[DavidMc]

Hibernian 1-0 Inverness CT, 01/09/2007

Inverness paid the penalty for failing to score from the spot as Hibernian won an entertaining clash at Easter Road.
Steven Fletcher's penalty gave Hibs a second minute lead after Russell Duncan had handled in the box.

Hibs goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay then saved Marius Niculae's spot kick just before half-time.

Both sides had opportunites to score in the second-half, with Brian Kerr almost doubling Hibs' lead as the home side held on for victory.

Inverness player-manager Craig Brewster named himself in the starting line-up for the first league match of his second spell in charge of the Highland team - seven days after scoring twice for Aberdeen at Hibernian.


Dennis Wyness dropped to the bench to allow Brewster to play, while captain Grant Munro was restored to the team after missing the midweek win over Arbroath in the CIS Insurance Cup.

There was no place in the Hibernian side for striker Mickael Antoine-Curier who agreed to join from Norwegian side FK Haugesund.

Hibs manager John Collins showed faith in goalkeeper Ma-Kalambay despite his two costly errors in last week's 3-3 draw with Aberdeen.

Referee Eddie Smith awarded a penalty for handball by Stuart McCaffrey and Fletcher fired home in the second minute.

Hibs failed to double their lead when Zemmama fed Benjelloun in the 27th minute but the Moroccan's tame shot from an angle was easily smothered by Fraser.

Inverness should have equalised when they were awarded a penalty after new Brewster fell under a challenge from Rob Jones.

But Ma-Kalambay blocked Marius Niculae's spot kick with his legs.

Hibernian came within inches of adding a second goal in the 63rd minute in a move started and finished by Kerr.

The former Motherwell player powered forward and eventually collected a Stevenson pass, and his shot from inside the box bounced just past Fraser's post.

Despite Brewster's best efforts, Inverness could not restore parity as Hibs took the points.



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Hibernian: Kalambay, Gathuessi, Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Zemmama (Shiels 58), Kerr, Beuzelin, Stevenson (O'Brien 71), Fletcher, Benjelloun (Morais 46). Subs Not Used: McNeil, Donaldson, Joneleit, Lynch.

Booked: Jones.

Goals: Fletcher 2 pen.

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McCaffrey (McGuire 53), Munro, McBain, Wilson (Rankin 85), Black, Duncan, Cowie, Brewster, Niculae (Wyness 75). Subs Not Used: Malkowski, McAllister, McDonald, Vigurs.

Booked: Niculae, McGuire.

Att: 13,258

Ref: E Smith