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Zero No goals at the Caledonian Stadium as Inverness and United cancelled each other out on a brisk February night. Andy Shinnie had the best opportunity to break the deadlock in the second half but he headed straight at the keeper when either side of him would have seen a goal, but it was not to be as Inverness dropped to third with Motherwell beating Celtic to jump into second spot. It's oh so tight as the league reaches the tickly spot. Couldn't manage another four goals tonight and the commentators curse struck as we had to settle for a no scoring draw in the end. Richie Foran recovered sufficiently to make the bench and Josh Meekings replaced the suspended Gary Warren, partnering Daniel Devine at the rear. Ryan Esson continued in goal with Reguero as standby. United set out their stall with an attack minded side, probably just as well for them as their defending has been suspect at times. Michael Gardyne getting a start with Stuart Armstrong on the bench. Inverness started brightest and pegged United back in the early stages looking for the breakthrough. For all his height, Owain Tudur-Jones should be an ideal target at set pieces, alas, heading is not his strong point and he wasted a good opportunity meekly heading a Doran corner wide of the keepers left hand post. United responded and Jon Daly did likewise at the other end as headers seemed to be the preferred method of attack, Billy McKay nodding one direct at Cierzniak from a great position as the play opened out. Neither side were able to get a foothold in the match as the play went from end to end and defences were mainly on top, but contract boy Andy Shinnie came closest, forcing Cierzniak into a diving save just before half time as he wheeled on the edge of the box and fired a shot low towards the goal, but the keeper was equal to it. Half Time 1-1 The second period continued in the same theme and I've seen worse nil nil games. Aaron Doran was teasing and probing at one end and Gary Mackay-Stevens was doing the same at the other end, but poor final balls and good defending thwarted most moves. Around the hour mark, the cumbersome Jon Daly passed up the Arabs best chance so far, heading over from six yards. He should have made the keeper work.. United were becoming more prominent and they seemed to gain the upper hand possession wise, but clear chances were at a premium as the play went from end to end. Esson saved a shot from substitute Armstrong to keep the score blank and the United goalie did likewise from the classy Andy Shinnie, who was at full stretch to turn a ball goalwards. Armstrong blazed a loose ball high over the bar at the other end when he should have done better with the defence struggling to cover him. It was Shinnie that should have broken the deadlock after some neat play when he strode onto an outswinging cross from Doran, but his diving header was straight down the keepers throat and the chance was wasted. With twelve minutes remaining, Ryan Esson earned his corn when he grappled with a deflected Rankin shot from close range and eventually pounced on the ball before it squirmed over the line. Close call! The long awaited return of Richie Foran was a welcome sight with ten minutes left on the clock and he looked eager to get involved, and he livened the last few minutes up, but it was United who pressed at the death for the goal which would steal the points, but it never came. Full Time 0-0 A draw was just about right although Inverness did create the better openings, but some woeful shooting and heading kept the score blank. The only winners from this game were Motherwell who jumped above Inverness into second place after beating Celtic 2-1. So, it's onward to Dingwall for what has now become a very meaningful game given County's recent surge of form and Inverness' apparent reluctance to kill off games. Interesting weekend ahead. tm4tj MotM:- goes to the quality player that is Andy Shinnie. Not able to get on the scoresheet last night, but his close control was a joy to behold. Danny Devine was solid at the back as was Josh Meekings and Nick Ross had one of his best games as well, so onwards to Dingwall and it's all to play for. 27th Feb 2013 Scottish Premier League Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness C.T. 0 - TEAM: Esson, Raven, G Shinnie, Devine, Meekings, Doran, Draper, Tudur-Jones, Ross (Sutherland 80), A Shinnie, McKay (Foran 80) SUBS: Reguero, Laing, Polworth, Pepper, Taylor Booked: Meekings (16) Sent Off: none Dundee Utd 0 - TEAM: Cierzniak, Watson, Douglas, Dillon, McLean, Gardyne, Flood, Rankin, Mackay-Steven, Daly, Russell (Armstrong 38) SUBS: Banks, Ryan, Millar, Dow, Thomson, Souttar Booked: Flood (68) Sent Off: none Referee Brian Colvin Attendance 3413

El Kessocko Forget Real Madrid and Barcelona, Ronaldo or Messi, it's down to the nitty gritty now as Inverness travel to Dingwall for the re-arranged game at the Global Energy Stadium, delayed since New Year when we were supposed to first foot the gudgies. It's been affectionately christened El Kessocko, the Highland Derby, where Shinniesta will take on Sproule in the battle for Highland Domination. At that time, we were on a roll and County were struggling somewhat. We had just had our first blank score sheet of the season and we were second top of the SPL with 34 points. Look further down the table, in fact, go right down to eleventh place and there you can see Ross County, languishing in second bottom spot with only Dundee below them and an astonishing 13 points behind Inverness. But hold on. take a glance at the table now and you can see that Inverness have stuttered their way into third place and lo and behold, right behind us are County, with only one point separating the sides. The Staggies have been on a remarkable run of late winning seven of their last nine games and drawing the other two. The last club to beat them were Celtic ten games ago but they have garnered 23 points out of a possible 27 to spectacularly sprint up the league, and God forbid, should they win on Saturday they will climb above us. Surely not I hear you gasp, but they are the team with all the impetus and we have stagnated since the turn of the year, earning only eight points in 2013 from a possible twenty one. Two, well three games so far this season have seen Inverness own the Highlands and in the cup replay at Dingwall, the home dugout was awash with seethe as Derek Adams blew his top after watching his side lose a last second goal to Inverness. The game went to a replay and we went on to the next round of the cup, County were left to wonder at what could have been. Alas our cup run ended in the next round at Kilmarnock, but it was worth it to see Derek's face and gesticulations at the end of the game. Seething! The first league game ended in favour of Inverness, but not until late in the game when Aaron Doran scored a spectacular clincher to settle the game, 3-1 for Inverness and the Highlands were ours. Shoooooooot! It's Jones the shoot talking to CaleyD <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-I7RLEYSCbY?list=PL30A0B5E92F18F713" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> ***Latest Team News*** Inverness welcome back Gary Warren after his suspension, boosted by the news that he has signed a new contract to keep him at The Caledonian Stadium for a further two years. Butcher will have to decide which of the other cantral defenders should step down, tough choice as both did well in midweek. Foran will hopefully show no ill effects which would demote Nick Ross to the bench and Hogg and King, well, they are still missing. Ross County have no fresh worries and new scoring sensation Ivan Sproule will be ready for action after being subbed in midweek, just in case. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1dnyHB9QR_c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> tm4tj Prediction:- We seem to be running scared on CTO this week at the prospect of facing the all conquering Ross County. Gary Warren returning is a big plus for us and Richie Foran getting the last ten minutes in midweek was an added bonus. County have been in inspired form recently and the acquisition of Sproule has been at the heart of this with five goals since he arrived in January. But we have coped with him before when he played for Hibs, and I have no doubt we will manage once more. This is a tough game though, played on County's tight pitch and it is imperative that we roll our sleeves up and get stuck in. This could be a battle, and with Richie Foran in line for a return, then he is the very man to lead the charge. Still, this could be the toughest game yet and maybe a share of the points is on the cards. 1-1 is my best guess. Now then, the PC brigade are on the warpath, we all have to mind or P's & Q,s..........don't be the one that ends up in the cells for the sake of a bit of banter. You're no Gypsies any more......................