotted the ball beyond Ryan Esson midway through the opening period, and thereafter a solid defensive performance from the visitors ensured Inverness have still recorded just one home win to this season.

The result allowed Hearts to usurp Dundee United, who began the day third but fell to defeat at Kilmarnock. It was another resolute performance at times but, as manager Csaba Laszlo would have noticed, there was a definite withinn his players desire to practise fluent football in difficult conditions.

Michael Stewart returned for Hearts after serving a one-match suspension in midweek, however he will drop out of the side for forthcoming fixtures against Falkirk and Rangers due to a further two-match ban. Robbie Neilson also made his first start following a six-month injury absence on an afternoon when blustery winds were less than conducive to flowing football.

Inverness suffered an early setback when midfielder Ian Black sustained a head injury and had to be replaced by Roy McBain. Their visitors stuck rigidly with a gameplan based around passing and off-the-ball movement, and this contributed heavily to the opening goal. Andy Driver, from the left touchline, fed the ball inside to Aguiar, who swiftly moved it from right foot to left and dispatched a low drive into the corner of the net from 25 yards. It was an exquisite finish from a player in peerless form since recovering from injury.

Hearts remained dominant through to the interval but survived a frightening moment in first-half stoppage time. Andy Barrowman, the Inverness striker, chased a lofted pass in behind the visiting defence and succeeded in forcing the ball past Janos Balogh. An untidy scrap ensued inside the penalty area and the ball broke to Adam Rooney, but as he slid in to finish with the goal beckoning he was somehow thwarted by the grounded Neilson. The hosts then claimed vehemently for a penalty when Rooney fell under Lee Wallace's challenge just inside the 18-yard line, however referee Mike Tumilty refused the requests.

Shortly after the restart Christian Nade stung the palms of Esson with a vicious drive from distance. From the resultant corner, Driver forced the goalkeeper to touch his effort onto the crossbar and behind. Inverness replied with a strike from Dougie Imrie which Balogh held.

As the second period progressed Craig Brewster saw his side emerge from their shell to press Hearts onto the back foot. This co-incided with the introduction of midfielder Iain Vigurs, a useful midfielder whose intelligent passing frequently brought colleagues into play. At the opposite end, Nade was in the midst of another industrious display which endeared him to the buoyant band of travelling fans.

In the closing stages Hearts might have been expected to retreat and protect their slender advantage but, instead, they showed that the best form of defence is attack. Late drives from Vigurs and Imrie excepted, they continued setting the pace to secure another impressive three points.

Inverness (4-4-2): Esson; Tokely, Proctor, Munro, Hastings; Wilson, Duncan, Black, Imrie; Rooney, Barrowman. Subs: Fraser, McBain 16 (for Black), McAllister, Sutherland, Wood 64 (for Barrowman), Duff, Vigurs 59 (for Wilson).

Hearts (4-4-1-1): Balogh; Neilson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Jonsson, Karipidis, Stewart, Driver; Aguiar; Nade. Subs: Kello, Palazuelos, Makela 90 (for Nade), Obua 86 (for Driver), Mole, Thomson, Brown.

Referee: Mike Tumilty.

Attendance: 4088.

Taken from the Scotsman