Whiteout conditions...

...an hour before this clash put the game at risk as heavy snow fell in Fife.

Last week it was fog, this week snow. Following Inverness is more like watching the weather report than the match report these days.

Both teams were desperate to cling on to Dundee's tails as they battled hard on a very heavy pitch which had to have the lines cleared just before kick off.   The wide areas looked like a ploughed field with a dusting of snow making it look like a Christmas card, but it made intricate wing play impossible

In the end neither were probably happy with a draw but that's what happened.

Inverness started with the reliable Esson in goals and David Proctor and Lionel Dzebi-Zadi in the wing back areas for the still injured Tokely and Golabeck. The ever improving Bulvitis and captain Munro were the central defensive pairing with loan star Stuart Duff partnering the rejuvenated Lee Cox in the deep role. Hayes, Sanchez and Foran were the back up for on form Adam Rooney. This meant Duncan, Imrie and Odhiambo had to settle for a place on the bench. The Pars had young keeper Greg Paterson between the sticks for the broken footed Chris Smith. McCann and McGregor were about to play important roles for Dunfermline as they tried to keep the ICT attack at arms length. Former ICT hustler Graeme Bayne missed out through injury which left Graham, Kirk and Gibson as the main attacking threat for the Fifers.

The match got underway after the ground staff cleared the lines although the underfoot conditions were to ensure that silky football was at a premium. It was to be a better day for sliding tackles than sliding the ball into the net. Debut keeper Paterson had an early touch and the youngster coped admirably, although some of his kicking in the treacherous conditions was nervy. After a tentative first few minutes Andy Kirk was first to test the keepers but Esson had no problem dealing with it. Adam Rooney had his first attempt after he latched onto a Foran knock down but he dragged his angled volleyed attempt wide of the mark from the right side of the six yard box. Shortly after this McGregor made a timely block as Rooney once again threatened. Rooney was proving to be a nuisance to the Pars defence and once again he tried his luck when Hayes fed him, but once again he dragged his finish wide of the post. Just after the half hour and Hayes once more set Rooney up for a pop at goal but Paterson made a comfortable save low to his right. Dunfermline had the last noteworthy attempt of the half as Gibson tested the alert Esson but the keeper prevailed.

Steak bridie time 0-0

The second half started in the same fashion and Paterson foiled Rooney once more to stop him adding to his ten goals this season. Esson made a diving save low to his right to push an effort from Kirk round the post, although he would not have been aware that the ball was going fractionally wide. Cardle livened proceedings with some showboat backheels that woke up the home support but Esson was still commanding his area well. Inverness had weathered the mini storm from Dunfermline and were now getting back on top but Gibson reminded Esson that he had to keep guard as he fired a thirty yarder just over the bar, although it appeared that Esson withdrew his hands as the ball approached. The away support did not share the same confidence as the ball dipped late, gasps all round. Sanchez went clear on the left side of the box, but he took one touch too many when you would have put your money on him to open the scoring and this allowed Paterson to smother the ball. The pressure was mounting on the home defence but with no cutting edge the Pars were gaining in confidence at the back. Inverness almost made the breakthrough in the last five minutes as Foran tried a snapshot when the defence parted but his well hit shot was too straight at the keeper. Rooney had his last moment as he nearly sneaked in between Dowie and Paterson but his luck was out as the keeper gathered.

Full Time 0-0

So that was it, not the worst no scoring draw I have ever witnessed but certainly no classic. Conditions dictated that Hayes was never going to reach the heights of recent weeks as he was well marshalled by the Pars defence with mostly two players waiting for him. Rooney was the biggest sinner having about five goes without scoring. Best for Inverness were the marauding wing back Lionel Djebi-Zadi. At this rate Golly will struggle to get back into the first eleven. He had some great overlapping runs and only the final ball spoiling his day. Lee Cox is back to his best, no coincidence that the arrival of Duff has seen his performances peak. He was still full of running after ninety minutes and his industry was matched by Richie Foran as he was seen all over the park. Bulvitis once again has shown improvement recently bar one misplaced pass in the heart of our defence, but he had the speed to recover and shut down the Pars man as he entered our box.

Tm4tj MotM:  One man stood head and shoulders above the rest and the tm4tj Man of the Match is going to the great Spanish dictator, Dani Sanchez who relished playing in the snow and his ball retention and probing play should have seen Inverness take all three points. Sanchez is now beginning to show his true worth and looks like the perfect foil for Rooney or Foran. Boxing day is now a must win surely as Dundee relentlessly stride on towards promotion, so see you all there with your new oversized multi-coloured cardigans (you'll grow into it) and aftershave on for what should be a Christmas cracker. It's the way ah tell em.