ICT Celebrate Sutherlands GoalInverness CT 1-0 Hearts
Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League

There is a pattern emerging that seems to ensure the wrath of the weather gods descends on Inverness every second Saturday or so. Yesterday was no exception, a ferocious wind bearing darkening clouds over Caledonian Stadium. Goodness knows what debutant Steve Williams made of it, but it took a herculean effort from Club Officials just to get this game on.

Hearts were expected to make the running in this game, given their recent form and the fact that they have been scoring for fun, and the Inverness side that took the field showed seven changes from the side that won at Dunfermline in midweek.

Steve Williams has a Solid DebutKenny Gillet and Ryan Esson returned, there was a debut for Williams and starts for Meekings, Proctor, Ross and Sutherland. If some nerves were expected, they were blown away on that wind as Inverness started brightly.

Hayes was in the mood, running at a fairly static Hearts back line. It took Darren Barr all of 9 minutes to earn the first yellow card of the game for hauling him down. Tansey and Foran were running the midfield, and all of the pressure was coming from the Highlanders- it was 25 minutes before Esson had a stop of any note.

Just before that, Hearts were forced into an early change, Templeton replacing Elliot on the right. Even from inside his voluminous parka, Sergio might have sensed a far from easy game was unfolding. Ian Black was introducing himself to the ICT new boys in his own inimitable style, but he couldn’t compete with the workrate and skill of either Foran or Tansey.

Chances fell to Hayes, Tade, Ross and Gillet, who was denied his first Caley Thistle goal by the offside flag.

Half Time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0-0 Hearts

Earlier in the season, there might have been a hint of nervousness at the lack of conversion of the chances created, but this is a resilient side and it took no more than 4 minutes of the second half to open the account.

Kello Can't Hold Sutherlands Match Winning HeaderAnother Hayes run left Webster on his heels, and a pinpoint cross was met by Sutherland. Kello got a hand to the ball, but couldn’t keep it out and Inverness had the goal their play merited.

Hearts came into the game more after this, and Webster headed wide, followed by a routine take for Esson from a Black free kick.  It must have riled Ian, and his now almost weekly yellow card followed soon thereafter.

Inverness were denied a penalty after what looked like a handball from Hammill, but nothing was given. Barr was replaced by Santana, but Inverness were coping with any threat that Hearts could muster, so Black was replaced by Obua.

	Post Match Interviews
Terry Butcher
Shane Sutherland
Steve Williams

Chances were beginning to appear for Skacel and Sutton as Hearts battled to save the point, so Tokely was drafted in to bolster the defence as the excellent Ross was withdrawn.

As the match drew to a close, there were loud shouts for a penalty as Templeton went down in the box after a footrace with Meekings. Initially looking as if the claim might have some merit, pictures show there was no contact and the game ended with the right result.

Full Time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 Hearts

There was a veritable queue for man of the match, and it could have gone to almost the entire outfield. Sutherland claimed the sponsor’s award but for this correspondent, Greg Tansey stood out for his workrate, range of passing and ability to read the game. Williams had an excellent debut, Foran, Gillet and Hayes clamouring at the front of the aforementioned queue.

Three wins in a week, including the top two teams out with the old Firm, and we are two points off sixth place. Dare we hope for another three points against St. Mirren next week? Can we win our game in hand to send us up the table? Are we coming good just at the right time to cause Celtic problems in the cup? You know, I think we just might.

Report by: Davie Balfour

21st Jan 2012	Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
CLYDESDALE BANK SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Inverness CT	1 - Sutherland (49)
	TEAM: Esson, Proctor, Gillet, Williams, Meekings, Hayes, Tansey, Ross (Tokely 86), Foran, Tade (McKay 90), Sutherland
	SUBS: Tuffey, Shinnie, Piermayr, Morrison
	Booked: Sutherland (88)
	Sent Off: None
Hearts	0 -
	TEAM: Kello, Hamill, McGowan, Barr (Santana 63), Webster, Black (Obua 68), Skacel, Mrowiec, Robinson, Sutton, Elliott (Templeton 18)
	SUBS: MacDonald, Prychynenko, Holt, Glen
	Booked: Barr (10), McGowan (41), Black (57)
	Sent Off: None
Referee	George Salmond
Attendance	3812