Inverness CT 0
Hearts 0

DESPONDENCY isn't an emotion that Graham Rix often indulges. In one aspect, neither should he be expected to, as his Hearts side head for Sunday's vital clash with Rangers boasting a six-point advantage in their Champions League quest.

Nevertheless, Rix would have been burdened by one unshakeable notion as he journeyed down the A9 on Saturday night, as would many others on the Hearts team coach - the squad is now firmly looking over their shoulders at a challenge from Glasgow that is gaining momentum.

Whilst Rix and his players were blown off course in blustery Inverness, Rangers' effecting of a convincing victory over Kilmarnock at Ibrox brings next weekend's meeting between second and third at Tynecastle sharply into focus.

From a psychological point of view, that match is now of the "must-win" variety for Hearts.

Stumbling in the Highlands on Saturday cost the Edinburgh club two SPL points, but it will arguably be their mindset that is tested most as a consequence of their disorderly performance in this 0-0 draw.

The domineering, free-flowing showings of the pre-Christmas period seem long gone, and the challenge for Hearts is to rediscover the forcefulness that created them in the first place before this weekend.

Rix, as is his mantra, will seek only the positives, saying: "Where would we rather be, six points ahead of Rangers or six points behind and chasing them?

"I'm not disconsolate about our play, because Barcelona wouldn't have been able to play football in those conditions. I'm just hoping there's no wind at Tynecastle on Sunday so we can play a bit of football."

Opportunities for that were completely absent at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, where the bitingly-cold wind swirled overhead for the entire 90 minutes. Hearts' cause wasn't helped by the absence of four central figures in Steven Pressley, Rudi Skacel, Edgaras Jankauskas and Julien Brellier, the first three injured and the latter suspended.

In particular, it has been notable in recent weeks since Brellier's competitive nature took him over the disciplinary threshold how unsteady his colleagues have become against Aberdeen, Livingston and now Inverness.

"Julien does a great job for us and is a bit of an unsung hero, I think," said Rix. "He's really competitive and we missed that. Pressley, Skacel, Jankauskas - they are regular players for me and you are going to miss them.

I don't know what sort of affect they would have had on that match, because the conditions were unreal. You ask any footballer. The worst element you can try to contend with is the wind."

That may not be entirely accurate, for surely the most trying of hurdles would be provided by energetic and crafty opponents like Inverness, who had the omnipotent Richie Hart as their chief tormentor.

Roman Bednar's movement and positional sense proved problematic to Inverness in the game's early stages until they combated his threat, and Takis Fyssas had a header from Paul Hartley's corner palmed away by the home goalkeeper Mark Brown.

After that it was Inverness, inspired by Hart, who made most of the running in the lead-up to the interval, as their visitors toiled to fashion any clear-cut chances with the powerful wind behind them.

On 37 minutes, Alan Morgan's through ball to Hart saw the midfielder scamper away from the clutches of Andy Webster and face Craig Gordon one-on-one.

Hart attempted to knock the ball low and hard past the goalkeeper, but Gordon's left hand instantly sprung out to rescue his side as the away support behind him held their breath.

Moments later Hart again prised an admirable save from the Hearts keeper when he clipped a Ross Tokely cutback towards goal from the right side of the penalty area. After Gordon had palmed it away, it was difficult to ignore the likelihood that his interventions would have a major bearing on the final outcome.

"The two saves from Craig were vital," admitted Rix. "Our back four and goalkeeper were fantastic and I think they were the ones who pulled us through.

"I wrote on the board before the match, 'second balls', because I knew once we got here and saw the conditions and felt the wind swirling that it would be difficult. Having said that, I don't think we picked up enough of those second balls and that allowed Inverness at us.

"It was just impossible for us to play any football. We just had to kick it, squeeze up, use long throws, that kind of thing. I said to the players before the match that it would be an ugly match. I think that proved to be right.

"I'm disappointed because we want to win every game, but the ball was bouncing up in the air and swirling all over the place. Our attitude was good and the players worked hard for me. I don't feel we could ask for any more under the circumstances."

Again, there could be a case for arguing with the head coach about his assessment. Hearts had not a single shot, on or off target, during a miserable second half. Inverness were marginally better, again with Hart the principle danger in the absence of the precluded Dennis Wyness, who did not play as a condition of his loan deal from Tynecastle.

"We had two or three important players out, as did Hearts to be fair," said Charlie Christie, the Highlanders' manager. "But I'd be very surprised if there was anybody inside the Caledonian Stadium who thought we didn't deserve to win the game.

"We dominated and, barring two exceptional saves from Craig Gordon, would have gone in at half-time leading. To dominate a team of Hearts' calibre for long parts of the game deserves a pat on the back for the players."

Craft was missing in the wide areas for Hearts with the weather conditions not conducive to the footballing philosophies of players like Chris Hackett and Deividas Cesnauskis. The former was replaced after 67 minutes by Jamie McAllister, who then had to be substituted himself after suffering an awkward twist of his left knee in a tackle with Hart.

As the defender was stretchered from the field with the minutes ticking away, a glimpse of Hearts' anguish bared itself, Rix giving a mouthful to a trackside photographer who had snapped an image of McAllister's pain-etched face as he was being carried down the tunnel.

Frustration is as good a word as any to sum up Hearts' day. When they get the chance on Sunday to all but sink Rangers' hopes of a return to the Champions League next season, Rix and his team must now avoid the same emotion returning.

Taken from the Scotsman