91Èȱ¬

Terry Butcher retains faith in his rebuilt side despite Inverness suffering their second defeat in a row.

"I am very excited by this group of players," the manager said after the 1-0 defeat at home to Hibernian.

"I said that before the game and, having seen them play, I am even more excited.

"We have done everything but put the ball in the back of the net. If we play like that, some team is going to take a hammering sooner rather than later."

Garry O'Connor scored the winner for the Edinburgh side in stoppage time following a mistake by goalkeeper Ryan Esson, which Butcher admits was a body blow.

"Especially when Jonny Hayes had good possession on the halfway line and he was robbed of the ball," said the Caley Thistle boss.

"And they have gone up the other end and Garry O'Connor has really hit a decent shot and it's gone in.

"It's a hard one to take because we dominated the second half in particular.

"I thought we had a strong penalty claim in the first half and two really strong ones in the second half - and we have hit the post as well."

Butcher has signed 10 players during the summer and midfielder Owain Tudur Jones and defender Thomas Piermayr made their debuts against Hibs.

"I was really pleased with all the debutants," he said, shrugging off the departure of last season's top scorer.

"There are a lot of players who are new and a lot of players not anywhere near match fitness.

"But the more they play together, the better they will become.

"People will be saying we miss Adam Rooney, but I think even he would have hit the post or put it over the bar.

"It was just one of those days when you play well but just can't score.

"Some of our approach play was great. We had good width and good attacking options."

Butcher was sure that his side would turn the tide in the coming weeks.

"It will happen and we just keep believing that it will," he added.

"We will play worse than that and win matches.

"The lads in the dressing-room say they can't wait until next week."