Inverness Caledonian Thistle pay the penalty as Jamie Walker scores winner for Hearts from the spot in Betfred Cup opener
Hearts 1
Caley Thistle 0
Scorer: Walker (63 pen)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle paid the penalty as Jamie Walker's spotkick proved to be the difference at Tynecastle.
Cameron Harper's handball conceded the penalty which allowed Hearts to kick off the Betfred Cup group stage with victory.
There is also concern for Inverness after striker Shane Sutherland was taken off in the first half injured.
Sean Welsh was revealed as the new Caley Thistle captain with new signing Wallace Duffy making his debut at right back.
Goalkeeper Mark Ridgers came to Caley Thistle’s rescue after the second minute when he was forced into a double save from Jamie Walker and Craig Wighton.
But Inverness could have taken the lead three minutes into the second half when Daniel MacKay connected with Sutherland’s cross to force a wonderful save from Craig Gordon.
Caley Thistle continued to threaten when Scott Allardice’s free kick from the edge of the box forced another good save from Gordon.
But Hearts continued to threaten and came close shortly after the half-hour mark when Wighton hit the crossbar.
Inverness kept going in the first half with Robbie Deas firing a low volley wide of the right post as the game was goalless at half time.
Hearts started stronger in the first half with Steven Naismith forcing a fine save from Mark Ridgers from close range.
And they went in front from the penalty spot midway through the second half thanks to Walker sending Ridgers the wrong way.
Inverness had a golden chance to equalise five minutes from time as Nikolay Todorov connected with Miles Storey's cross eight yards in front of goal but fired wide of the right post.
Hearts - Gordon, White, Walker, Lee (Haring 82), Naismith Kingsley (70), Wighton, Irving, Brandon, Halkett, Popescu, Ginnelly (Henderson 82).
Subs (Unused): Stewart, Roberts, Halliday, Frear.
Caley Thistle - Ridgers, Duffy, Welsh, Sutherland (Todorov 43), Macgregor, Harper, Storey, Allardice, McKay, Deas, D MacKay (Keatings 80).
Subs (Unused): C Mackay, Fyffe, Hyde, Harkness,
Referee: Steven Maclean
