IT’S 209 DAYS UNDEFEATED
Robbie jokes as soft Jamie pen sinks Inverness
JAMIE WALKER gave Hearts the win they craved to leave Robbie Neilson joking his side are on their longest-ever unbeaten run.
In their first competitive outing for over six months the Jambos got the job done to claim the points but it was a far from comfortable victory.
Walker’s penalty just after the hour mark settled the opening Group A fixture but the Jambos survived a couple of late scares.
Neilson said: “It’s been a long time, 209 days since the last one so that’s 209 days undefeated!
“There were periods I thought we did really well and periods we were a bit slack but that’s understandable when you’ve not played for so long. There are a lot of positives to take.”
Neilson also hailed Craig Gordon’s first-half wonder save to keep the score at 0-0.
He said: “You just expect it from Craig, he so good. I’ve seen it for the last 20 years.”
Caley keeper Mark Ridgers made an early double save to deny Craig Wighton and Steven Naismith on the follow-up.
At the other end, Gordon showed he’s lost none of his agility with a stunning save to keep out Daniel MacKay’s stooping header.
Craig Halkett then got his head on to Olly Lee’s free-kick delivery but could only divert it on to the top of Ridgers’ net.
The Inverness keeper heaved a sigh of relief when Wighton smashed the ball past him, only to see it come back off the crossbar before being cleared.
A Josh Ginnelly cutback then found Andy Irving, whose low effort was blocked as the hosts ramped up the pressure. That continued after the break when Lee was twice denied by Ridgers before the Jambos made the breakthrough.
Halkett’s shot struck Cameron Harper on the arm and a penalty was harshly awarded.
Replays showed the left-back had kept his hands out of the way in front of his chest but the new rules meant ref Steven McLean pointed to the spot.
Walker calmly send Ridgers the wrong way with the penalty.
It still wasn’t comfortable for Hearts and Nikolay Todorov should have done better when he latched on to a long ball over the top. Gordon came out to narrow the angle but the Bulgarian got it all wrong and scooped his effort over.
He spurned an even better chance when a cross found him unmarked at the back post.
He thumped a volley towards goal but it flew wide.
Hearts almost made sure in stoppage time when Euan Henderson only had Ridgers to beat but the keeper diverted the ball into the side netting.
Caley Thistle boss John Robertson accused ref McLean of guessing for Hearts’ penalty.
He said: “It’s disappointing because I think he’s guessed it,.
“If his arms are up and outwith his body then we will accept it, but under the new regulations – and we were all on the Zoom call – it’s not a penalty.”