A Gary Warren double helped give Inverness a win against Hearts in a feisty encounter in the capital.

Hearts bounced back to level twice with goals from Jason Holt and Andy Webster.

But the Highlanders continued to hit back and Billy McKay was also on the scoresheet as Terry Butcher's side returned to second place in the Scottish Premier League table.

The first real chance fell to Webster but the Hearts defender's half-volley sailed over from just five yards out.

The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes and it was a text book set piece.

Aaron Doran curled a free-kick to the six-yard box and Warren out-jumped the Hearts defence to nod the ball down and past Jamie MacDonald.

Their lead was almost doubled minutes later but Owain Tudur Jones' low driven free-kick just crept past the post.

With both sides battling for possession, the game was being stretched from end to end and once again the Highlanders found the net.

This time though McKay was flagged offside before he slotted under MacDonald - it looked pretty tight.

Darren Barr past up a glorious chance to level just after the break. Arvydas Novikovas whipped in a wonderful free-kick, but instead of blasting into the net from six yards Barr swiped at fresh air and looked to the heavens as the ball trundled out.

It was all-square on 55 minutes though thanks to Hearts youngster Holt. He showed poise and composure to shrug off a challenge before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Ryan Esson.

That gave the home fans hope of avoiding their third straight defeat but Caley striker Billy McKay had other ideas.

Just six minutes after the equaliser he duped the Hearts defence to nod in at the back post and give his side the lead once more.

Webster hit back with a deflected equaliser but the visitors just refused to lie down and were ahead once again just minutes later.

Warren grabbed his second and the visitors' third with a bullet header to seal the points and compound a worrying week for all in Gorgie.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Heart of Midlothian

  • 01 MacDonald
  • 04 Wilson
  • 05 Barr Booked
  • 06 Webster
  • 14 Walker (Smith - 87' )
  • 29 McHattie
  • 30 Mullen (Sutton - 64' )
  • 15 Holt
  • 27 Tapping
  • 18 Novikovas (B King - 73' )
  • 21 Ngoo Booked

Substitutes

  • 13 Ridgers
  • 10 Taouil
  • 16 Prychynenko
  • 19 McGowan
  • 09 Sutton
  • 12 Smith
  • 32 B King

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

  • 01 Esson
  • 02 Raven
  • 03 Shinnie Booked
  • 05 Warren
  • 27 Devine Booked
  • 04 Tudur-Jones Booked
  • 08 Draper
  • 10 Shinnie
  • 11 Ross
  • 07 McKay (Sutherland - 79' )
  • 17 Doran (Taylor - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 12 Reguero
  • 28 Taylor
  • 20 Laing
  • 21 Polworth
  • 22 Pepper
  • 26 Gibbons
  • 18 Sutherland
Ref: Madden
Att: 11,325

Match Stats

Shots

13 5

On target

4 2

Corners

7 4

Fouls

16 17

Live Text Commentary

93:37 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:01

Shot on goal by Shane Sutherland from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

90:00 +1:37

The assistant referee flags for offside against Shane Sutherland. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

90:00 +0:51 Substitution

Substitution Charlie Taylor comes on in place of Aaron Doran.

89:01

Nick Ross fouled by Gordon Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gary Warren.

88:40

Shane Sutherland is caught offside. Danny Wilson takes the free kick.

87:59

John Sutton concedes a free kick for a foul on Owain Tudur Jones. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Esson.

86:47 Substitution

Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Gordon Smith coming on for Jamie Walker.

86:47 Substitution

Substitution Gordon Smith joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jamie Walker.

83:24

Jason Holt takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Esson.

82:38

Gary Warren challenges Billy King unfairly and gives away a free kick. Darren Barr restarts play with the free kick.

81:03

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Aaron Doran, Gary Warren takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.

80:13

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Billy King,

79:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Callum Tapping on Andrew Shinnie. Free kick taken by Gary Warren.

78:02 Substitution

Substitution Shane Sutherland replaces Billy McKay.

78:02

Jamie Walker takes a shot.

76:39

Assist on the goal came from Graeme Shinnie.

76:39 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Warren - Hearts 2 - 3 Inverness Gary Warren fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 2-3 Inverness CT.

76:13

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Graeme Shinnie,

74:56

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save by Ryan Esson. Corner from the left by-line taken by Jamie Walker, Ross Draper manages to make a clearance.

73:14 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Webster - Hearts 2 - 2 Inverness A goal is scored by Andy Webster from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 2-2 Inverness CT.

72:36

Corner taken right-footed by Billy King, Michael Ngoo takes a shot.

72:02 Substitution

Substitution Billy King replaces Arvydas Novikovas.

69:51

Arvydas Novikovas takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

68:37

The official flags Billy McKay offside. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.

