Extension of Hibs' Highland hoodoo only confirms the worst for fans

Published on Sunday 22 February 2009 21:27

TERRY Butcher was celebrating his first Premier League victory as Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager on Saturday, toasting it, no doubt, with a customary claret. It means his side are now just one point behind Falkirk at the foot of the table and can seriously entertain the thought of survival in the top-flight beyond the summer. What may have muted the sense of elation is that Saturday's victory was the football equivalent of golf's gimme putt – so much of a foregone conclusion that e

The Edinburgh club has never won a competitive fixture on their Highland opponents' turf. Back in September 2004, Hibs played an away fixture against Inverness for the first time and two Derek Riordan goals ensured a team then managed by Tony Mowbray won 2-1. The catch is that Inverness were playing at Pittodrie, their Caledonian Stadium having been deemed unsuitable for SPL purposes until 6,000 seats were in place.

Maybe this explains why Riordan was perhaps the most forlorn of all Hibs' players during Saturday's defeat. He had been through it all before; even a two-year hiatus at Celtic can't erase the memories. Only one player has ever scored a goal for Hibs in the Highlands, Colin Nish in a 1-1 draw last August.

It is not the players who deserve our sympathy, though. It is the supporters, who again made the longest journey that faces them in the Premier League in numbers at the weekend. Throughout the three-and-a-half-hour journey north, the thought would have dominated their minds: we're probably going to lose today. Again. We always do.

There is little to distract from such nagging doubts on the 156-mile trip from Edinburgh to Inverness. Even on a bright day, the stunning vistas throughout the Highlands become so numerous their splendour is dulled. Once the typical football banter dries up, the thought will creep back in: we're probably going to lose today. Again. We always do.

And it's one thing making the journey to Ibrox or Parkhead fearing the inevitable, at least the safe haven of the local boozer is no more than an hour away, save for the M8 logjams. Even defeat at Tynecastle doesn't require you to leave the city limits, and there's always the ultimate comeback to any taunts. Remember 7-0? Plus, beating Rangers, Celtic or Hearts is a season highlight. Beat Inverness and rival supporters will not bat an eyelid. "So what?" they'll say. "They're bottom of the league."

It took only 16 minutes of the match on Saturday for that possibility to be eradicated, as David Proctor put Inverness in front. Richie Foran's second-half goal confirmed the worst, and Hibs supporters directed their frustrations at manager Mixu Paatelainen at the final whistle. After all, why stew for the remainder of your 300-mile round trip if you can let rip?

So Inverness players, management and fans were left to mark their first league win since November. But they should know that at least one club's set of supporters will be hoping their lifeline away from relegation is a cruel hoax.