Hibernian v Inverness reaction

Published Sep. 23, 2012 7:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon refused to be critical of his players despite seeing them throw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Inverness.

Hibs were in prime position to go top of the SPL after Eoin Doyle and David Wotherspoon gave the home side a comfortable 2-0 advantage.

But Conor Pepper pulled one back for the visitors before the break and Richie Foran slammed in a late equaliser to ensure a share of the spoils.

"I'm disappointed not to get the three points but I can't be overly critical," Fenlon said.

"In the first half I thought we played really well and could have been out of sight at half-time, although we gave them a chink of light with the goal.

"We said at half-time that we just needed to keep that momentum going. They hadn't played well and we knew Terry [Butcher, Inverness manager] wouldn't stand for that.

"We knew they'd be a bit more competitive and in our faces. I think we still had a couple of great chances in the second half.

"We've got to get used to winning matches so that when you get beat or have a bad result you can take it on the chin, move on and not be too negative about it.

"I couldn't come in and have a pop at people because they've played quite well, we just couldn't get the break on the day."

Inverness manager Terry Butcher witnessed his side come from two goals down to earn a point for the second time this season in Scotland's capital.

The resiliency in his side is there for all to see, but it is not something the manager feels he is able to get used to.

"It's never boring with us," Butcher joked. "We never do 0-0's or bad games, we do excitement, goals, sendings off, the lot. I'm desperate for a boring 1-0 win. That would be my Utopia.

"From a health point of view it's savage. It must be for the fans as well, we put them through the ringer every week. But we know we can score, we've scored against everybody, we just keep conceding.

"Two-goal starts, we're not going to be able to come back from that every time.

"Hibs knocked it about well, there was a good energy about them. They ran us ragged, there was no doubt they deserved to be 2-0 up. It was out of nothing that gave us a massive lifeline.

"So there was a few stern words at half-time and in the second half there was a much better attitude."