Inverness 3-0 Hibernian: Fenlon’s men fall flat

HIBS six match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt in Inverness as Caley maintained their superb start to the season with a fourth successive win on their own turf.

Hibernian's Ryan McGivern faces a challenge from James Vincent. Picture: SNS

Scorers: Inverness - McKay (11, 61), Foran (59)

Hot-shot Billy McKay fired Terry Butcher’s side ahead in the tenth minute, taking advantage of an awful mistake in the heart of the visiting defence before skipper Richie Foran doubled Caley’s lead 14 minutes into the second half, his strike quickly followed by another from McKay taking his tally for the season to nine.

Hibs found themselves behind thanks to a horrible mix-up between goalkeeper Ben Williams. There was a clear if somewhat late shout of “keeper” as Graeme Shinnie swung in a cross from the left.

Nelson reacted by moving aside but Williams, standing just a yard or so behind, appeared to have anticipated his centre-half clearing, the ball bouncing off his chest and despite his efforts to retrieve the situation there was McKay to hook it home.

It could have got much worse for Hibs when twice in the space of two minutes they were guilty of gifting Caley possession. Paul Hanlon was the first, his pass foward interpected by Aaron Doran who quickly slipped it to McKay, the Hibs defender redeeming himself as he stretched out a leg to prevent the ball reaching the in-form striker.

Then Ryan McGivern was caught on the ball by Ross Draper who spotted Mackay’s run between Hanlon and Nelson and picked him out with a perfect pass but on this occasion the Northern Ireland forward was wide of target.

Hibs slowly found their way into the game and Scott Robertson’s flick from Hanlon’s long ball set Paul Heffernan free but he chose to shoot early and blasted wide of Dean Brill’s left hand post.

However, danger threatened again when Hanlon misjudged a high ball which dropped invitingly for McKay but again his parting effort was wayward.

And Caley got the second goal they probably felt their play deserved in the 59th minute, Nick Ross skipping past McGivern before swinging in a deep corner which was met beyond the far post by the head of substitute Ben Greenhalgh. The ball looped back over Williams, came off the bar and dropped kindly for Foran to drive into the net.

Two minutes later Caley made it three, McKay turning and twisting Nelson just outside the penalty area before drilling a superb shot into the bottom right hand corner of Williams’ net.

Those two quick goals had left Hibs looking thoroughly dispirited, and Caley might have had another when David Raven’s deep, hanging cross looped over Williams but came off the top of his bar.

Inverness Caley: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Doran, Draper (Agdestein 89), Foran, Ross (Polworth 79), Vincent (Greenhalgh 35), McKay.

Substitutes not used: Esson, Devine, Tremarco, D Williams.

Hibs: B Williams, Stevenson, Nelson, Hanlon, McGivern, Robertson, Taiwo (Zoubir 62), Thomson (Stanton 80), Craig, Collins, Heffernan (Vine 68).

Substitutes not used: Murdoch, McPake, Tudur Jones, Forster.

Referee: Willie Collum.