THE rot may have been stopped after four defeats on the trot but Dundee United’s failings are still highly prevalent and the pressure remains on manager Jackie McNamara.
There were some encouraging signs in the early part of the match – particularly the play of talented youngster Scott Fraser – but only five points from the opening eight matches is a dismal start to their campaign.
They were ahead early – almost inevitably through former Inverness striker Billy Mckay – and may have had this game sewn up with only 11 minutes played but for a costly miss by John Rankin.
However, they were denied their first home win of the season by Josh Meekings’s header early in the second half which ensured a deserved draw for the Highlanders.
Manager McNamara said: “I thought we were excellent first half and should have had the game won – well at least had a second goal – but unfortunately John missed a good chance.
“We were looking a bit nervy as they started the second half very well. They pushed their full-backs on to get into the game and had wee bits of possession but I still felt we could have done enough to win the game, but we paid the price for poor marking at a corner.
“It was frustrating. We needed that second goal to settle the players down.
“I’ve been in that position before when you can feel the tension. It is getting that second goal to calm the fans and the players down and then they can go and get back to playing football and enjoying it. That’s the biggest thing.”
United had been forceful from the outset, winning a free kick for Ross Draper’s handball on Fraser’s shot in 25 seconds which resulted in a caution for the Inverness player as he complained too vociferously.
It was their pressing play which produced the opening goal in the seventh minute. Fraser showed great composure as he fed the overlapping Ryan McGowan who drove a low ball into the six- yard box.
Darko Bodul tried to divert the ball into the net with his chest but Owain Fon Williams made a fine block. However, he only succeeded in knocking the ball into the path of Mckay who gleefully swept it into the net.
McNamara no doubt rued the fact that Mckay was not in the middle of the penalty area four minutes later.
Inverness failed to clear Fraser’s free-kick and when the ball was played back into the box, centre -back Callum Morris rolled the perfect pass to Rankin who was unmarked 12 yards out but shot straight at Fon Williams.
The Welsh goalkeeper then saved his side in 24 minutes with a tremendous save when he dived to his left to block a ferocious effort from Mckay, who is a re-energised character since moving to Tannadice from Wigan on loan.
The alarming aspect for McNamara is that while his side were dominant, their lead was a slender one. They were over- elaborate in the last third when they could have hurt the Highlanders and they were made to pay for it. No doubt relieved to be only one behind at half-time, Inverness were a different prospect in the second half and they found an equaliser 11 minutes in.
The marking in the Dundee United box was shambolic as Meekings was allowed to run unimpeded from a deep position to power a header into the net after Ryan Christie’s corner from the right.
The dynamic changed and Caley Thistle threatened to make it an even blacker day for United.
Christie showed the class that encouraged Ronny Deila to make him a Celtic player for next season with a wonderfully incisive pass to find Carl Tremarco galloping into the box in 62 minutes but the full-back shot straight at Luis Zwick.
Greg Tansey also threatened with two well-hit efforts from distance in 65 and 83 minutes and the galling aspect for McNamara was that his side never really looked like scoring again.
Substitute Simon Murray did have the ball in the net four minutes from time, slotting home Blair Spittal’s cross, but he was clearly offside.
The other major bonus for Caley Thistle was Richie Foran’s first league appearance since March 2014 after the serious knee trouble he suffered.
It would have been interesting to hear the views of John Hughes, the Caley Thistle manager, on this and all other match-related topics.
However, he did not attend the post-match press conference.
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