Hearts 2 Caley Thistle 2

From ROBERT MARTIN at Tynecastle
Published: 18th August 2012
3
HEARTS had Thursday’s Battle of Britain with Liverpool on their mind.

But John McGlynn ended up seeing red for another reason as his side threw away a two-goal lead against ten-man Caley.

The Jambos looked like they would cruise to victory after first-half goals by Arvydas Novikovas and John Sutton.

Richie Foran’s red card for a horrendous late lunge on Ryan McGowan then appeared to seal the Highlanders’ fate.

But Andrew Shinnie’s 61st-minute penalty handed Terry Butcher’s side hope — and Conor Pepper popped up with an injury-time equaliser.

Jamie MacDonald continued in goal for the Jambos despite the signing on Friday of Peter Enckelman, who had to settle for a place on the bench.

MacDonald chose to play, having had no news on the overdue birth of his first child.

David Templeton was suspended after kicking out at Hibs’ James McPake last Sunday and was replaced by Lithuanian winger Novikovas.

But boss McGlynn did make two other changes to his side with Liverpool in mind.

Danny Grainger made his first start of the season at the expense of Kevin McHattie.

The Scottish Cup winner had been out since undergoing a hernia operation in the summer, but was given 90 minutes to get ready for the clash with Brendan Rodgers’ side.

And Mehdi Taouil was handed a chance to impress as Scott Robinson dropped out.

Caley boss Butcher was without Owain Tudor Jones after his red card against Kilmarnock, while skipper Foran returned after missing the first two games of the season through suspension.

And it was the visitors who created the first real opportunity of the game with four minuets gone.

Billy McKay managed to avoid the challenge of Darren Barr as he raced towards the box and then squared the ball to Shinnie, whose shot flew just past MacDonald’s post.

Andrew Driver tested Ryan Esson with a long-range effort in the 11th minute.

Three minutes later, Hearts took the lead in some style.

Driver was involved again as the Jambos swept forward on the counter-attack, slipping the ball to Barr, who then picked out Novikovas on the right of the Caley box.

And the winger allowed Esson to advance before curling the ball past him with his left foot.

Foran was then spoken to by ref Bobby Madden after he argued one decision too many.

Sutton then claimed for a penalty after he was wrestled off the ball by Gary Warren, and Shinnie was booked on the half-hour for a trip on Taouil.

Madden also carded Barr soon after for a late challenge on Foran.

As tempers flared, Foran and Novikovas were spoken to after they clashed.

And there was more controversy as Hearts moved further ahead in the 39th minute.

Sutton looked to be pulled back by Simon King inside the visitors’ box as he tried to reach Taouil’s free-kick. But when the whistle sounded, the Inverness players thought Zaliukas had been punished following a collision with Esson.

It was only as players started to clear the box that Madden booked King and the stunned visitors surrounded the ref as they realised that also meant a spot-kick.

Zaliukas received treatment behind the goal as Sutton stepped up to send Esson the wrong way and claim his second goal of the campaign.

Zaliukas then hobbled off to be replaced by Robinson as Barr moved to centre-back.

There was yet more drama in first-half injury-time as Caley were reduced to ten men.

Ryan McGowan appeared to bring down Ross Draper, but no foul was given.

Foran then took matters into his own hands with a vicious lunge at the Aussie and ref Madden immediately flashed a straight red card.

The Caley skipper had little argument, but fourth official Andrew Dallas still had to restrain Butcher from confronting Madden at the break.

However, the visitors almost found a way back into the game in the 59th minute when MacDonald appeared to slip as Aaron Doran latched on to a through ball.

The keeper managed to recover in time to bundle his effort around the post.

But just two minutes later, the visitors did get a goal, thanks to the Shinnie brothers.

First, Graeme knocked the ball past Paterson and then was clipped by the full-back inside the box as he raced to get on the end of it.

Ref Madden pointed to the spot once more and although MacDonald got a hand to Andrew Shinnie’s penalty, he was unable to keep it out.

Shane Sutherland blazed over in the 63rd minute as Hearts began to panic.

But then only a well-timed challenge at the other end by Warren stopped McGowan from restoring their advantage.

And in the 72nd minute the Aussie blazed wide after Robinson’s clever ball had played him in.

But ten-man Caley kept pressing — and as the game edged into injury time they got their reward.

Graeme Shinnie found space on the left hand side of the box and lifted the ball over keeper MacDonald.

And Pepper, who had come on just minutes earlier, was there to prod home an unlikely leveller.