Iain Vigurs wonder goal gives Caley Thistle share of the points at Aberdeen
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A MOMENT of brilliance from Iain Vigurs ensured Caley Thistle left Aberdeen with a point.
After a dubious Niall McGinn goal gave Aberdeen the lead early in the second half, Vigurs’ delightful clipped effort with 22 minutes to go drew the visitors level.
Richie Foran’s side felt aggrieved to go behind, feeling Liam Polworth had been fouled in the build-up to McGinn’s goal, which was allowed to stand.
However, Vigurs had the perfect answer, stranding Joe Lewis with a shot that went in via the crossbar.
It was a deserved draw for the travelling supporters, who had witnessed their side more than match the Dons for the majority of the game.
The Caley Jags made one change from the side that beat St Johnstone, with Richie Foran handing Brad McKay his debut in place of Lewis Horner. There was no place for fellow new arrival Larnell Cole on the bench.
After a cagey opening 15 minutes, the visitors produced the first clear chance. On the counter, Polworth switched play to Billy King on the left flank and he returned the favour, lofting the ball to the back post and Polworth clipped the bar with his volley.
Neither side looked like carving each other open in what was a tepid opening period. Aberdeen had a skewed shot from McGinn and an Anthony O’Connor header that were their best efforts, but neither came close to testing Owain Fon Williams.
The biggest flashpoint of the first half came when O’Connor cleaned out Vigurs, yet somehow escaped a booking. Vigurs appeared to deliberately walk into the Dons midfielder as he came past him, seemingly to remonstrate with referee Crawford Allan at the challenge that went unpunished.
Within 20 seconds of the first half there was as much action as the first, with Ross Draper seeing his volley deflected wide.
Aberdeen took the lead on 51 minutes out of nothing, with Caley Thistle disputing that the goal should have stood.
Polworth appeared to have been tripped in the middle of the park by Wes Burns but Allan waved play on. The ball broke to McGinn and he stepped inside before curling an effort beyond Fon Williams into the bottom corner.
Caley Thistle players surrounded the referee to remonstrate at the non-foul, which earned skipper Gary Warren a booking.
The game all of a sudden had opened up and Burns looked like being the chief exploiter. He tore into the space vacated by an advancing McKay and made hay towards Fon Williams, however his clipped finish sailed past the far post.
The Dons looked like taking control of the game and were fashioning more and more chances for themselves. Adam Rooney robbed Vigurs close to the area and looked like replicating McGinn’s effort, only for Fon Williams to stick out a big left hand.
But Inverness are nothing if not spirited. Arguably the best player on the pitch in the first half, Vigurs restored parity in majestic fashion. Draper outmuscled James Maddison to keep possession and allowed space for Vigurs, who stepped on to the ball and clipped a marvellous finish over Joe Lewis via the crossbar.
Derek McInnes’ side pushed for a second goal and had efforts wide from Hayes and Maddison, with Josh Meekings also clearing off the line from Jayden Stockley.
However, they were unable to find another as a resolute Caley Thistle took home a merited point.
ABERDEEN: Lewis; Logan, Taylor, Considine, Shinnie (Maddison, 33), McGinn, O’Connor, McLean, Hayes (Stockley, 82), Burns (Pawlett, 77), Rooney. Subs unused: Alexander, McKenna, Storie, Storey. Booked:
CALEY THISTLE: Fon Williams; McKay, Warren, Meekings, Tremarco, Draper, Tansey, Polworth, Vigurs (Doran, 75), King (Horner, 90), Fisher (Doumbouya, 63). Subs unused: Mackay, Horner, Raven, Mulraney, Boden. Booked: Tansey, Tremarco, King, Warren.
Attendance: 11,356.
Referee: C Allan.
