Caley Thistle provide show for Butcher to appreciate

By Stephen Kasiewicz

Caley Thistle restored some pride against Hearts but still remain stuck at the bottom of the Scottish Premier League table after losing their eighth league game in succession.

The Inverness board sacked Craig Brewster after the defeat by Hamilton Accies and now has the formidable task of appointing a new manager at the Caledonian Stadium.

Plenty of names have been mentioned, but surely Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher is the most likely to steer the Highland club clear of relegation.

Many linked with the job have no managerial experience in the Scottish game, but Butcher has managed Motherwell and is now right-hand man to George Burley. He has the credentials.

With every defeat comes the realisation that relegation is a distinct possibility and whoever comes in will need to produce instant results.

More new players are needed and the ability to reinvigorate a squad which has become accustomed to losing games is crucial.

Caley Thistle were very unlucky to leave Tynecastle with nothing, but a lack of concentration in defence again proved their downfall. In a pulsating encounter, Hearts’s Ugandan midfielder David Obua scored twice – yet Inverness were level at 2-2 through goals from Latvian defender Pavels Mihadjuks and Dougie Imrie before Jambos substitute Laryea Kingston snatched victory in the last minute.

Inverness did not look like a side that had failed to win a game in more than two months and, after repelling the home side’s early forward thrusts, should have taken the lead. Imrie was completely unmarked at the back post when Don Cowie swept in a free kick from the left but the former Clyde midfielder contrived to send his header wide from six yards out.

Ross Tokely was given an unfamiliar role as a holding midfielder in front of the Caley Thistle defence and he proved an effective barrier nullifying Michael Stewart and Bruno Aguiar in the middle of the park.

Just when it seemed as though the Highland club would hold out until the break, Obua rose to head home an Andrew Driver cross – although he appeared to impede Caley Jags goalkeeper Ryan Esson in doing so.

Rather than capitulate, Inverness equalised in the second period when Mihadjuks – who was impressive throughout the game – rose to head past Jamie MacDonald from an Iain Vigurs free kick.

Referee Steve Conroy awarded a penalty when Roy McBain was adjudged to have fouled Driver.

Esson brilliantly saved Stewart’s spot kick but McBain, who was booked for the initial foul, was then sent off for complaining about the penalty decision.

Obua rose above David Proctor to head home Driver’s deep cross with 11 minutes remaining but Imrie levelled with just two minutes left, scoring a with a stunning 25-yard free kick. Seconds later Hearts claimed the winner when Driver sped down the left to set up Kingston, who side-footed comfortably past Esson.

Taken from The Press and Journal