Aberdeen 0-2 Inverness CT

Aug 10 2008 Scott Mcdermott At Pittodrie

CALEY made a dream start to their season after securing their first EVER win over Aberdeen. The Highlanders finally beat the Dons at the 18th attempt thanks to goals from new boy Andrew Barrowman and Roy McBain.

Few could have predicted such a comfortable victory for Craig Brewster's men who picked the Dons off with some terrific counter-attacking football.

Most pundits had tipped Inverness to struggle this season, with many earmarking them for relegation. But Brewster's boys simply used that tag as motivation to record a fantastic win.

Jimmy Calderwood's side weren't at the races and never looked like breaching a Caley rearguard brilliantly marshalled by skipper Grant Munro.

Striker Barrowman also impressed on his first competitive start and was delighted to net on his SPL debut.

He said: "It's pleasing to score because as a striker it's important to get off to a good start. A lot of people probably doubted if I could play at this level and I'm determined to prove them wrong.

"I believe in my own ability and the gaffer wouldn't have brought me here if he didn't have faith in me. I intend to repay him by scoring more goals.

"We've read people saying we'd struggle and maybe go down. But it was pinned up on the dressing-room wall and only acted as extra motivation for us to come here and get a result."

Brew admitted he felt this was the day they would end their Aberdeen hoodoo and praised his captain Munro.

The Caley boss said: "A win over Aberdeen was going to come eventually and I was quietly confident.

"Our performance was epitomised by Grant's header in the first half when he took the ball, Lee Miller, everything. I thought then: 'We're up for this.' I'm pleased for Andrew as well. I believe if you can score goals you can do it at any level.

"We've only played one game so can't get carried away but I thought we deserved our win."

Calderwood handed debuts to Mark Kerr, Gary McDonald and Charlie Mulgrew but fellow new boy Tommy Wright was not fit to start.

Despite the home side applying most of the pressure early on it was Brewster's men who edged ahead in 28 minutes.

Jamie Smith lost possession in the middle of the park and it was a terrific move from then.

Dougie Imrie picked out the over-lapping Ross Tokely on the right flank and his superb ball was perfect for Barrowman to tap home from four yards.

Plenty clubs had a look at the 23-year-old in the summer but only Brew gambled on the former Birmingham front man, who rattled goals in for fun at Ross County.

On this showing he looks as if he can make the step up with minimum fuss.

This may have been the first game of a new season but for Calderwood at Pittodrie some things will never change.

Just 45 minutes into the campaign and his side were BOOED off at half-time by a disgruntled home support.

It was no better after the break. The Donse huffed and puffed but never looked like breaking Caley down. And it was the visitors who threatened to double their lead.

Ricky Foster gave the ball away and Imrie's curling shot from 20 yards had Jamie Langfield scrambling across his line as it drifted inches wide.

Smith blasted over from a cracking Miller cross then a cockup from the Dons' keeper almost let Imrie in but he shot wildly over with the goal at his mercy.

Aberdeen just had no answer to Caley's resolute defending and incisive counter-attacks.

In the last minute Inverness grabbed the killer goal they deserved with an outstanding break-away from a Dons corner.

Imrie drove at the home defence before slipping in McBain who rifled past Langfield to seal the points.

Smith hit the post and Mackie missed a sitter at the death but it was Caley's day as they defied all those who had tipped them for the drop.

MATCH STATS

Shots on 2

Shots off 5

Fouls 8

Offside 2

Corners 12

Breakings 2

Shots on 3

Shots off 5

Fouls 12

Offside 1

Corners 2

Breakings 1

REF MATCH

MIKE TUMILITY is improving all the time and let the season's opener at Pittodrie flow without major incident. Played advantage well when he could and the four bookings he dished out were deserved for crude tackles and needless dissent. Overall it was a sound display. Rating: 8/10.