MARLEY WATKINS is convinced he can be the man to fill Billy Mckay's considerable boots - but won't say if he is staying put beyond the summer.

The Welsh wizard helped soothe Caley Thistle concerns over the chasm left by the prolific Mckay's £150,000 move to Wigan Athletic with a deftly-struck finish the departed striker would have been proud of.

Given Northern Ireland international Mckay's excellence - with 59 goals in the latter two-and-a-half years of his Highland sojourn - Watkins knows that making the striker's role his own will be no easy feat.

But there was a subtlety and class about the 38th-minute opener against Ross County that stood out amid the ragged, weather-battered football characterising this season's third Highland derby day.

County, spirited and competitive to a fault, eventually clawed back a leveller, initially deemed a Gary Warren own goal but which Caley Thistle club footage later seemed to show had come from the illicit hand of Staggies substitute Jake Jervis.

If so, it was one missed by referee Calum Beaton and most of the stadium. But there was further controversy at the death as Watkins tumbled in the box on gliding past goalkeeper Toni Reguero only to see his powerful penalty claim waved away.

The draw ended a run of five victories in 2015 for John Hughes' side while stretching Jim McIntyre's search for a precious win to 11 matches dating back to Kilmarnock on November 8.

Neither manager could be too disconsolate at the inconclusive outcome, though, with bottom-placed County still six points in sight of relegation rivals Motherwell and Caley Thistle pulling level on points with second-top Aberdeen.

Hughes has talked of loan signings to buy time in the search for a permanent McKay replacement, but Watkins took the opportunity to underline his own claim with a seventh goal of the season.

Yet with his contract expiring this June, the 24-year-old dodged the question of his future with the same kind of neat body-swerve that almost created a late penalty kick on Saturday.

The recent Wales international squad reservist, once on the books of Chelsea and Swansea, said: "I'll play just wherever the gaffer wants to play me.

"I'm still getting used to that [striker's] position, but I've played there before and scored goals up there. I'm very capable of doing it, and I'm happy with the goal.

"Usually, with clubs in the past, I've been out wide, but I've filled in before and I've done well up top in partnership with Billy.

"I don't know about it being a pressure, but Billy scored nearly 50 goals in [the previous] two seasons, so it's a big thing to take over.

"But I believe in myself - and I'm going to do it."

Watkins, asked about his protracted contract renewal talks, presumably continuing behind closed doors at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, would only say: "I'm just focused on this season, because we've got the opportunity to make history.

"We're having a good season and we've just got to stay in the zone."

There was clarity, though, on just how much the wind, sodden turf and intermittent snowfalls had tainted the match as a spectacle - and on the denied penalty claim.

Watkins said: "I thought it was just one of those one-off games, it wasn't normal. It was hard to read where the ball was going. It was quite scrappy.

"I feel there is a lot more to come from me up front. I scored a good goal, but conditions were bad. It was quite hard out there.

"I thought we battled well, but I think the pitch and the conditions suited Ross County more. We were unfortunate.

"It was definitely a penalty. [Reguero] caught me and it's ruined my stride. I regret being too honest, because I thought I was going to get there. I couldn't keep my balance.

"It's a stonewall one, so I don't know why he's not given it."

There were spells in the game you felt County were capable of troubling the hosts, but there was no question that Hughes' side, overall, held the upper hand.

On three occasions in the match, Staggies midfielder Martin Woods hacked the ball away from the excellent Reguero's goal-line.

County's best chance of the first half came three minutes before the opener, when ex-Celtic youth Marcus Fraser sent in a beautifully-measured cross from the right that Gary Warren could only help to the back of the penalty box.

There, young Tony Dingwall fired hard at goal, but Ryan Esson, replacing the injured Dean Brill, produced a strong save.

Then the hosts attacked, with Greg Tansey's pass drawing a lethal response from Watkins who calmly curled a placed, rather than driven, finish in to the corner of the net from 20 yards.

Caley Thistle's usual fluency of passing was often hindered by the conditions while County's grit and energy made it a compelling contest despite the sometimes ragged nature of play.

Substitutions enlivened the away team and, with snow swirling in, the Staggies mustered what had previously looked an unlikely reply after 76 minutes.

On the break, Jackson Irvine raced away on the right. He flighted in an early cross that veered in the wind and defender Warren was unable to stop a goal-bound touch past Esson by substitute Jervis. Most, on first viewing, felt Warren had hit his own net, but recorded footage suggested Jervis may have - unwittingly or otherwise - used a hand to turn the ball into the net.