66:24

Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker, Danny Wilson takes a shot. Danny Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Billy McKay. Daniel Devine takes the direct free kick.

64:35

Arvydas Novikovas concedes a free kick for a foul on Owain Tudur Jones. Daniel Devine takes the direct free kick.

63:38 Substitution

Substitution John Sutton is brought on as a substitute for Fraser Mullen.

63:38

Jamie Walker takes a shot.

62:44

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Aaron Doran, clearance by Andy Webster. Free kick awarded for a foul by Ross Draper on Andy Webster. Direct free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

61:00

The assist for the goal came from Ross Draper.

61:00 Goal scored

Goal - Billy McKay - Hearts 1 - 2 Inverness Billy McKay finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Hearts 1-2 Inverness CT.

60:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Arvydas Novikovas on Andrew Shinnie. Direct free kick taken by Graeme Shinnie.

59:12

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Aaron Doran played to the near post, clearance made by Darren Barr.

56:01

Michael Ngoo fouled by Ross Draper, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Arvydas Novikovas.

54:29

Assist by Darren Barr.

54:29 Goal scored

Goal - Jason Holt - Hearts 1 - 1 Inverness Jason Holt grabs a goal from just inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 1-1 Inverness CT.

51:50

Ryan Esson restarts play with the free kick.

51:50 Booking

Booking Darren Barr is booked.

51:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Darren Barr.

49:56

Arvydas Novikovas restarts play with the free kick.

49:56 Booking

Booking Booking for Graeme Shinnie for unsporting behaviour.

49:42

Graeme Shinnie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Walker.

49:14

Andrew Shinnie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren Barr. Direct free kick taken by Darren Barr.

48:49

Unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Jamie Walker results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Graeme Shinnie.

46:55

Foul by Daniel Devine on Kevin McHattie, free kick awarded. Arvydas Novikovas takes the free kick.

46:35

Daniel Devine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Arvydas Novikovas. Arvydas Novikovas restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +0:13 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

43:43

Graeme Shinnie fouled by Jamie Walker, the ref awards a free kick. Graeme Shinnie takes the direct free kick.

43:22

Owain Tudur Jones fouled by Jason Holt, the ref awards a free kick. Graeme Shinnie takes the free kick.

41:32

Darren Barr has an effort at goal from the just inside the penalty area hitting the post.

40:25

Graeme Shinnie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Ngoo. Direct free kick taken by Andy Webster.

39:18

Graeme Shinnie fouled by Michael Ngoo, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Graeme Shinnie.

38:25

Direct free kick taken by Danny Wilson.

38:25 Booking

Booking Owain Tudur Jones goes into the book.

38:05

Darren Barr fouled by Andrew Shinnie, the ref awards a free kick.

37:01

Jason Holt fouled by Daniel Devine, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Webster takes the free kick.

36:24

Aaron Doran challenges Andy Webster unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

34:10

The offside flag is raised against Billy McKay. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.

32:21

Shot from inside the area by Fraser Mullen clears the bar.

31:09

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Fraser Mullen.

29:43

Unfair challenge on Darren Barr by Owain Tudur Jones results in a free kick. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.

27:50

Aaron Doran is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Andy Webster takes the free kick.

26:36

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker from the left by-line, Ryan Esson manages to make a clearance.

25:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Arvydas Novikovas by David Raven. Direct free kick taken by Kevin McHattie.

24:23

Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Fraser Mullen, save made by Ryan Esson.

24:23 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Daniel Devine for unsporting behaviour.

24:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Daniel Devine on Michael Ngoo.

22:09

Owain Tudur Jones gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Callum Tapping. Free kick taken by Danny Wilson.

21:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Raven on Arvydas Novikovas. Kevin McHattie takes the direct free kick.

19:27

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Callum Tapping. Owain Tudur Jones fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

14:58

The assist for the goal came from Aaron Doran.

14:58 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Warren - Hearts 0 - 1 Inverness Gary Warren scores a headed goal from inside the box. Hearts 0-1 Inverness CT.

14:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Doran by Andy Webster. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Aaron Doran from right channel,

13:17

Andrew Shinnie is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.

12:11

Daniel Devine concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Ngoo. Arvydas Novikovas takes the direct free kick.

8:21

The assistant referee flags for offside against Billy McKay. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.

6:02

The official flags Andrew Shinnie offside. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.

5:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Fraser Mullen on Aaron Doran. Graeme Shinnie takes the free kick.

4:05

Graeme Shinnie fouled by Jamie Walker, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Esson takes the free kick.

2:44

Michael Ngoo challenges Gary Warren unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Esson takes the free kick.

1:33

Corner taken right-footed by Fraser Mullen. Shot from just outside the box by Andy Webster goes over the bar.

0:31 Booking

Booking The referee shows Michael Ngoo a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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