Inverness CT 2-0 Hibs: Cup finalists sink to a lame defeat in the Highlands

IT IS FAIR to say Hibernian probably had greater things on their minds on Saturday. The small matter of a first all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final showdown since the 19th century, perhaps.

Just before 5pm on Saturday evening, though, they would also have had some harsh words from manager Pat Fenlon ringing in their ears.

What must have made a lame defeat in Inverness all the more galling for Fenlon was the lack of fight. With eight precautionary changes made, most of these players should surely have been scrapping tooth and nail for the chance to play at Hampden Park.

Few, if any, took the chance to place a seed in the manager’s mind ahead of Hibs’ quest to recapture the silverware they last won in 1902.

For Ivan Sproule, one of those re-introduced to the starting line-up after a lean few weeks’ involvement, there was obvious frustration at the missed opportunity. The jet-heeled Hibernian winger apologised to fans after the men from Leith wilted all too easily in the Inverness sunshine.

“It was a disappointing performance when you consider players were playing for places in the cup final squad,” Sproule admitted. “We were second best all over the park to Inverness and we had as much to play for as them.

“We are disappointed to let the manager down and the fans that travelled up. The cup final maybe was in the back of our minds, but it is still no excuse.

“Everybody has their own agenda but we are a team and we have pulled together well in recent weeks.

“It is a big game next week but we had to put it to one side for the trip up here. I apologise to the fans that travelled up as it was not good enough.

“The changing room was embarrassed as it was not an acceptable performance.

“I have played all season long and I have played most of the cup games as well. In the last three games, I found myself on the bench which has been frustrating. I have felt as if I played a major part in the cup run and to miss out on the final and not start would be a major disappointment.

“It is football and football fires these things at you. All I can do is get a good week’s training behind me.

“I tried to dig in and work as hard as I could in a team that had a lot of changes. Hopefully that can carry me through to next week and the manager has a headache to pick a team. But whatever team he picks, he picks.”

Sproule, in his second spell in Leith either side of a successful four years with Bristol City, admits the Scottish Cup buzz of anticipation is overwhelming. Hibs will now escape it, with a few days’ training in a Dublin golfing resort.

“It is a massive game to look forward to on Saturday but the club have been down at the bottom of the league all year,” the 31 year-old lamented.

“It was the last game of the season and we wanted to show a wee bit more fight and determination. We will not let our disappointment roll into next week. We have a big week ahead of us to prepare and the manager did rest a few players to prepare for it.

“There are a lot of fresh legs to come back in and it sets it up well for next week. Today and tomorrow the disappointment will still linger over today’s result. To be honest, I am glad to see the back of the league and ready to start next year again.”

Saturday’s low-key occasion could hardly have been more different to what they will encounter at Hampden. Of the recent first-team regulars, only Garry O’Connor, Matt Doherty and Tom Soares started, with O’Connor hauled off at half-time as precaution. Young goalkeeper Paul Grant made his Hibs debut and could hardly have wished for a quieter first half with both sides misfiring.

Caley Thistle, out to secure tenth place and the extra £80,000 in SPL earnings, took the game by the scruff of the neck after the break.

Jonny Hayes, outstanding again in what may have been his last fling for Caley, was fouled outside the box by David Stephens after 62 minutes. Greg Tansey stepped up and swirled a superb free kick high past the young ’keeper.

The killer second came when Doherty went to head clear Billy McKay’s cross in a challenge with Shane Sutherland. The ball rolled against his hand and referee John Beaton blew for the penalty, which Hayes dispatched calmly, sending Grant the wrong way.

Inverness boss Terry Butcher now faces a busy spell re-negotiating deals and releasing players. Goalscorer Tansey is one of a dozen or more whose futures are up in the air.

The former Stockport County midfielder is courting interest from England, but insists the stunning free-kick finish may not be his parting shot.

“I would not say it is my last game for the club,” the 23-year-old Liverpudlian said. “The manager and Maurice Malpas have been great with me throughout the season. I feel as though I have come on a lot as a player with them. I have a lot to thank them for and I would never say I would never come back as I have really enjoyed it this season.

“No contract talks have started yet and I would be willing to stay on at the club, definitely. You hear bits and bobs about other clubs being interested, but I don’t want to know throughout the season. Players can get their heads turned if they think about those things and I have been concentrating on Caley Thistle.

“I would happily be here next season, but we will just have to wait and see.”