Caley Thistle move joint level with Partick in Championship title race
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Inverness Caley Thistle (0) 1 Partick Thistle (0) 0
Att 2354
(Scorers: Mckay 75)
Billy Mckay's driven winner sent Caley Thistle joint level with 10-man Partick Thistle in the Championship title race – with a fourth win on the trot.
The experienced goalscorer pounced for his fifth goal of the season with 15 minutes remaining to lift his side level on points at the summit.
Queen’s Park could today take an outright lead if they can win away to Ayr United.
It was a match that hinged on Kyle Turner’s 39th minute red card, a decision that immediately set the Maryhill men on the back foot.
The hosts hadn’t won at home in the Championship since beating Cove on August 13.
While they were in winning form after three fine away victories, they were contending with a Partick side in fine form.
Only Celtic and Manchester City have averaged more goals a game than Ian McCall’s side so far this season.
Both sides tweaked winning starting 11s, with two changes apiece for the huge six-pointer in the Championship title race.
The hosts – hammered 4-1 at Firhill in mid-August – were in confident mood from those consecutive away wins against Raith Rovers, Dundee and Ayr United.
Manager Billy Dodds brought back fit-again Roddy MacGregor for George Oakley, while Wallace Duffy returned for injured Danny Devine.
League leaders Partick, six games unbeaten in the Championship with five wins and a draw, were also brimming in confidence, three points above the home side.
Those high spirits reflected in a lively start, although strong defensive work from both teams limited the number of clear cut chances in the opening 15 minutes.
Brian Graham showed his eagerness to get involved from the off, but the big Partick striker’s two early attempts were tame and off-target.
A foul by Aaron Muirhead on MacGregor created a dead ball opportunity for Cammy Harper more than 25 yards out, but the recent midfield convert’s ambitious attempt was high and wild.
Partick threatened after 17 minutes with fine work from Harry Milne on the left, but a superb ball across the box from the ex-Cove Rangers man found no takers.
There was a meatiness to exchanges and Jack McMillan drew a yellow card from referee Scott Lambie – no relation of the Partick great John – after pole-axing Daniel MacKay with a late challenge.
There were vain cries for a penalty from Partick’s technical area after Harper knocked down Ross Docherty.
Inverness then enjoyed a spell of pressure and probably should have opened the scoring after a swerving Harper free-kick from deep right was met by a Robbie Deas header, only for Aaron Muirhead to knock the ball off the line.
Four minutes later, Dan MacKay launched into a wonderful widening run from deep, before sending Billy Mckay into the left side of the box.
The experienced striker lifted his attempt over the bar.
The pivotal moment of the first half came after 39 minutes.
Referee Lambie reacted almost immediately to draw a red card on Kyle Turner after he brought his right foot down on Roddy MacGregor’s lower leg in a 50-50 challenge.
It looked instinctively in real-time like a straight red, but replays were inconclusive.
Steven Lawless was booked for protesting the decision.
Into the second half, Partick naturally ceded territory with a man fewer in their ranks, working hard to frustrate the hosts while keeping an eye on counter-attacking opportunities.
There was similar endeavour from the Highlanders as they worked hard to prise openings, but a string spell of pressure up to the hour mark mustered little of concrete worth.
A double substitution, both attack-minded replacements, after 63 minutes pointed to Billy Dodds’ desire to spark things up.
Harper did his best with a marvellous left foot connection from more than 25 yards.
The attempt swirled high towards keeper David Mitchelll’s top left corner, but the Jags’ shotstopper was equal to it, leaping to make a fine diving save.
With 15 minutes remaining, the home breakthrough finally arrived.
Again it was Dan MacKay who made terrific ground on the left and whipped in a dangerous ball which Muirhead did his level best to knock clear.
It fell to Billy McKay 10 yards out and the Caley Thistle man picked his spot through a ruck of players with a hard-drilled finish - his fifth goal of the season.
There was a late chance for home substitute George Oakley but his deflected attempt was knocked to safety off the line by Muirhead.
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE (4-2-3-1): Ridgers 6; Carson 6, Duffy 6, Deas 7, Delaney 6; Allardice 6 (Ram 89, 1), Harper 7; D. Mackay 7 (Hyde 89, 1), Boyd 7 (Doran 63, 5), MacGregor 6 (Shaw 63, 6); Mckay 6 (Oakley 90, 1). Subs: C. MacKay.
Booked: Shaw 81
PARTICK THISTLE (4-2-3-1): Mitchell 6; McMillan 6 (Akinola 73, 5), Muirhead 7, Holt 7, Milne 7; Docherty 6, Bannigan 6 (Fitzpatrick 83, 3); Lawless 6 (C. Smith 83, 3), Turner 6, Tiffoney 6 (McKinnon 46, 6) ; Graham 6 (Dowds 83, 3). Subs: McCready, Brownlie, Smith, Hodson, Weston, Fitzpatrick.
Booked: McMillan 20, Lawless 39, Muirhead 90
Red: Turner 39
Referee: Scott Lambie 6
