INVERNESS achieved a winning start to the season with their first ever victory over Aberdeen – at the 18th time of asking. "It was going to have to happen one day," said Caley Thistle manager Craig Brewster. "It's nice it's finally come around."
A
ndy Barrowman scored on his Premier League debut. Roy McBain, on his 300th appearance for Inverness, made absolutely sure in the closing moments. Aberdeen have a habit of disappointing Caley late in the day. Not yesterday. The Dons were dire. The home support turned up at Pittodrie optimistically and piled out displeased after such a poor display. Jimmy Calderwood has tried five times to deliver three points on the opening day. It hasn't happened yet.
"Inverness defended well and were dangerous," said Calderwood. "They had this thing where they hadn't beaten Aberdeen. We started playing against ourselves."
Every man played their part for the Inverness team.
Thistle were particularly effective in midfield and solid at the back. "Right from the start I thought we were up for it," said Brewster. "I was quietly confident before the game that this could be the day. We played some good stuff."
Inverness dominated the first half and took a deserved lead just shy of the half-hour. Aberdeen lost possession in front of their penalty area, there was a neat exchange on the right wing between Dougie Imrie and Ross Tokely, who provided the low and telling centre and Barrowman supplied the simple but effective finish from inside the six-yard box.
Aberdeen came out fighting after the break and tried to hit back but without any success. The best that you could say of them was that they were not on the back foot.
As Aberdeen chased the game they became increasingly desperate. Inverness were holding on. It wasn't quite backs-to-the-wall but they were back in their own half most of the time. Then they managed to break free and put the match beyond doubt. Imrie was instrumental in the swift move and he fed McBain on the right. The angle was ambitious and there was still some distance to go but McBain struck a superb right foot low effort into the near corner.
Smith struck the Inverness post and Mackie cleared the bar but nothing was going to happen for Aberdeen now. It had become Inverness's day.
Brewster's side had shown the right application from the outset and they were appropriately rewarded for their impressive performance.
The full article contains 432 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
