Tight as a ducks erse

This crucial game ended in stalemate as did the entire Championship fixture list. In a tight first half both keepers had saves to make with Ridgers probably the busier. Queens opened the scoring on the hour when the defence allowed Fitzpatrick to run forty yards unchallenged to fire high past Ridgers. Toddy levelled minutes later from a Storey cross, heading down into the bottom corner for his tenth goal this season. No further scoring with Inverness finishing the game on top but unable to get the winner.

Inverness went down to Dumfries for their sixth away game out of the last seven, and more importantly on a winning run of six on the bounce, including two Scottish Cup games. This late run has put Inverness in contention for a top four finish, but one defeat could change all that as we hang on to our ambitions with only four games left.

Neil McCann was without the services of Sean Welsh and James Keatings with Brad Mckay as captain and Roddy MacGregor starting. Queen of the South made two changes from the game against Hibs. In come East and Jones with Dobbie and Joseph dropping to the bench and they will go with a front three of Connor Shields, Isaiah Jones and Dapo Mebude.

Less than four minutes gone and both keepers were called into action with Ferguson saving from Allan and Ridgers likewise from Shields.

It had been a bright opening by both sides with Inverness doing most of the pressing.

Ridgers kept the scoresheet blank with a tremendous save after a long free kick found Breen ghosting in behind the defenders. The big keeper dived full length to turn the header behind for a corner which he gathered well to ease the pressure. He had to make another superb save just after the half hour when Shields broke into the box.

In an increasingly rare foray forward a deep cross by Mackay saw Ferguson gather the header which was too straight at him.

Indiana Jones took a sore one when Allardice challenged for the ball and it cannoned off his neck/face.

Ferguson saved a free kick low to his right five minutes before the break and one minute before the forty-five a Todorov header was blocked en-route with big shouts for a penalty falling on deaf ears.

A promising free kick right on the interval was skied by Allardice and it remained goalless at the break.

Half Time: 0-0

Ridgers was back in action early in the half when he dived low to his left to save a shot on the cut back as he was left wrong footed but got to it at full stretch to make the save.

Dan Mackay curled an effort just over on the run and Scott Allan should have done better than shoot wide after substitute James Vincent set him up. Toddy headed a free kick towards goal but Ferguson picked it out of the air comfortably. 

The deadlock was broken when our defence parted like the Red Sea to allow Fitzpatrick to run through on an exposed keeper to slot home high into the net.

The lead lasted only a couple of minutes  before Todorov headed a cross to the far post from Storey low into the net under challenge.

Entering the final fifteen and Storey fired a left footer from distance but Ferguson was right behind it. Dan Mackay fizzed one just over with ten minutes left. A good run down the right saw a Storey cross dummied for Sutherland to strike from fifteen yards but it was too straight at the keeper again.

Chances were getting tight now and defences remained on top as the game drew to a close with Inverness on the offensive but no further goals.

Full Time: 1-1

An entertaining and open game could not separate the sides and with all other results ending all square we remain in fourth place, but you can't get a fag paper between the top six sides apart from Hearts who are now confirmed as Champions with Alloa all but relegated.

Still all to play for and next up for the Caley Jags in the Championship is Dundee at the Caledonian Stadium.

Great display from our defence with Mckay, Ridgers and Devine outstanding and hot Toddy still on a roll with his tenth of the season.

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