Caley Thistle manager John Hughes has called on his side to cut out the defensive mistakes after they missed out on another chance to move in to the top six last night by tumbling to defeat against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Jamie Walker’s goal 10 minutes before the break and an Abiola Dauda goal gave Hearts a comfortable 2-0 victory as the Jambos claimed the win to move to within six points of second-placed Aberdeen.
Defeat for Inverness, however, leaves them in seventh place in the Scottish Premiership, two points behind sixth-placed Dundee.
Hughes was disappointed with his side’s display against Hearts and believes the two goals conceded could have been avoided.
He said: “At 1-0 we were always in the game but the goal we lost left us with it all to do.
“The first goal was a 30-yard pass over the top and we need to see that coming and deal with it.
“I’m really disappointed as we played some nice football, but huffed and puffed. Hearts played with a better energy and got at us.
“Our goalkeeper, Owain Fon Williams, only had one or two saves to make, it was that kind of game.
“That said, over the piece I think Hearts deserved to win it.”
Miles Storey was restored to the role of centre forward against Hearts but he received little service in a disappointing attacking showing form the visitors in the capital.
Hughes knows his side must improve its goal threat and said: “We need to be better going forward. We need more crosses and we need more bodies in the box.
“When we were doing that last year we were playing with a free spirit, so we maybe need to get back to that.”
The games are running out for the Highlanders, who have been left with it all to do following an injury-ravaged first half of the campaign which has left Hughes’ side playing catch-up.
Their top-six hopes remain in their own hands as they have games in hand, but there is little margin for error and Hughes hopes the return of key personnel can help Inverness bounce back.
He said: “It’s been like that all season and it has cost us.
“We had hoped Josh Meekings and James Vincent were going to make it tonight, but they might be available for Sunday, we’ll see.”