Rousing display warms the heart, if not the extremities

Frank Gilfeather

Kenny Gillet was smiling as he met the media, many still unable to formulate words with their numbed mouths and chattering teeth courtesy of a day memorable not only for a compelling performance by Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but for the icy blast and driving rain which swept through the Highland city.

The Frenchman, just one of a host of successes on a day when Inverness dominated a Hearts side whose minds seemed to be elsewhere, was certainly taken back by the cold, even if he was made a little more comfortable having reverted to his familiar left-back slot following a brief spell in the centre of defence. The word was that many visiting players were unhappy that referee George Salmond declared the pitch – heavy with water – playable at all. Gillet recognised as much during the warm-up.

"It was very, very bad, especially in the second half with the wind," the Inverness defender said. "It was very difficult for me, but as a team we love this weather; we're used to playing in such winds. When we saw the conditions we were pleased because we know opposing teams don't like them. We saw during the warm-up that the Hearts players weren't up for it."

It was a summation that was not contested by Paulo Sergio, the Hearts manager. The Tynecastle side were similarly discomfited by Jonny Hayes, Inverness' ever-threatening winger, who treated the home supporters to 90 pulsating minutes amid the bleak conditions.

It was a piece of artistry from the little Irishman that presented Shane Sutherland with the cross from which to head in the game's only goal. Yet, in truth, Inverness were rarely troubled, mainly because the pairing of Greg Tansey and Richie Foran, sitting in front of the defence, dominated proceedings. The latter is surely one of Terry Butcher's finest signings.

Aside from a 35-yard strike from Jamie Hamill early on in the game, a shot which rattled the home crossbar, Sergio had nothing worth remembering, apart from the freezing winds. He conceded the conditions were problematic but was unimpressed that his squad looked to use them as an excuse.

"I didn't think we did enough to deserve anything from the game," the angry Hearts manager said. "It was a mentality thing from my players who complained about the weather, the pitch; I don't want excuses like that in my squad. It was the same conditions for both teams but Inverness were more determined than ours."

And with those few words, the Tynecastle squad left for Edinburgh, the driver of their coach no doubt being asked whether the heating could be turned up.

Taken from the Herald