Hibernian 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1

Last updated : 27 November 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Hibs ruined Craig Brewster's first experience of football management with a come-from-behind win at Easter Road.

Goals either side of half time by Guillaume Beuzelin and Derek Riordan gave Hibs the points, but they had to weather a late storm before victory was assured.

But, over the 90 minutes, they deserved the three points and had chances to win by a greater margin.

Inverness flooded the midfield in a tactic designed to curb Hibs' passing game and it worked a treat in the early stages.

Apart from a tame free-kick from Riordan which finished well wide and a skywards shot from Dean Shiels, Hibs could not muster anything of note.

The home side persisted with the long though ball from the back in an attempt to catch out the Inverness defence and feed their mobile front players but they had little success against a towering defence.

Inverness could not manage much of note up front but Richie Hart tried his luck from 25 yards but his effort was always drifting wide.

But it was Inverness who took the lead 11 minutes from the break.

Hart won the ball 30 yards out and played Juanjo in and the Spaniard curled a delightful shot into the far side of the goal from 16 yards.

The goal prompted a reaction from the home side and they were level five minutes later with a superbly-crafted goal.

For once, Riordan beat the offside trap as he chased a 50-yard pass from Beuzelin and the striker held the ball up until his French team-mate could get into the box.

Riordan then delivered the perfect low cross for Beuzelin to sweep the ball into the far corner of the net.

Beuzelin almost returned the favour shortly before the break when he headed on a poor clearance but the angle was too tight for Riordan and he pulled his shot across the face of the goal.

Riordan made no mistake two minutes into the second half with a wonderful strike with the outside of his left foot.

Sam Morrow pushed the ball out wide to Alen Orman and his low cross was swept past Mark Brown by the young striker.

Orman had a chance himself shortly afterwards when the Inverness defence opened up invitingly but his right-foot shot was wayward.

But Inverness hit back and Simon Brown had to be on his toes to tip a Hart header over his crossbar Substitute Garry O'Connor should have put it out of reach when Steven Whittaker picked him out six yards from goal but he miscued and the chance was lost.

Inverness went in search of the equaliser in the closing stages and a fierce shot from Hart struck Ian Murray but bounced to safety and Hibs held on.

Brown made two fine saves in the final two minutes to deny Riordan and then O'Connor.