Honours even...

in the battle of the league favourites at Dens Park.

Gary Harkins, apparently being watched by Rangers' chief scout scored twice for the Dark Blues, in 9 minutes and again in 29 minutes but each time, Caley Thistle bounced back to equalise wit goals in 20 minutes from Dani Sanchez and 38 minutes from Lee Cox.

The second half had plenty of chances but no goals.

Inverness Caley Thistle travelled to Dundee to take on a side many feel are favourites for securing promotion to the SPL. Dees manager Jocky Scott has been afforded a lavish summer transfer budget that even some SPL managers would dream of which has seen players such as Leigh Griffiths and “Glorious” Gary Harkins recruited for hefty transfer fees and a number of other new faces arrive on long and expensive contracts. By contrast Terry Butcher has recruited a number of young players, mostly on free transfers, to bolster the ICT squad. As a result most ICT fans would happily have taken a point from Dens Park but after witnessing a pulsating 90 minutes, during which Inverness created the best of the chances thanks largely to a shoddy Dundee backline, the Away support could justifiably claim that 2 points were dropped as they more than matched their hosts.

The crowd had been swelled by the offer of 1,000 free tickets to local school kids so a healthy 5,507 fans packed into Dens Park and were treated to a pulsating 90 minutes packed with incident. ICT were first to attack when Robert Eagle floated a corner into the Dundee box which was met by the head of skipper Grant Munro who sent a towering header goalwards but it hit the side netting. The small but vocal Away support roared their team on it was Munro who again had another shot at goal when he latched onto a poor clearance and strode towards goal attempting a shot from 25 yards out which flew over the bar. Despite the effort being quite comfortably clear of goal it was enough of a concern for Dees keeper Bullock to berate his defenders for not closing down quick enough and the former County stopper had even more cause for concern as Spanish forward Danni Sanchez spun his marker and rifled in a left footed shot that just cleared the goal.

Despite making all of the early running Inverness fell behind thanks to an excellent solo effort from Gary Harkins. The former Partick Thistle midfielder collected the ball on the left wing, cut inside David Proctor before driving a low shot past Esson into the bottom of the net to open the scoring. The goal appeared to wake Dundee up from their slumber and they were next to threaten when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box but Harkins effort was charged down by Jonny Hayes. Caley Thistle should have equalised when a break out of defence allowed Foran to pick out Eagle in space in the box but the winger took too long to get his shot away which was too weak and easily dealt with. But the Jags did get back on level terms thanks to a cool finish from Danni Sanchez who burst into the box and despite heavy pressure from the Dundee defenders he slotted the ball past Bullock to bring the sides level.

As the game swung from end to end Dundee nearly went back in front when neat play on the left from Harkins and Malone resulted in a cross from the Dees left back which was met by the head of McMenamin who headed into the side netting. Eagle then found himself with time to pick out Sanchez who had his shot blocked with the resulting attempted cross by Eagle cut out by Lauchlan.

Dundee regained the lead in slightly contentious circumstances. McMenamin looked like he may have been offside as he raced towards goal but Munro tracked him all the way before halting his run with a fantastically timed tackle. However the loose ball was seized upon by McMenamin who lofted it into the box and Harkins again raced in from the left side to smack the ball past Esson from 10 yards. Again, seemingly undeterred, ICT looked to get back on level terms. An Eagle free kick found Munro who chipped a ball back into the box which Proctor met in a rather unorthodox style which saw him attempt a backheel towards goal which posed no danger to Bullock. Not before long Inverness drew level again thanks to a goal from midfielder Lee Cox. Hayes played a clever ball to Foran who sped past his marker on the right wing and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot where Cox rushed in to slide the ball past Bullock into the net with the former Leicester player leading the celebrations in front of the Away fans.

Not content simply with drawing level Inverness looked to grab a third goal and nearly got it when Sanchez robbed the Dundee right back and crossed for Foran who spun his man and fired towards goal but the ball ended up wide of the post. Hayes had a chance to get his name on the scoresheet but his left foot shot was easily saved by Bullock. Harkins served notice that Dundee were still a threat when he fizzed an ambitious shot from the left wing which Esson comfortably dealt with. The first half had been a fantastic spectacle and both sets of fans felt their side could go on and win it with ICT supporters particularly optimistic given that their side had created the best chances during the first 45 minutes.

Half Time 2-2

In to the second half and Dundee were first to threaten to score when poor defending by Eagle on the left allowed the ball to be crossed into the box which resulted in a number of half chances for Dundee but all were blocked and the ball eventually cleared. Munro berated Eagle for his sloppy defending with the midfielder left in doubt as to what his captain thought of his slack play! A neat dummy by Higgins almost led to a chance for Dundee but Djebi Zadi snuffed out McMenamin's effort. Higgins made way for Griffiths as the Home side looked for a winner and they could have had a penalty when Munro appeared to shove number 5 in the box. The referee however gave nothing and ICT countered and Cox nearly grabbed his second of the game but his shot was blocked. The ball fell to Sanchez who also had his first attempt blocked and his second was a weak effort that trundled wide of the post. Sanchez was guilty of another miss when Foran picked him out with a crossed ball from the right and again the Spaniard couldn’t convert another glorious chance. Dundee were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men when Malone, already booked, slid into Proctor and took the Inverness right back clean out of the game. He received only a warning. Not long after there was a clash between McMenamin and Djebi Zadi with the Dundee forward appearing to claim he had been punched by the left back but he quickly got up and ran way as the referee came over to investigate leaving some doubt as to whether any altercation did in fact take place.

The chances continued to fall for ICT and when Djebi Zadi broke through the Dundee midfield and sped towards goal he could have pulled the trigger himself but his attempted cross to the unmarked Foran was slightly behind the Irishman and the chance was gone. Sanchez and Foran combined yet again with the Spanish player picking out his fellow forward with a neat pass that was acrobatically turned towards goal but Bullock was equal to it. Sanchez followed up but his tame effort posed no danger. Richie Foran then nearly scored when his attempted "back pass" to Bullock from an uncontested drop ball just inside the Inverness half nearly caught the keeper unawares and the former County stopper had to look lively to prevent the ball sailing into the net. Needless to say the Home fans were not amused by Foran's antics and voiced their displeasure. Dundee had two more chances towards the end of the game when Harkins curled a free kick goalwards but it was deflected onto the post with Esson looking beaten and a long ball over the top for Griffiths to chase was smothered by Esson.

Full Time 2-2

As the final whistle blew the Away support burst into song again with a rousing verse of "F**k you Dundee you'll never win the league! You'll never win the league! You'll never win the league" and continued to applaud the team for turning in a stunning performance that had almost seen the title favourites beaten in their own backyard. It was clear to see both players and management appreciated the fans efforts as all came over to applaud them. With performances and results like this some of the fans who don't rate the team as serious title challengers, this poster included, will soon be forced to eat their words. And given the performance witnessed on Saturday I hope that the words will taste just as good as they did at Dens.

Altogether now "F**k you Dundee you'll never win the league!...."