IT'S ANDREW DIVER - CALEY SLAM WINGER

By Roddy Mackenzie, 24/01/2009

Scorers: HEARTS: Obua (2), Kingston INVERNESS: Mihadjuks, Imrie

RUSSELL DUNCAN branded Andrew Driver a diver as managerless Caley Thistle fell to their eighth successive defeat.

Referee Steve Conroy awarded Hearts a disputed second-half penalty — which Ryan Esson saved from Michael Stewart — after Driver tumbled under a challenge from Roy McBain.

McBain was booked for his initial protests and then shortly afterwards received a straight red card, apparently for remarks made to linesman Willie Conquer.

Caley were floored by a last-minute Laryea Kingston goal, but it was the penalty flashpoint that left midfielder Duncan raging.

He said: “I’ve seen it on TV and Roy doesn’t even touch him.

“The referee and assistant couldn’t wait to give it which is disappointing.

“I don’t like to say someone has dived but the referee wasn’t in a position to see it. He’s gone by the linesman — he’s 20 yards away and I think he made the wrong decision.

“We were also disappointed with the first goal. The referee saw it otherwise but if he’s out-jumped the goalkeeper, then he’s jumped eight feet!

“It’s all very disappointing but it’s up to us to deal with it and if we keep playing like that then we’re going to get off the bottom.”

In a breathtaking finish, Caley Thistle thought they had salvaged something from a stunning Dougie Imrie free-kick.

But moments later, Driver set up substitute Kingston and he fired the winning goal to keep up Hearts’ great run.

David Obua scored his first goals for the club but Caley Thistle were unlucky not to take something from the game.

Director of football Graeme Bennett could throw no light on McBain’s dismissal. He said: “I never saw it as I was in the stand.

“I can only presume he must have said something to the referee. It came at a bad time for us but I thought the players did well and showed a great spirit.

“They dug in in the second half and scored a great goal to make it 2-2 and there are a lot of positives.”

Home boss Csaba Laszlo gambled by taking off Bruno Aguiar in the second half — and the midfielder ran up the tunnel without a glance at the bench.

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But Laszlo defended his decision, saying: “If you saw his game, it was not what I wished. I also wanted to bring on a striker.

“Bruno is always an important player for my team but you don’t always have your best day.

“Gary Glen has done well for us and we want to get confidence to our strikers. I am happy if a player is unhappy to be taken off.”

There was a poignant moment before kick-off when a Hearts shirt with ‘CONN 8’ was laid on the turf ahead of a minute’s silence for the recently deceased Alfie Conn, one of the club’s greatest servants.

Hearts had the first attempt at goal when an Aguiar free-kick was not cleared properly but Michael Stewart’s 20-yard shot flew high and wide. Caley Thistle were forced into a change after only 18 minutes when Thierry Gathuessi went off injured to be replaced by David Proctor.

Inverness wasted a great chance to go ahead after 27 minutes. Don Cowie’s free-kick found Imrie unmarked at the back post and he had time to pick his spot — but headed the ball into the side-netting.

Hearts snatched the lead six minutes from half-time when Esson flapped as he went to meet Driver’s cross and Obua oujumped him to score with a tame header.

Caley Thistle stunned Tynecastle with an equaliser after 56 minutes. Cowie curled over an inch-perfect free-kick and Pavels Mihadjuks headed powerfully past Jamie MacDonald from 12 yards.

Then came the penalty incident but Caley Thistle will feel justice was done when Esson saved brilliantly from Stewart.

But that good work was undone when McBain saw red.

Hearts were determined to take advantage of their extra man and Driver supplied another great cross as Obua headed Hearts back in front after 79 minutes.

Imrie equalised with his superbly-struck free-kick but Hearts had the final word.

Stewart fed Driver who cut the ball back for Kingston to slot home from eight yards.

HEARTS: MacDonald, Neilson, Jonsson, Berra, Lee Wallace, Driver, Stewart, Karipidis, Obua, Aguiar (Glen 64), Nade (Kingston 86). Subs not used: Kello, Mrowiec, Cesnauskis, Thomson, McGowan.

INVERNESS CT: Esson, Gathuessi (Proctor 18), Munro, Mihadjuks, Tokely, McBain, Duncan, Cowie, Imrie, Wood (Rooney 86), Vigurs (McGuire 76). Subs not used: Fraser, Black, Barrowman, Gillespie.