Missed chances take their toll on misfiring Caley
IT would have taken a detective of Sherlock Holmes’ investigative powers to unpick the mystery of how Inverness Caley Thistle failed to beat Hearts yesterday.
Even the pipe-smoking super sleuth might have been left scratching his head over the blank that left manager John Hughes still chasing his first home win in the Highlands.
The stats showed 23 efforts on goal for the home team. Inverness had managed to beat the same opposition with nine men a fortnight earlier to reach the League Cup Final, but somehow drew a blank despite relentless waves of attacking pressure.
Hearts, in an attacking sense, offered little in the first half, but might even have snatched a breakaway goal later in the game.
But this was two points lost for Inverness and one gained for Gary Locke’s admirable battlers.
Hughes’ side remain fifth, but now sit 10 points behind secondplaced
It was baffling just how tepid Hearts looked
Aberdeen, albeit with two games in hand.
The hosts were boosted before the match by the announcement that midfielder James Vincent signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2016.
Hughes kept captain Richie Foran on the bench for a second match after his return from a shoulder injury sustained before Christmas.
Hearts had lost the energy of wide man David Smith to a fractured knee, while suspended Kevin McHattie and Callum Paterson also missed out.
Despite those setbacks, it was baffling just how tepid Hearts looked in the first half.
Billy McKay had the ball in the net with a typically neat finish, only to see it chalked off for offside.
Full-back David Raven’s attempted cross swirled onto the bar soon after, with McKay blocked desperately on the line by Danny Wilson on the rebound. The chances kept coming, and it was a small miracle that the scoreline remained level.
There was drama after 33 minutes as Jamie MacDonald tipped a Marley Watkins header onto the bar, and then saw McKay’s overhead kick on the rebound bobble off the top of the crossbar.
Greg Tansey also cracked the upright just before relieved Hearts filed in unscathed for half-time.
There was more urgency and intent from Hearts after the break, without Gary Locke’s side seriously troubling the hosts.
Foran came off the bench after 73 minutes, taking the captain’s armband from deputy Graeme Shinnie.
Hughes’ men, late in the game, were guilty of failing to pull the trigger soon enough, and they went close to disaster with 12 minutes left as, on the counter, Jamie Hamill rocketed one inches over and another attempt just past a post.