Terry Butcher believes Hearts can escape from their current predicament and secure Scottish Premiership survival.
Two first-half goals from the prolific Billy McKay helped Butcher’s Caley Thistle side to an ultimately comfortable 2-0 victory over Hearts in the Highland Capital, to keep Inverness at the top of the table.
It was a game the Jambos would finish with 10-men, with captain Jamie Hamill receiving his marching orders for what seemed a harsh handball inside the box, although McKay missed the subsequent penalty.
But Butcher saw enough from Hearts to suggest that they can continue to overcome the minus 15-point deficit handed to them at the start of the season for going into administration.
He said: “We managed to beat a good Hearts side. Even before a ball was kicked this season, I felt that Hearts could stay up.
“They have a good spirit about them and if they can keep everyone fit then they’ve got a chance.”
Paul Heffernan is baffled by the circumstances surrounding his shock free transfer from Kilmarnock to Hibernian.
Despite scoring 12 goals in 30 appearances last term for the Rugby Park outfit, he was allowed to leave the club for no fee.
Heffernan says the move came out of the blue and assumes the change of manager at Killie Allan Johnston replacing Kenny Shiels in the summer put paid to his chances of remaining a key figure in Ayrshire.
After making his debut as a late substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 home draw against Ross County, the 32-year-old said: “(Kilmarnock chairman) Michael Johnston was happy to let me go for free and (Hibs manager) Pat Fenlon was willing to take me. I was a bit surprised.”
John Sutton scored a second successive winner as Motherwell came from behind against Kilmarnock to move into third place.
Sutton followed his strike against Partick Thistle when he netted with the last kick of the first half after a blunder by Killie centre-back Jackson Irvine.
A headed own goal by Stephen McManus had given the visitors a 17th-minute lead, but the unmarked Henri Anier levelled three minutes later.
Motherwell were never entirely comfortable after the break and Kris Boyd came close several times before Killie were boosted by the sending-off of Simon Ramsden in the 87th minute.
Partick Thistle heaped yet more pressure on under-fire St Mirren boss Danny Lennon as they handed him his fourth defeat from five games.
The Buddies looked set to collect their first three points of the season after Kenny McLean had given them an early second-half lead.
But Kallum Higginbotham and Ross Forbes struck twice in the final 10 minutes to ensure Lennon was treated to another round of boos from the furious Paisley public at the final whistle.