Inverness Caley Thistle enhanced their chances of playing SPL football next season by denting Hearts' UEFA Cup dreams with two second half goals in a 2-0 win at Tynecastle.

Former Hibs defender Darren Dods gave the Highland outfit the lead with a well directed header before Barry Wilson added a second from the penalty spot in a well disciplined performance.

Hearts enjoyed the lions share of possession in the first half but could not break down a resilient Caley rearguard as they were made to rue a host of missed chances.

Despite Hearts manager John Robertson bemoaning the fact that he only had 10 fit first team players fit for this clash, the Tynecastle club were only forced into making three changes.

Debutant Jason Thomson, Graham Weir and Neil Janczyk were all handed starting berths as the hosts refused to let the virus, which has severely hampered their preparations for this game, affect them.

Dennis Wyness, the former Inverness player, was relishing playing against his old club and was involved in nearly all of the hosts' moves, but he should have done better in the ninth minute having cleverly created room to shoot.

Wyness received a pass from Thomson before skipping past Richie Hart but he lacked composure as he lashed his left-footed shot high and wide.

Despite being pinned back during the opening exchanges, it was Caley who conjured up an even better goal scoring opportunity.

Stuart Golabek's cross from the left was headed back across goal by Roy McBain but defender Andy Webster came to the rescue of the stranded Craig Gordon to clear the ball off the goal line.

Hearts continued to press the visitors in search of the opening goal, winger Joe Hamill sent a rasping shot just inches wide of Mark Brown's goal from 20 yards.

Inverness returned for the second period with a spring in their step knowing another SPL win would probably seal their place in the division.

However, it was Hearts that looked more likely to score.

Defender Christophe Berra saw his looping header from David Cesnauskis' corner punched clear by keeper Brown before Wyness headed inches over.

Manager Robertson's side were made to rue those missed chances as Dods then gave Caley the lead in the 56th minute.

The defender rose unmarked eight yards from goal to direct Hart's free-kick high into the corner of the net past the hapless Gordon.

Hearts, however, came close to levelling the scores just seconds later from the foot of Caley defender Ross Tokely.

Pint-sized striker Graham Weir bulleted a header goal-wards and Tokely's sliced clearance hit the top of the bar before dropping onto the netting.

Things got worse for the hosts as Caley added a second in the 73rd minute.

Young defender Berra's performances have been flawless when covering for both Andy Webster and Steven Pressley recently but he was at fault with a poor pass back which led to Caley winning a penalty.

Wilson raced on to the slack pass to Gordon before being felled by the keeper in the box, with referee Craig Thomson showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Wilson brushed himself down before coolly dispatching the penalty past Gordon to seal a vital three points in their bid to stay in the top-flight.

Teams:

Hearts Gordon, Thomson, Webster, Berra, Wallace, Cesnauskis (Pereira 64), Janczyk (Thorarinsson 69), Wyness, Hamill, Miller (Elliot 84), Weir.

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Tierney, Pelosi, Lithgow.

Booked: Gordon.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, McBain, Golabek, Wilson (Fox 90), Duncan, Hart, Munro, Juanjo (Bayne 79), Brewster (Prunty 80).

Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Hastings, Fatai.

Booked: Golabek.

Goals: Dods 55, Wilson 73 pen.

Att: 9,822

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).