Jambos settle for a point after frantic finish

Aaron Doran's early strike set the tone for a dominant first half from the home team, but Elliott converted with notable expertise shortly after the interval. Thirteen minutes from time, the Inverness defender Ross Tokely received a second yellow card and left his colleagues fighting against the odds to take a point.

Despite continual pressure from Hearts, who controlled the second half, the hosts showed commendable spirit and resolve to see the game out. It was also a relatively useful point for the Edinburgh club, who extended their advantage in third place to nine points over Dundee United.

Inverness began boldly and attacked Hearts from kick-off, principally down the right flank. After three rampaging runs from winger Jonny Hayes, Adam Rooney fastened on to Lee Cox's pass to cross for Doran, who finished comfortably beyond Jamie MacDonald with no marker in attendance. Hearts were aggrieved, however, that Richie Foran went unpenalised for a clash with Ismael Bouzid in the lead up to the goal. The Inverness forward appeared to catch the Algerian internationalist with a deliberate swing of his arm.

Hearts took fully 15 minutes to emerge from their shell but it was Inverness who evidently harboured more confidence. Rooney stooped to glance Cox's cross goalwards on 19 minutes but Jamie MacDonald, the Hearts goalkeeper, parried for Andy Webster to clear. At the opposite end, Craig Thomson intelligently teed up Suso but his first-time attempt spun high over the crossbar. Then came a free-kick from 25 yards by Rudi Skacel which Ryan Esson clutched tightly.

Hearts survived a fortunate escape nine minutes from the interval after failing to clear sufficiently from defence. MacDonald saved from Rooney and a vital defensive block prevented Ross converting after Rooney cut the rebound back for his onrushing midfielder. Rooney sprinted on to Doran's through ball moments later but again MacDonald emerged to block. As half-time approached, it was clear the visitors were fortunate only to be facing a single-goal deficit.

That said, they could have levelled in stoppage time. Craig Thomson's impressive left-footed cross landed perfectly for Skacel at the back post. The Czech's first-time strike was netbound until Stuart Duff appeared on the goal line to clear in the nick of time.

Hearts began with more vigour in the second period and came mightily close to restoring parity on 50 minutes. From Suso's corner, Ryan Stevenson's header was struck goalwards on the turn by Elliott, however the ball struck an Inverness defender on the line and ricocheted off the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Moments later Elliott did score from a well constructed move down the right flank. Craig Thomson fed Suso and the Spaniard's cutback found the Irishman for a beautifully executed low finish with his left foot. The goal inspired Hearts to seek a winner and, for the first time in the afternoon, they took command.

Esson saved at full stretch from Stevenson but, on a rare breakaway attack, Inverness almost forced themselves back into the lead. Cox's cross found Foran for a header across the face of goal which evaded MacDonald and would have been prodded home by Rooney had Andy Webster not executed yet another goal-line clearance.

Stevenson's effort then eluded Esson but was cleared by Tokely before the defender's dismissal reduced his side to ten men. Tokely was ordered off for a second bookable offence in a reckless challenge on Templeton. That set the scene for a potentially frantic finale as Hearts sensed the chance to capitalise on their extra man advantage. However, despite pressing the home team back through to the final whistle, they could not fashion the goal to secure victory.

Inverness (4-4-1-1): Esson; Duff, Hogg, Tokely, Gillet; Hayes (Sutherland 75), Ross, Cox, Doran (Munro 78); Foran; Rooney (MacDonald 73). Subs: Tuffey, Duncan, Munro, Innes, Morrison.

Hearts (4-4-2): MacDonald; C Thomson, Bouzid, Webster, Palazuelos; Suso, Black, Skacel (R McGowan 64), Driver (Templeton 69); Stevenson, S Elliott. Subs: Balogh, Glen, Zaliukas, Robinson, Mrowiec.

Referee: Crawford Allan.

Attendance: 4336.

Taken from the Scotsman