Burnley 2-1 Inverness CT

Aug 3 2008 Chris Bowden Reports

SLUGGISH Inverness Caley slumped to a confidence-denting loss despite new signing Andy Barrowman's second-half heroics. Craig Brewster's men were given the runaround by the slick Championship outfit and were two down at the break.

But ex-Ross County ace Barrowman led the fightback with a super volley and only an offside flag and the woodwork denied the striker a leveller

Owen Coyle's Burnley started well and in four minutes Chris Eagles and Robbie Blake set up Martin Paterson. He dragged his shot wide, though. The £1million man came close again when Scotland full-back Graham Alexander found Blake.

His pass gave Paterson a chance and although he beat Michael Fraser his effort drifted just past.

Blake then fired in a freekick before Eagles tried his luck but hit straight at Fraser.

Caley were struggling to keep the ball and Chris McCann should have done better than head straight at Fraser from a Blake cross.

Inverness - with trialist striker Adam Rooney of Stoke in their line-up - finally threatened in 40 minutes when Ian Black forced Diego Penny into a smart stop.

But seconds later the ball was in the Caley net. Wade Elliott turned Ross Tokely before firing into the corner.

It was no more than the Clarets deserved and in injury time they doubled their lead.

Paterson crossed for Blake and he squared for Eagles to net. Caley were much better after the interval and Grant Munro shot just over before Barrowman had the ball in the net just before the hour.

He finished from Don Cowie's pass but was flagged off-side. However, there was nothing wrong with the hit man's next try in 63 minutes.

Barrowman shrugged off Steven Caldwell before blasting past Penny.

Caley's tails were up and they were denied an equaliser when Barrowman's left-foot drive cracked a post.

Aspate of substitutions took the sting out the game but Caley can take heart from their gutsy second-half showing ahead of their SPL opener against Aberdeen.

team sheet

BURNLEY: Penny; Alexander, Duff, Caldwell, Kalvenes, van der Schaaf, McCann, Elliott, Eagles, Blake, Paterson.

INVERNESS: Fraser; Tokely, Hastings, McGuire (Duff 64), Munro, Duncan, Cowie, Black, Rooney (McAllister 78), Barrowman, McBain (Imrie 64).