Jim McIntyre knew it. The 3000 or so souls within the old ground knew it. But, most important, Terry Butcher knew it � his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side had just com�mitted one of the biggest acts of larceny of the 21st century.

Jim McIntyre knew it. The 3000 or so souls within the old ground knew it. But, most important, Terry Butcher knew it - his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side had just committed one of the biggest acts of larceny of the 21st century.

Butcher's boys had been battered, almost to a pulp, by Dunfermline, but a minute into time added on for stoppages at the end of the game, up popped Lee Cox to volley home a shot from the edge of the penalty area to steal all three points for the Highlanders.

An almost sheepish looking Butcher said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be going home with all three points because we didn't deserve them, and I told that to Jim McIntyre, as they put us under a severe amount of pressure.

"We did have one or two opportunities but it was a wonderful goal that won it for us and, with the great support that we had, it was good to send them back up the road happy."

A bemused McIntyre could hardly believe his side had failed to take at least a point after his side had dominated. The were especially in the ascendancy during the second half, in which they hit a post and brought out several fine saves from Ryan Esson, the pick being when he punched a Willie Gibson long-range thunderbolt which looked destined for the back of the net over the bar.

"Sometimes, football can kick you where it really hurts," the East End Park manager admitted. "I don't think we really deserved that result today. I thought we were much the better side, especially in the second half, when we had them hemmed in, but we didn't have any luck in front of goal."

The Dunfermline manager refused to blame the state of the grass - it seems the East End Park's groundsmen used new machinery on the surface and it was not trimmed to the desired length - for the defeat, although he did say it prevented them from playing their usual passing game.

"I was absolutely fuming when I saw the length of the grass, as that is not the way we like it here. The groundsmen have been caught short and that really did not help us. It is the first time it has ever happened and I can assure everyone that it never will again," he added.

Despite that opening-day defeat, McIntyre's men look a side that will be up there challenging at the sharp end when prize-giving comes around next May, as do the Highlanders.

The months ahead should provide some encouragement for fans of both clubs after the painful season they both endured last term, with Dunfermline failing to meet expectations in the first division and Inverness relegated from the top flight.