Inverness CT 3 Aberdeen 0: Fitting tribute staged to mark manager's decision to stay

Sunday 20 January 2013

Terry Butcher's decision to reject a move to Barnsley brought a swift reward as his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side returned to winning ways ahead of their Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final against Hearts at Easter Road on Saturday.

Graeme Shinnie does battle with Joe Shaughnessey

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Frank Gilfeather

Butcher milked the adulation of the home support as he and his players were accorded a standing ovation at the end of a compelling game and a second half they dominated, with all three goals coming after the break.

Swathes of Aberdeen fans, meanwhile, demonstrated their disappointment by heading down the A96 long before the final whistle.Billy McKay, with a double, and Andrew Shinnie were the scorers for Inverness, who had drawn their last two games before the winter break. The duo dismantled a lethargic Aberdeen defence in which captain Russell Anderson and young full-back Joe Shaughnessy looked particularly vulnerable. "I had this feeling that if we'd lost the game, everybody would have wished I'd gone to Barnsley," manager Butcher said. "But we knew we generally play well in the second half of games and, after they got the winter break out of their system, that's what happened. It's never easy against Aberdeen because they can hit you on the break with Niall McGinn, Jonny Hayes and Josh Magennis and we knew that if they had scored they would have put us under severe pressure."The Inverness run of one defeat in 20 games meant Aberdeen, who had Stephen Hughes making his first start for some time and Rob Milsom and Isaac Osbourne fit enough after long-term injuries to be named substitutes, were never going to underestimate their opponents.The early attacks at both ends indicated the fans might see goals. There were chances for both teams, most notably when Inverness striker Richie Foran was allowed a clear header eight yards out. The slumbering Aberdeen defence had goalkeeper Jamie Langfield to thank for rescuing them with a diving fingertip save.Hayes, meanwhile, shrugged off the boos of the home fans – still displeased by his summer defection to Pittodrie – to frequently prove problematic for his former employers. He fired a ferocious 25-yard drive over the bar before shooting into the arms of Caley goalkeeper Antonio Reguero from 12 yards.The home side's prowess at creating opportunities from midfield continued to present the visitors with significant difficulties and the unmarked Shinnie was inches from opening the scoring when he guided a David Raven cross just over the bar.Hayes continued to threaten on the right wing and cut the ball back to McGinn who shot just over. Luck smiled on Inverness in the early minutes of the second half. Hayes was allowed free passage into the area and would have scored but for the agility of Reguero in saving the Aberdeen winger's effort. When the breakthrough came – in the 54th minute – it arrived in spectacular fashion from the boot of Shinnie. Fed by Aaron Doran, the Caley Thistle playmaker, capitalised as Anderson lost his footing as he fired in an unstoppable shot from the tightest of angles.Seven minutes later it was the turn of McKay to once more show his worth in front of goal. When he took Ross Draper's pass, he still had to evade the attention of Clark Robertson and Mark Reynolds, but he shot past Langfield to underline Inverness's superiority. Draper was sent clear in the penalty box minutes later, but was stretching for the ball and poked just past a post.However, a third Caley goal arrived 12 minutes from time, courtesy of McKay with his 20th of the season. Shinnie headed Raven's cross into the path of the striker and he finished with aplomb."All the credit goes to Inverness," said Aberdeen manager Craig Brown. "Hayes had chances in each half, similar to those the home side had. The difference was they took them."

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Inverness CT 3 Aberdeen 0: Fitting tribute staged to mark manager's decision to stay

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