Heart of Midlothian 2-1 Inverness CT

From Hearts Media at Tynecastle.

Hearts brought a run of four winless games to an end with a 2-1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Tynecastle.

Rudi Skacel's strike immediately after the restart handed the home side the lead before a Ross Tokely header levelled the scores shortly after. Eggert Jonsson then converted a David Templeton cross fifteen minutes from time to secure the points for the Jambos.

Sergio made just one change to the side that lost to Dundee United last Saturday, Adrian Mrowiec dropping to the bench to make way for David Obua in the heart of midfield.

The boss opted to stick with a settled side in a bid to halt his side's run of four games without scoring, safe in the knowledge that the visitors had shipped an average of two goals a game in their last seven away outings.

The game came to life in the twelfth minute when Ryan McGowan won a foot race with Josh Meekings on the left flank before pulling the ball back for John Sutton on ten yards. The Englishman scuffed his shot however, the ball instead trickling to Templeton on the edge of the area but his side footed effort was comfortably saved by Ryan Esson.

Caley Thistle then went close shortly after as Andrew Shinnie's curling drive from twenty yards missed Marian Kello's top left corner by inches.

Minutes later, Gregory Tade pounced on a mistake in the Hearts defence and bore down on goal, yet Kello was on hand to deny him the opening goal.

Hearts were struggling to gain a foothold in the tie at this stage as they were unable to find the required precision to penetrate the visiting side's high defensive line. A few feisty challenges soon raised the temperature inside Tynecastle, however, and the Jambos enjoyed a decent spell of pressure but were still incapable of breaking down a resilient Inverness side.

A deflected shot from Obua on the stroke of half time was the highlight in the closing stages, but like much of their play during the first forty-five minutes, it failed to materialise.

Sergio made a half-time change as Mrowiec replaced Ryan Stevenson, and the shake up had an immediate effect as the Jambos took the lead inside one minute of the restart.

A flick-on from John Sutton released Skacel on the left side of the box and the fans' favourite grabbed his fourth goal of the season as he cut inside before unleashing a well-timed finish into the far corner past the outstretched Esson.

The joy of breaking the goalless drought was short-lived however as the visitors drew level in the 56th minute. A Jonny Hayes free kick halfway inside the Maroon half found Ross Tokely inside the box, and the big centre half rose to steer a powerful header past the helpless Kello.

To their credit, the home side turned up the pressure in the immediate aftermath of the equaliser but the Thistle rearguard was coping well with the maroon attacks.

Terry Butcher's men were also proving to be more than willing to surge forward on the break, with Tade in particular causing the Jambos defence concern throughout.

Some hesitant play from Andy Webster resulted in Andrew Swinnie breaking free inside the box before dispatching a snapshot at Kello. The big Slovak punched the ball into the path of Hayes, but the winger's volleyed effort from ten yards rifled over the crossbar.

Despite the visitors looking the better side following their leveller, the Jambos managed to haul themselves back on the front foot in the 76th minute.

Initially Sutton tested Esson from the edge of the box with a low drive, forcing the keeper to give a corner kick. The ensuing cross from David Templeton was met by the leaping Eggert Jonsson, the ball smashing off his forehead and into the top corner much to the delight of the Tynecastle faithful.

Mehdi Taouil then replaced Sutton as Hearts looked to see out the game, with Obua taking up the lone striker position.

The boys in maroon looked comfortable after their second goal and could well have added a third had Templeton's ferocious volley found the top corner, instead it rattled the side netting much to the relief of the Caley keeper.

The Highlanders attempted a late surge on goal but the Maroon defence, led by the excellent Ryan McGowan, held firm to secure three much needed points for the Jam Tarts.

Hearts: Kello; Hamill, Zaliukas, Webster, McGowan; Jonsson, Obua, Stevenson (Mrowiec 45), Skacel, Templeton (Robinson 90); Sutton(Taouil 80). Subs not used: MacDonald, Smith, Novikovas, Elliott.

Inverness: Esson; Tokely, Hogg, Gillet, Meekings (Proctor 73); Hayes, Tansey, A. Shinnie (Ross 83), Davis; Foran, Tade (Sutherland 90). Subs not used: Tuffey, Chippendale, Cox, G. Shinnie.

Referee: Craig Thomson

Top man: Ryan McGowan

Hearts World