Hearts6–2Inverness CT

OUT BUT NOT DOWN


It was always going to be a big ask going to Tynecastle this early in the season although Hearts kept plenty of talent on the bench just in case. Jamie McCart captained the side with Amadou Ba-Sy spearheading their attack. Five changes for Hearts and just the one change for Inverness. Scott Kellacher had Paul Allan on from the start with Liam Sole on the bench in our only change from the side that drew at Gayfield last weekend.

An early goal for the visitors was chalked off by VAR before Hearts were awarded a penalty that was also chalked off, a free kick on the edge of the box awarded instead. However, Borchgrevink looped a header into the net after quarter of an hour when the clearance from the free kick was nodded into the net. A second goal looked likely but Kerjota clipped the top of the bar from five yards. Inverness dug deep to see out the half without conceding again with MacKinnon volleying over before the break. We had the temerity to take the lead in the second half with two quick goals from Duncan & Bavidge before Mato levelled. All that just stirred the hornets nest. It all happened after the 82nd minute with Hearts finishing with a flourish. Miller x2, Wilson and Braga to give a flattering scoreline to the Jambos who head into the draw.

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Hearts got the game underway but it was the visitors who forced the first corner in a swift break and that led to the opening goal., or did it? Alfie Stewart picked up the ball and dinked a tremendous ball into the heart of the box. Alfie Bavidge reacted brilliantly to hook the ball into the bottom corner. Alas, we now know what VAR is for as the goal was chalked off for offside. Meh! Another VAR intervention prevented a penalty, however from the clearance off the free kick, Borchgrevink's looped header ended up in the back of the net with Munro out of position and Danny Devine unable to reach the ball on the line. Thereafter, the Jambos loitered with intent in the final third of the park. Devine made a great headed clearance from a curling ball into the box as Hearts forced the pace of the game and their corner tally mounted. With Inverness digging in after half an hour we got a break when Sabah Kerjota clipped the top of the bar after great work by Renaud and Ba-Sy. A fifth corner for the hosts seven minutes before the break came to nothing. Just before the break, our second corner offered an opportunity for Adam MacKinnon but his powerful volley flew just over the bar. That was our best moment since the opening minutes.

HALF TIME: 1-0

Ba-Sy was replaced by James Wilson at the interval and immediately Bavidge found the ball at his feet inside a crowded box but his shot was sliced safely into the keepers arms. A vicious strike from Renaud flashed just wide of Munro's right hand post. Enterprising opening to the second half and Kerjota won a corner as his strike deflected over. Liam Sole replaced Adam MacKinnon six minutes after the restart. Minutes later a long ball forward picked out the run of Ryan Duncan who's first touch was brilliant, his second even better as he crashed the ball behind Reus from 12 yards. Wow!, no sooner had Hearts been blocked on the edge of the box than Alfie Bavidge clipped the ball into the net on the breakout for a superb goal from an Alfie Stewart precision pass. The goals were flying in now and after Liam Sole lost the ball on the edge of the box, Hearts headed home through Mato on the break. Renaud volleyed wide again as Hearts pushed to get their noses in front and Blair Spittal drilled a low effort just wide from the edge of the box after picking up a loose ball. Plenty of effort from the Highland side but a late flourish from the hosts saw them run away with the win after they brought on the cavalry. It all happened after the 82nd minute with Hearts finishing with a clinical precision. The goals flowed again as we wilted. It started with a Miller penalty, and ended with a Miller strike. Wilson and Braga got in on the act as we were punished harshly in the closing minutes to give a flattering scoreline to the Jambos who head into the draw.

FULL TIME: 6-2

It's ultimately a drubbing, however we shouldn't be too disheartened after matching Hearts for 82 minutes. We scored two top notch goals at Tynecastle and but for a late collapse we could have been looking at another tremendous result. Alas it was not to be.

We did have some outstanding contributions, none moreso than our own Calum MacLeod who was immense at right back. Ryan Duncan put in some shift and scored a superb goal, as did Alfie Bavidge.

Here's the draw:

RANGERS v CELTIC
STENNY v HEARTS
COUNTY v HIBS
KILLIE v ABERDEEN