Inverness CT 1 - 1 Hearts

Hearts battled to a 1-1 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Saturday afternoon's Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

Gregory Tade handed the hosts the lead at the start of the second half, before Stephen Elliott grabbed his first goal of the season to secure a point.

Paulo Sergio made two enforced changes from the side that beat Hibernian prior to the international break, as both keeper Marian Kello and Andrew Driver missed out through injury. Jamie MacDonald deputised between the sticks, whilst Arvydas Novikovas replaced Driver on the left flank.

The Jambos were backed by a sizeable away support that witnessed a sluggish and uneventful start to the game at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. Neither side seemed capable of settling into a rhythm, the odd spell of possession often hampered by stray passes.

The first noteable goalmouth action arrived in the 24th minute, as Jamie Hamill's corner was flicked on by Ryan Stevenson. The ball fell to Andy Webster on the far post, who saw his side-footed effort from six yards scrambled off the line before being clutched by 'keeper Ryan Esson.

Shortly after, Stevenson was in the thick of it again as he threaded a ball to Stephen Elliott inside the box. The former Sunderland striker's low drive, however, was comfortably saved by the 'keeper.

Sergio's men were in the ascendancy at this point, and were coping reasonably well with the home side's aerial attacks. The boss spoke positively about his style of play in midweek, with his desire to mould a passing side evident in the way the Jambos set about building their attacks in the first half.

The killer ball in the final third was hard to come by, however, with the home side looking well organised at the back. They then turned defence to attack shortly before the interval, as Andrew Shinnie raced down the left before crossing an inviting ball into the path of the onrushing Riche Foran, who narrowly missed with his diving header on six yards.

Paulo then looked to shake things up for the second half, as he introduced David Templeton in place of Novikovas.

Despite an encouraging start to the second period, the Gorgie men soon fell behind to a Gregory Tade strike in the 50th minute.

Nick Ross chased down a loose ball which arrived at the feet of Jamie MacDonald, but the 'keeper slipped as he went to make the clearance. This enabled Ross to lay the ball off to the surging Tade who calmly slotted the ball into the far bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The game then burst into life, as the big talisman once again burst through on goal only to be denied by an alert MacDonald. The Jambos then immediately instigated an attack of their own as substitute Templeton was released down the right flank. The winger ran menacingly into the box, stepping inside before unleashing a ferocious drive which rattled off Esson's crossbar.

The game was waving back and forth at this point, and the Caley Jags went close to doubling their lead on the hour mark. Davis dispossessed Zaliukas on the right wing after a foot race, and his ensuing cross was blasted inches wide of MacDonald's right post by Andrew Shinnie from the five yard mark.

The Highlanders were on the front foot at this stage, and should have grabbed their second goal when Tade once again found himself clean through on goal. He latched on to Richie Foran's defence splitting pass, but his effort from just inside the box was tipped clear by the 'keeper.

The Edinburgh side responded by bringing on Mehdi Taouil in place of Zaliukas as they looked to bolster their presence in central midfield. The switch had an immediate effect as Hearts gained a foothold in the tie, with Danny Grainger forcing a reflex save from the 'keeper with a snapshot from eighteen yards.

The home side were never quiet for long however, and MacDonald was once again called into action in the 75th minute as Richie Foran cut in from the left before firing a shot across goal which the keeper did well to punch wide.

Sergio played his final card of the afternoon shortly after when David Obua made way for Eggert Jonsson. The Iceland international proved to be a good omen, as the Jambos pulled level almost immediately.

Elliott received the ball inside the box prior to feeding it wide to Templeton on the right. The youngster took a touch before playing the ball back to the Irishman who reacted first to see his side footed effort send the ball in off the bottom left post from five yards out.

The Gorgie men stepped it up a level after the goal, with Templeton and Taouil looking particularly lively on their respective flanks. Clear cut chances were evading them, however, and the home side were by no means content with settling for a point. Substitute Aidan Chippendale showed off his goods with a squiggling effort that drifted just wide of MacDonald's far post in the 89th minute.

The Jambos then won a late corner which failed to materialise, meaning they were forced to travel back down to Edinburgh with a point in the bag.

Inverness CT: Esson; Piermayr, Tokely, A. Shinnie(Chippendale 80), Golobart; Ross, Morrison, Foran(Sutherland 85), G. Shinnie, Davis(Tansey 65), Foran; Tade. Subs not used: Tuffey, McKay, Gillet.

Hearts: MacDonald; Hamill, Zaliukas(Taouil 66), Webster, Grainger; Stevenson, Black, Mrowiec, Novikovas(Templeton 45), Obua(Jonsson 77); Elliott. Subs not used: Hamilton, Robinson, Smith, Sutton.

Referee: William Collum

Top man: Ryan Stevenson

Hearts World