CALEY Thistle coped with seven changes to their line-up to post a 1-0 Clydesdale Bank SPL win against Hearts on Saturday.
ICT were without Spanish defender Roman Golobart and midfielder Andrew Shinnie after both players were injured in the midweek Scottish Cup win at Dunfermline Athletic.
In total, those seven changes to the Highlanders’ squad mainly through the lengthy injury list didn’t affect them as they extended their unbeaten run to six games.
Third placed Hearts arrived at rain-lashed Inverness after volunteers and home club officials ensured the pitch was clear and it beat the 2pm inspection.
The first chance fell to the visitors when Jamie Hammel cracked a 25-yarder off the crossbar.
At the opposite end, Greg Tansey’s free-kick was gathered by keeper Marian Kello.
On 11 minutes, ICT captain Richie Foran then tested Kello after cutting inside the penalty box.
The makeshift team settled well and Gregory Tade forced a save from Kello after being picked out by Tansey.
Hearts were dealt a blow on 19 minutes when Stephen Elliot picked up a knock, although he was replaced by the impressive David Templeton.
It didn’t take long for Templeton to draw a save from keeper Ryan Esson with a swerving shot in the wind.
ICT thought they had taken the lead on 36 minutes when Kenny Gillet knocked home a spilled shot from Kello, but Shane Sutherland had crept into an offside position and the goal was disallowed.
The final opportunities in the first half came for Caley Thistle, Nick Ross pulling his shot past the right post before Tade came close from a Steve Williams delivery.
Four minutes into the second half, ICT edged in front.
Hayes went on a terrific run down the left flank and his cross was buried by Sutherland, who headed his first goal of the campaign.
Hearts could have equalised moments later, but Ian Black’s corner failed to find a taker in the box.
On 66 minutes, Sutherland then want for the spectacular when he aimed for goal from the touchline, his effort coming back off the inside of the post.
With 10 minutes to go, a surging run from Tansey had Hearts rattled. He fed the ball through for Foran, who was denied by Kello.
ICT survived a scare on 85 minutes when Josh Meekings seemed to take down Templeton in the box. No spot kick was given, much to the visitors’ fury.
John Sutton then almost netted for Hearts, but fired his low shot wide and Inverness held on.
Inverness CT: Esson, Hayes, Tansey, Foran, Ross (Tokely 86), Proctor, Tade (McKay 89), Sutherland, Gillet, Williams, Meekings. Subs not used: Tuffey (GK), Piermayr, Morrison, Graeme Shinnie.
Hearts: Kello, Hammill, Barr (Santana 63), Webster, Black (Obua 68), Elliot (Templeton 19), Sutton, McGowan, Skacel, Robinson, Mrowiec. Subs not used: MacDonald (GK), Glen, Prychynenko, Holt.
Referee: George Salmon.
Attendance: 3,812.
