Inverness CT 0 - 2 Aberdeen: Hosts on target twice for benefit of visitors

IN THE optimistic build-up to this north derby, Terry Butcher sounded like a man wishing to throw an arm around some of his out-of-contract Caley Thistle players.

Aberdeen counterpart Craig Brown, patience close to snapping after a gut-wrenching Scottish Cup exit at Hampden, seemed more inclined to place a hand around his players’ throats.

By full-time yesterday, it seemed the roles and attitudes had reversed.

Butcher had seen a marginally superior Inverness – albeit in a woefully inadequate game of football – succumb to two own-goals.

Brown could at least draw heart from the return to action after five years of Russell Anderson in defence and the welcome sight of Jamie Langfield back in goal 11 months after a life-threatening illness.

For Butcher, this third consecutive home defeat was a little too much to take. “They haven’t had an effort until right at the end, but we’ve scored two goals for them. It sums up our luck this season,” the Englishman said.

“The energy, that desire, just wasn’t there. It’s a nice sunny day, perhaps too many were thinking about sun loungers and pina coladas. Some of them can have pina coladas for the rest of their lives, as far as I’m concerned.”

Two own-goals – the first a terrible blunder by Spaniard Roman Golobart – gifted the Dons a welcome win.

The stand-out for the hosts, winger Aaron Doran, curled a decent free-kick on to the roof of the net.

Almost on half-time, Gavin Rae created the best chance of the game so far. His cleverly-weighted pass freed Jack near the edge of the box. His effort caught home keeper Jonny Tuffey static but bobbled an inch or two wide of the right hand post.

Golobart’s mishap came less than a minute into the second half. Josh Magennis launched a long bullet throw from the far right. The Spaniard went to knock it clear with his head at the front post but somehow let it skim off the top of his skull and flash into Tuffey’s net.

Injury to Rory Fallon soon after had 16-year-old Cameron Smith blooded for his Dons debut.

A surging run by Gregory Tade ended with Magennis booked for a chop of the legs right on the edge of the box. When Johnny Hayes rolled the free-kick a foot sideways, defender Steve Williams stabbed wastefully over.

Caley Thistle held the upper hand as they pressed for an equaliser late in the game. But it was all over for the Highlanders a minute from time as Magennis spun away from Golobart near the centre line.

A tremendous surge from the full-back took him clean through on Tuffey, whose block smacked back off Kenny Gillet’s shins and into the net. It was a dismal end to a very poor game of football.

MAN OF THE MATCH Russell Anderson (Aberdeen) Strolled through the game, hardly breaking a sweat.

TALKING POINT Jamie Langfield’s return from serious illness was heart-warming.

Referee: S MacLean. Attendance: 3,487