Captain Don Cowie inspired Hearts to their first Scottish Premiership win of the season after scoring twice and setting up two more goals in a 5-1 thrashing of Inverness. The former Caley midfielder scored either side of a Conor Sammon header before Sam Nicholson grabbed a late couple. Caley eventually got on the scoresheet in the dying minutes of the game through Ryan Draper, despite Callum Paterson's attempts to clear the danger.
Man-of-the-match Cowie left the pitch to a rapturous round of applause from the home fans when he was replaced by Robbie Muirhead. It was a return to winning ways for Robbie Neilson's side against a Caley team that are still searching for their first point of the season. Following an edgy start, Hearts stormed ahead with an effort made and scored by Cowie. Wearing the captain's armband, Cowie dummied John Souttar's pass before sending Sammon's lay-off into the far corner of the net. The hosts came close to extending their lead five minutes later. After Caley winger Jake Mulraney was booked for diving under a challenge in the box from Igor Rossi, goalkeeper Jack Hamilton's kick out was flicked on by Sammon and Tony Watt's low drive was saved by the legs of Owain Fon Williams. The visitors were struggling to create any meaningful openings and a tame Gary Warren header from an Iain Vigurs delivery was easily collected by Hamilton. Hearts doubled their lead in the 17th minute. Watt skipped past several challenges in the box before laying the ball off for Cowie and the captain's back post cross was met by a Sammon header which looped beyond Fon Williams. Scott Boden wasted a good change for Caley before the break when the ball broke to him from a charging Liam Polworth run, striking well over the bar.
Any hope of Inverness salvaging something from the game was all but dashed in the 47th minute when Cowie made it 3-0. Watt found Sammon in the box and the striker's first time lay-off was rounded off in emphatic fashion from 20 yards. Caley registered their first shot on target in the 54th minute. Just seconds after coming on, Alex Fisher's acrobatic overhead kick from 12 yards was pushed away by Hamilton. Hearts captain Cowie was on the hunt for his hat-trick and the midfielder put himself forward for a free-kick just outside the area. His shot, however, was straight at the keeper. Caley midfielder Draper glanced a header inches wide before Cowie saw a left-footed strike deflected over. Hearts brought on Bjorn Johnsen for a debut after clearance finally came through for his move from CSKA Sofia - and the striker immediately made his presence felt in the 78th minute. Johnsen's back heel set Nicholson free and the winger arrowed a powerful drive past Fon Williams from 18 yards. Nicholson added a second a minute later, running on to Cowie's pass before forcing the ball past Fon Williams. Caley scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute when Draper's close-range shot was saved by Hamilton - and the ball ended up in the net despite Paterson's attempts to clear.