Jambos show heart to claw back a point at ICT
INVERNESS CT 3 Raven (15), Doumbouya (32), Doran (55) HEARTS 3 Johnsen (38), Rherras (51), Djoum (74)
HEARTS climbed to third in the Premiership table after twice battling back from behind in a six-goal thriller – but blew a chance to claim second spot behind Celtic.
Inverness surged 2-0 up after a brilliant start, but what looked a comfortable lead was to crumble twice as the Gorgie men drew it back to 2-2 and then 3-3.
For visiting manager Robbie Neilson, the return to scoring form was a real plus – on a mixed day of frustration and pride.
The Hearts boss said: “There were positives and negatives to take from it, to be honest.
“The positive is when we went 2-0 down we played really good football to get ourselves back in the game. The negative is we’ve come here and scored three goals and left with only a point.”
Coming into yesterday’s match it was six years since the Gorgie club had won in Inverness and three since they had even scored there.
And it looked like business as usual from the off.
Lonsana Doumbouya hit the top of the Hearts’ bar amid a bright home start and Tremarco’s replacement by David Raven was to prove influential in the goal.
A Liam Polworth cross was headed back in measured fashion by Ross Draper and Raven’s controlled volley from 14 yards proved an inspirational finish.
Hearts looked in trouble when Caley Thistle cut them open again after 32 minutes. Iain Vigurs released Polworth and, in big expanses of space, the midfielder threaded the ball to Doumbouya who stabbed in from 10 yards.
But almost from nowhere, the capital side were right back in it after 38 minutes. Josh Meekings slipped as he made to meet Perry Kitchen’s angled pass and Bjorn Johnsen smashed a shot past young Mackay.
They were level after 51 minutes.
Belgian Feycal Rherras, launched a big high ball
into the home penalty area. Both Meekings and Hearts striker Johnsen strained to reach it but it flew over both of them into the net.
But the hosts were ahead again after 65 minutes after Aaron Doran colleced a long ball forward from Iain Vigurs and evaded both Don Cowie and keeper Jack Hamilton.
Hearts began to exert pressure into the last 20 minutes with some frantic, backs-to-the-wall defending from the Highlanders keeping them at bay.
But the home resistance cracked after 74 minutes. Tony Watt’s cutback from the left was completely missed in the box by Johnsen, but Hearts regained the ball and Arnaud Djoum, from the right of the box, drove a low, angled 14-yard shot past Mackay.
It was anyone’s game at 3-3 but the hosts were the most troubled before the last whistle sounded.
Home manager Richie Foran stressed: “It’s just a couple of mistakes that have cost us goals.
“But overall I’ve got no complaints. I thought it was better than Wednesday night in the win against Motherwell and, if we keep playing like that, we’ll win most games.”