Own Golobart makes a point:
Roman Golobart scored a fabulous goal full of Spanish flair to lift the doom and gloom at the Caledonian Stadium and earn a point for Kilmarnock. Unfortunately the fabulous goal was at the wrong end as he chipped a ball high into Esson's goal just like Messi. He also earned a point for Inverness after bundling home a ball on the goal line to deservedly give Inverness a share of the points, no more than they deserved.
A rare sighting at Inverness yesterday, Sam Winnall made a start to help out Billy McKay in attack with Hayes out with a hamstring injury, and the injured Kenny Gillet being replaced by Graeme Shinnie at left back.
Kenny Shiels rested some players with the League Cup final looming next weekend and started with Heffernan and Fowler on the bench.
It was a lively start to the game for the new front pairing as they darted around in sprightly fashion and McKay offloaded a shot inside two minutes, but like most of todays twenty odd attempts it was off target. Winnall made Bell earn his crust as he scampered into the box and fired one goalwards after McKay was upended, this time on target but Bell saved well diverting the ball for a corner.
What were Killie doing while we were trying to attack their goal; well nothing really. We were dominating the game while managing to look toothless up front, but the effort was there, well it was until Gnakpa came on later in the game. Tansey forced Bell into another top drawer save as he managed to get one low enough to make the keeper work. That was a bit of a rarity as well, a Tansey shot on target, but normal service would be resumed as Tade fired one high over when well placed. Killie did manage a corner as they ventured forth but no damage to the home rearguard as Esson cleared the danger with a couple of swift left hooks.
Then, with half an hour gone, we conceded an own Golobart. Classy young Spaniard Roman Golobart in attempting to clear a Harkins centre lifted the ball into the roof of Esson's net in spectacular fashion from ten yards. He appeared to be caught in three minds, neither heading clear, hoofing over the bar or knocking back to Esson, he simply did the difficult thing and put the ball where Esson could not reach it, right in the top corner. Stunning! Messi eat yer heart out.
This was against the run of play, where have I heard this before. Tade managed one on target before Tansey shot over, high and wide. I see a pattern forming here, a sort of one on, one off..... The hard working Richie Foran blocked a Silva effort as the game flow levelled out and before the break Golobart tried to make amends but his shot was mistimed and Bell collected comfortably.
Half Time 0-1 (ouch)
Second half started like the first, early effort from Sutherland this time going well over. Tansey narrowly missed the target as he dragged a low shot just wide of Bell's right hand post from the edge of the box. Golobart and Bell clashed going for a fifty fifty ball and Bell took some time out for a knock with the referee mysteriously awarding a free kick for the sliding challenge. Tade put one on, one off as we forced the pace of the game but the breakthrough looked like being always out of reach.
Killie were being pushed onto the back foot and little was seen of their attacking intent. Winnall was next to miss the eight yard wide target and that was about it on his first start which had begun promisingly. A baffling substitution then raised a few hackles when Gnakpa replaced the industrious Tade, or should that be industrial. Not a popular decision as would become evident by Gnakpa's lack of interest in the proceedings, and Ross replaced the unfortunate Sam, this change proved more worthwhile as Ross was able to hold the ball and find players with his tight passing.
Tom, Dick and Harry were having a go now, as Meekings and Sutherland shot high and wide again. It looked as though it was not going to be our day as Foran did well to burst into the box, unfortunately his clipped shot was blocked brilliantly by Bell and Foran knew he should have done better.
With time running out and luck on the visitors side, up popped Roman at the right end to knock home the equaliser after McKay had knocked the ball goalwards. Olé. The move had began with some good Inverness pressure and when the ball came back to Sutherland on the right wing he whipped an excellent ball into the box and Richie Foran acrobatically volleyed the ball goalwards, Cammy Bell made a tremendous reflex save before McKay nodded it into the feet of the Spaniard. Relief all round and still time for a winner. However, instead of settling us down, we started to get jittery and Kilmarnock suddenly woke up. They produced a series of corners in a frenetic finish to the game but in fairness, we held firm and Esson eventually had some work to do as he saved from Nelson. It was squeaky bum time now, but the ball was kept out and the game slipped into full time.
Full Time 1-1
Strange game to assess as every fan at the game saw a different picture. It was entertaining enough without setting the heather on fire and but for squandering numerous chances that came our way we should have won in style. But that's not the Inverness way just now and a point each it was.
Despite scoring an own goal, Roman Golobart was my MotM and showed great confidence to come back from his first goal to eventually force home the equaliser. Richie Foran ran himself to a standstill, unable to run near the end and Shinnie, Meekings and McKay tried their best. The one downside today was our inability to hit a target than stands eight yards wide and eight feet tall in old money. What do we practice? Cammy Bell was probably deserving of the games MotM as he made a few excellent stops to keep the score down.
One further pat on the back goes to the nurse who entertained the North Stand. I think I'm in love, Mwah.
Match report written by tm4tj
