Inverness Caley Thistle win first league game but boss Duncan Ferguson sent off
Scottish League One
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1
Queen of the South 0
Scorer: McKay (19)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle picked up their first league win of the season as they defeated Queen of the South at the Caledonian Stadium.
Billy Mckay’s first half strike proved to be enough to give Inverness all three points and their first win in seven matches in all competitions since beating Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 2-0 in the League Cup on July 20.
Manager Duncan Ferguson was sent off in the final few minutes after complaining over a referee’s decision to award Queen of the South a corner kick instead of giving Inverness a goal kick. But Inverness managed to hold on for victory.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 to Kelty Hearts last week.
Adam Brooks and Paul Allan were brought into the starting line-up with Calum Macleod dropped to the bench and Keith Bray out injured.
New signing James Nolan, who is on loan from Manchester United was named on the bench.
Inverness broke the deadlock after 19 minutes when Brooks’ shot took a deflection among a crowded six-yard box.
The ball fell kindly to Mckay who fired home from close range to put the hosts in front in the only highlight of a dull first half.
Brooks claimed he should have had a penalty at the start of the second half when he felt he was barged down in the box. But referee Gavin Duncan booked the striker instead of ruling him guilty of simulation.
Queen of the South’s first real chance of the match came in the 55th minute when Jack Hannah’s header forced Musa Dibaga into a good save to keep Inverness in the lead.
Inverness came close to doubling their advantage when Brooks put through McKay with only the goalkeeper to beat. But from six yards out, he hit the side netting.
Brooks came close to getting Inverness’s second with 20 minutes remaining when Nolan’s cross eventually found the striker, but his shot was nodded off the line by defender Matthew Douglas.
With 15 minutes remaining, Flynn Duffy had to be stretchered off injured with Connall Ewan, who arrived on loan from Ross County this week, brought on as his replacement.
Manager Ferguson was sent off after recieving a second yellow card after disputing a decision by the referee to award Queen of the South a corner kick instead of giving them a goal kick. But Inverness held on for victory to go fifth in League One and three points off top.
Inverness: Dibaga, W. Duffy, (Nolan 67) F. Duffy (Ewan 75), Davidson, Savage, Devine, Gilmour, MacKinnnon, McKay, Brooks (Mackay 77), Allan (Macleod 45).
Substitutes: Rebilas, Strachan, Thompson, Keogh, Ferguson, Ewan.
Queen of the South: Stewart, Hewitt (Johnstone 43), Lyon, Douglas, McKechnie, Luissint (Walker 58), McIntosh, Kennedy (Docherty 85), Dickenson, Hannah, MacIntyre.
Substitutes: Hogarth, Church, Rogerson, Willis, Ross, McLinden.
Referee: Gavin Duncan
Attendance 1703.
