Inverness 2-0 Hibs: Feeling low in the highlands

Published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 10:28

Calderwood has plenty to ponder on long journey back to Easter Road as six-year wait for win up north goes on

"We'll see the Scottish Cup at Easter Road before we win here," was the prediction of one Hibs fan as he arrived at the Tulloch Caledonian Thistle Stadium in Inverness, having probably made the 150-mile journey up the A9 against his better judgment.

Sadly, he was proved correct as Caley extended what their boss Terry Butcher had described beforehand as Hibs' truly wretched record in the Highlands of nine visits without a single victory, a run which stretches all the way back to 2005.

Tony Mowbray, John Collins and Mixu Paatelainen had all tried and failed in the past, the best outcome from the Edinburgh club's point of view being a couple of draws.

John Hughes was spared the experience thanks to Caley's season in the First Division although, remember, he too had his own problems a few miles further north in Dingwall.

Colin Calderwood got a taste of just how long the coach ride between the Capital of the Highlands and that of Scotland can feel having watched his side go down 4-2 on his first visit to Inverness and undoubtedly it would have felt just as never-ending again as he arrived home in the early hours of this morning.

While it would have been entirely predictable for Hibs to finally smash their hoodoo when it mattered least, the "consolation" prize of seventh place having evaporated, taken by Butcher's team with ninth spot as good as it will get at the end of a season which most will be glad has only one more match to be endured.

Calderwood has been using the post-split matches to experiment, on this occasion fielding a team containing seven players under the age of 21 with four of this season's Under-19 side occupying seats on the bench, the Easter Road boss insistent such an approach will prove more beneficial in the long term.

Time will see whether or not that proves to be the case, but this defeat made it five matches in succession without a win for Hibs, testing the fans' patience again as they shudder at the memory of that long, slow slide towards the danger of relegation of only a few months ago.

Calderwood, though, would have been with the enterprise and football of his side in the opening quarter of the match, Richie Towell anchoring midfield and so allowing Liam Miller, Victor Palsson and Lewis Stevenson to forge forward in support of Ricardo Vaz Te, deployed on this occasion as the spearhead of the attack.

At the back, too, they looked assured and in command, skipper Paul Hanlon marshalling the three 19-year-olds comprising the remainder of the visiting defence.

They were unable, however, to trouble Thistle goalkeeper Jonny Tuffy, Vaz Te sending a couple of headers along with a shot wide before clever play by Miller, defying both a gusting wind and hard, bobbly pitch to bring the ball down and deliver a deft touch into the path of Wotherspoon who managed only to drive a rising shot over.

That was as good as it got for Hibs as Caley struck twice either side of half-time. There appeared little danger as Ross Tokely delivered a deep cross towards the back post but Stephens was caught napping as Richie Foran stole in behind him to meet it, guiding his header back across Hibs goalkeeper Jakub Divis, the ball hitting the far post and appearing to cross the line. Adam Rooney made sure, but Foran was credited with the goal.

The breakthrough came three minutes before the interval and six minutes after the teams had reappeared it was all over for Hibs as Nicky Ross claimed a stunning second for Caley.

Hanlon had already been forced into one immaculately timed tackle to halt Rooney before the striker, linked with a move to Easter Road in January, fired over what looked like an optimistic cross to Ross lurking 20 yards out.

But he left Divis totally helpless as he took it first time, his volley crashing off the underside of the Czech goalkeeper's crossbar and, at least in the estimation of assistant referee Tom Murphy, over the line. A spectacular way to claim your first goal of the season. Calderwood admitted he was disappointed not to have seen his side press home their early superiority, saying: "The scoreline at half-time was quite harsh, but that's the game. It's harsh, we are a goal behind and then we lost a goal which would have won any game. "At the end of it we needed something to bounce in our favour. We worked away okay. We did not have so much possession and good play that we can be entirely pleased, but we are not totally disappointed either."

Hibs attempted to hit back, Vaz Te hammering in a rising shot but, like every effort from Calderwood's players in the opening hour, it failed to sting the hands of Tuffey.

Victory made no difference to Caley's league position but it did achieve Butcher's stated goal of 50 points, the former England defender pointing out the landmark also included Ross's 50th game and Caley's 50th SPL goal of the season, joking: "There's no 50 in the lottery or we would back it."

Rooney signalled he had no intention of resting on his laurels, believing he had scored with a tremendous shot from 25 yards which looked destined for the back of the net until Divis somehow threw himself across his line to fingertip away.

There were no such heroics for Tuffey at the other end, Hibs winning a succession of corners throughout the match without posing any great threat and when they did manage a shot on target, in the 69th minute, it was a tame effort from Stevenson that trundled through to the goalkeeper.

Akpo Sodje was introduced to add a bit of muscle alongside Vaz Te up front but there was little to unsettle the Caley defence, Calderwood deciding to take the risk of Martin Scott picking up the booking that would rule him out of the start of next season as Hibs tried to regain control in the middle of the park, joining the fray alongside Lewis Horner, the youngster making his debut.

In the end, however, Caley ran out comfortable winners, their record of not having lost at home to Hibs intact and on the evidence of these 90 minutes it's one which looks as if it will last for some time to come.

Now Calderwood and his players have one last chance, in Saturday's tribute to Famous Five legend Eddie Turnbull against Aberdeen, to give their fans something to cheer, although most will just be glad to see this season over at last.