Heart of Midlothian 2-2 Inverness CT

Hearts lined up for their third game of the season looking to bounce back after last week's disappointing derby draw with Hibernian. The suspended David Templeton made way for Arvydas Novikovas, while Mehdi Taouil replaced Scott Robinson.

The match started at a hectic pace, with the busy Ryan McGowan buzzing all over the pitch in his new midfield role. His endeavour created a chance from Andy Driver, with the winger unable to replicate last week's derby goal actions as Ryan Esson collected his tame effort.

Inverness went straight up the other end of the park, as the marauding David Raven set up Andrew Shinnie, but the forward dragged his shot wide. Then, out of nowhere, Hearts took the lead. Driver collected the ball in the middle of the park, beat two markers, slid the ball to Darren Barr whose through ball was perfect for Novikovas to bend the ball around Esson and finish off a sensational move to open the scoring.

Three minutes before the half time break, the match exploded into craziness. A free kick from Taouil into the box saw Marius Zaliukas fly into Esson, injuring himself in the process. To the astonishment of everyone, the referee's whistle sounded not to award a free kick, but a penalty to the home side with Simon King being yellow carded. John Sutton confidently stepped up to convert his penalty with ease.

Unfortunately, the skipper's injury meant he could no longer continue, as he hobbled off to a standing ovation from the home fans while Scott Robinson replaced him, Barr slotting into defence. Suddenly, with the game whittling away to half time, Richie Foran dove in with a crazy lunge on McGowan and was immediately sent packing by whistler Bobby Madden as the half drew to a close.

Despite being a man down, Inverness started the second half brightly. Early pressure yielded no reward until Callum Paterson tripped Billy McKay at the edge of the box. Andrew Shinnie's effort hit the roof of the net despite a fine effort from Jamie MacDonald in goals.

Soon after, Ryan McGowan spurned two glorious chances to extend the Hearts lead, first after a great run from Paterson set him up, McGowan's shot was blocked. Moments later a lovely chip from Robinson put McGowan through on goal but the Aussie's defensive background betrayed him as he screwed his shot wide.

Hearts will rue their missed chances though, as in the final seconds of the match Paterson was beaten by Shinnie, whose ball across the face of goal was fired into the roof of the net by sub Conor Pepper with the last kick of the ball.

Hearts: Macdonald; Grainger, Zaliukas (Robinson 45), Webster, Paterson; Barr, R. McGowan, Taouil (Prychynenko 88); Driver (Walker 80), Novikovas, Sutton. Subs not used; Enckelman, McHattie, Walker, Prychynenko, Carrick, G. Smith.

Inverness CT: Esson, Raven, G. Shinnie, Warren, McKay, Draper, Foran, A. Shinnie, King, Doran, Sutherland. Subs not used: Mathieson, Meekings, Morrison, Ross, Laing, Polwarth, Pepper.

Referee: Bobby Madden

Top man: Arvydas Novikovas

Hearts World