Dee grab late point

After a pulsating game at the Caledonian Stadium it ended all square. Liam Fontaine opened the scoring just before the interval reacting quickest to a rebound from the crossbar. Robbie Deas deservedly equalised with twenty minutes left and James Keatings put the hosts ahead three minutes later only for Jordan McGhee to peg us back again eight minutes from the end. No damage done to either club although with Dunfermline losing to Morton, it tightens up in the middle of the table. Hearts pumped Queens 6-1 to move further ahead at the top.

Matchday 7 and Dundee were the visitors to the Caledonian Stadium to take on the Caley Jags in a battle for mid-table supremacy. The game kicked off at 3:00pm with a hand picked crowd of just 300 in attendance to this game. Both sides had got off to an inauspicious start to the campaign but were edging upwards recently. Something had to give. The last time the clubs met was in front of over 5,000 fans at Dens Park when first half goals from Aaron Doran and James Keatings put Inverness second in the table with Dundee six points behind in fourth. All this was in a previous life before covid19 came along and closed the world. The atmosphere was less raucous today, (muffled cheering  and polite hand clapping), with only the chosen few allowed entry in a tier 1 covid zone. How would it pan out today?...

Both sides were near to full strength, Inverness still without Kevin McHattie, Lewis Toshney and the likes of David Carson who needs match fitness along with three or four others who are being eased back up to speed. Dundee were reported to be at full strength with on loan Celt Jonathan Afolabi back in the squad after he missed the Arbroath game. That will be competition for Danny Mullen and Osman Sow. Jordan Foster and Callum Moore are both back in training but will be doubtful if they make the bench today.

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Speaking to BBC Sport

Inverness CT manager John Robertson: "I'm very disappointed. Their goalkeeper Jack Hamilton's had seven or eight great saves and we missed two sitters. We got ourselves in front and then a lack of communication has cost a second goal."

Dundee manager James McPake: "Their second goal was clearly offside. I'm proud of my players but gutted for them as it should be three points. You always need to battle when you come up here - we handled that side of things really well and gave as good as we got."

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Dundee kicked off towards the North Stand on a dour afternoon but it would make for better viewing on Pixie Lott, the skies overcast, the ground wet after days of rain. The league record for the Dark Blues in Inverness reads five draws and seven defeats in 12 trips up the A9...

Dundee were first to show when Jakubiak volleyed wide with Ridgers a spectator.

The hosts first opportunity fell to Shane Sutherland who also volleyed wide after great work by Miles Storey down the left, the shot flashing past the keepers right hand post.

Great save by Hamilton after 20 minutes to deny Roddy MacGregor from the edge of the box after some good pressure from the Caley Jags.

Danny Mullen broke forward on the Dundee right but the flag stayed down. It took a massive blocking tackle from Danny Devine to to stop him just as he pulled the trigger. Mullen stayed down for fully five minutes before getting back to his feet. He continued after more treatment.

The game evolved into a tense midfield battle with defences on top.

Ten minutes before the break Jordan McGhee powered a header off the crossbar from a corner and Liam Fontaine scrambled the loose ball into the net through a ruck of players in the six yard box.

We almost responded immediately but a simple tap in ended with Dundee scrambling the ball to safety. Looked like Keatings blocked from close range. Another foray forward saw a header over the bar and soon after Storey delayed his effort and Hamilton got down to block with Sutherland in a promising position. 

Dundee once more scrambled the ball away just before the interval as Inverness pressed for a leveller, the ball just not quite rolling for us.

Half Time 0-1

Five minutes into the half and from a corner Mullen lashed the ball just over the bar at the back post.

Robbie Deas should have scored when the ball landed at his feet six yards from goal, but he inexplicably dollied it into Hamilton's body as the keeper sprawled across his line.

Storey made a superb break down the right before a half cleared ball was headed goalwards by substitute Aaron Doran, but Hamilton saved down low.

Plenty of home pressure now and Robbie Deas popped up at the back post to hammer the ball home after a corner from the left was flicked on to make amends for his earlier miss.

Inverness turned the game on its head  few minutes later when Sutherland headed on and James Keatings struck a low shot into the net.

Jordan McGhee equalised minutes later after substitute Osman Sow knocked the ball into his path. Meh!

In a frantic ending to the game substitute Nikolay Todorov had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside and that's how it ended, all square after an entertaining match where no quarter was given or asked.

Dundee will be delighted with the point and Inverness will rue some missed sitters. Hamilton was probably Dundee's busiest man with some crucial stops.

Both managers feel they deserved all three points. My money is on Robbo for the honesty bonus. McPake is lying through his teeth desperate to keep his job.

Downside to all this was an injury to Shane Sutherland late in the game.

OFFICIAL REPORT 

Robbo talking after the game...

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