All square at the foot of the table

Inverness bluffed their way to a draw with Dunfermline as the basement struggle hots up.

Gregory Tade scored against the run of play in the first half, but Liam Buchanan squared matters from the spot late in the game, much to the frustration of the home support.

There were very few positives to be drawn from this game as Inverness struggled to cope with a fiery Dunfermline side who showed little signs of taking over the bottom slot.

The only plus that was evident was that Josh Meekings can take a mean throw in, hallelujah.

Granty24 has given us this report on the battle for the bottom

If there was one opportunity for ICT to climb off the foot of the SPL table, then surely it was today. Gregory Tade's 4th strike of the season with 33 minutes on the clock was cancelled out with just four minutes of regulation time to play from the penalty spot by Liam Buchanan following a poor challenge on the former ICT trialist by David Proctor on the edge of the 18 yard box.

The home side sticking with the same side that lined up against both Saints, St/ Mirren & St. Johnstone in their previous 2 games, but with Josh Meekings replacing Wigan loanee Roman Golobart on the bench, Meekings would later make his competitive debut in front of the ICT faithful. The Pars made two changes to the side that was defeated by Hearts last week, with Jason Thompson and Alex Keddie replacing Ryan Thompson and Andy Dowie.

Thomas Piermayr is beginning to rack up the yellow cards, his 6th of the season arriving only two minutes into the game, scything down tricky winger Joe Cardle just past the half way line, referee Steven McLean with little doubt in his mind as to the punishment the Austrian would receive.

Dunfermline would have the better of the early exchanges, with Andy Kirk flashing an effort agonizingly wide of Ryan Esson's right hand post.

The right hand post came under fire midway through the half, a Cardle corner was steered clear by Proctor, but only as far as Paul Burns who used the strong wind to his advantage, bending a dangerous left footed strike which had Esson beaten, but Burns was to be left disappointed as the ball cannoned off the post before trickling along the goal line before being hacked to safety.

John Potter then had the chance to give the Pars the lead, the former Buddie connecting well with Cardle's corner, but Esson was equal to the challenge and beat the ball away.

The ex-Dons stopper Esson had to be at his best to keep the Pars at bay, Cardle latching onto a David Graham flick on batter the shot at goal but Esson again denied the visitors, acrobatically tipping the effort over the top.

With all the pressure from Dunfermline, something had to give, and it did on 33 minutes; the home side took the lead. Piermayr slipped the ball down the right flank into the path of Richie Foran, former Staggie Keddie slipped and failed to intercept the ball before Foran drilled into the path of Gregory Tade who flew onto the cross to nod past the helpless Paul Gallacher.

Half Time 1-0

The second period started with both sides cancelling each other out, the quiet Greg Tansey curled a free kick just wide of the target after Andy Shinnie was fouled on the edge of the box.

Shinnie was causing problems for the Pars defence, weaving his way through three players before slipping in David Davis, but the man on loan from Wolves dragged his effort just wide of the target via a deflection.

Nick Ross had the chance to secure all 3 points for the home side, Tansey's shot from 25 yards rattled off Potter before falling into the path of Ross, but his effort was magnificently saved by Gallacher.

With 3 games gone in the season, a Martin Hardie free kick denied ICT all three points deep into stoppage time; the Pars did it again albeit with 86 minutes played, rather than 93. A moment of madness from David Proctor, fouling Liam Buchanan in the penalty area, putting in a stupid challenge on Buchanan who converted the resultant spot kick, sending Esson the wrong way to tuck into the bottom left corner.

Shane Sutherland has been pushing for a place in the starting XI all season and he nearly grabbed a vital goal that would have done no harm to his chances, with the seconds ticking away, Sutherland rattled a shot at Gallacher's goal, but the 'keeper did his job well, beating the ball clear as the game finished level as ref Steven McLean brought an end to proceedings.

Full Time 1-1 (Tade 33 - Buchanan 86, penalty)

So, another week at the bottom beckons for Inverness and very few plaudits being handed out.  Great to see Lee Cox back in the side and Josh Meekings did his chances no harm.  Gregory Tade gave another 110% for the cause and Rossco and Esson kept the Pars at bay for the greater part of the game.  Richie Foran though had another shocker and Proctor will be disappointed that he made the error for the equaliser.  Nick Ross and Greg Tansey never showed up in midfield, an area we have been hugely disappointing in and Piermayr and the Shinnies have had better days at the office.  Davis was the most noticeable in the engine room after a slow start.

This was a game that we should have taken by the scruff of the neck, instead, the visitors looked more lively early on and only Esson and the post kept them out, however, after sneaking ahead we then turned the screw but poor finishing left the door ajar and we let Dunfermline in the back door thanks to that rash challenge by Proctor.

This is now beginning to look like a long hard season at the foot of the table and on yesterdays performance there is no quick remedy, we are here for the duration after snatching a draw from the jaws of victory.

Starting line ups

Inverness:- Esson, Piermayr, Tokely, Proctor,G Shinnie, A Shinnie, Tansey, Davis, Ross, Foran, Tade

Dunfermline:- Gallacher, Keddie, Boyle, Thomson, McCann, Potter, Cardle, Burns, Mason, Kirk, Graham

Crowd:- 3241

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