Jefferies to keep wary eye on Tannadice

On Saturday, Jefferies' men recovered from Aaron Doran's first-half goal on to earn a point courtesy of Stephen Elliott's equaliser. While Hearts were unable to press home their numerical advantage after the home side's Ross Tokely was sent off in the last 15 minutes, Jefferies was satisfied enough to edge another point closer to third place - although he admitted he had been targeting victory.

In truth, though, a share of the spoils was probably fair given how dominant the home side had been in the early stages.

Jefferies will now keep an eye on proceedings at Tannadice tomorrow night, where Dundee United host Rangers. As Hearts' closest challengers for third, United recently won at Ibrox and victory tomorrow would close the gap on the Edinburgh side to six points going into the post-split fixtures.

However, Jefferies, whose side have lost just four away games in the league this season, said: "There are very few games left now and we'll just wait to see if Dundee United can close the gap when they play Rangers. We're in a good position, although we came up to Inverness looking to win the game. If we had then it would have made it very difficult for anyone to catch us.

"But given how poorly we played in the first half-hour and how difficult a place Inverness is to go to, then this may well work out to be a valuable point. Our form has been good away from home. Apart from the Old Firm, Dundee United are the only team to beat us on the road."

Inverness manager Terry Butcher felt his team were worthy of a point. He said: "At 1-1, their tails were up and we had to defend well, but we also had opportunities with ten men. The players couldn't have given any more."

Inverness certainly started at a powerful pace and Richie Foran outmuscled Andy Webster before sending in a cross that Adam Rooney was only inches away from converting. Hearts failed to heed the early warning and duly fell behind with only six minutes gone.

Rooney was sent charging away down the left by Lee Cox and his delivery to the back post was calmly despatched by the unmarked Doran for his second goal since joining in January on loan from Blackburn.

The visitors' response was slow in coming, but the recalled Suso Santana sent in a low effort that was easily held by Ryan Esson. Inverness, though, continued to create the better chances, with Rooney's header from a Cox cross well saved by Jamie MacDonald at his near post.

Foran was at the heart of everything and his low cross found Nick Ross, who in turn set up Rooney, but he tried to place the ball past MacDonald from an angle only for the goalkeeper to parry it away.

Rooney was then unfortunate moments later as MacDonald got his outstretched boot to turn away the shot after good work by Doran.

Suso was proving to be the most lively player for Hearts and his cross was almost headed home by the recalled Andrew Driver, but Esson got across his goal smartly to make the save.

That seemed to spark some life into Hearts and only a wonderful clearance on the line by Stuart Duff prevented Rudi Skacel's close-range effort from restoring parity. Inverness were again fortunate to escape at the start of the second half. This time Ryan Stevenson's header was touched goalwards by Elliott, but Rooney was well positioned to scramble the ball to safety.

Hearts made the pressure pay in the 54th minute. Suso drove into the box and his cut-back found the unmarked Elliott, who from eight yards slid the ball into the corner of the net past the exposed Esson. A mistake by Kenny Gillet then presented Suso with the chance to head towards goal again and he picked out Stevenson, but Esson made the save.

As play swung to the other end, Cox sent in a cross to the back post that was headed across goal by Foran. It seemed a formality that Rooney would add the finishing touch, but Webster got his foot to the ball to make the clearance.

Tokely then turned from saint to sinners. First he blocked Stevenson's goalbound effort, only to be shown a second yellow card moments later for hauling down substitute David Templeton.

Taken from the Scotsman