Paul McMullan is Dundee's difference maker as Inverness Caley Thistle lose out in Highland capital
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0
Dundee 1 (McMullan)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle's winless run in the Scottish Championship now stands at seven matches after they were beaten by Dundee.
In a drab game in which neither goalkeeper had a huge amount to do, Paul McMullan's first half strike remained the difference between the sides when the full time whistle was blown.
Adding to the frustration for Billy Dodds was that his players barely mustered a shot on target, despite many wayward efforts that could have brought them back into the game.
The Caley Jags actually had the first sight of goal in the match, as Nathan Shaw turned Cammy Kerr to find space to cross into the middle.
It was only half-cleared though, giving David Carson the chance to strike a volley towards goal – only to skew the ball wide of the mark.
From there, Dundee grew into the match and were largely the better side in the opening half.
They would take the lead in the 26th minute somewhat out of nowhere, when Paul McMullan cut inside from the left and picked out the far corner to give the visitors a 1–0 advantage.
Max Ram very nearly turned into his own net less than 10 minutes later, as he deflected Zak Rudden's low cross on to his own crossbar before the ball bounced safely into the hands of Cammy Mackay.
Kerr then went close to replicating McMullan's opener, only for Mackay to punch the ball to relative safety this time around.
Inverness struggled to break through a stubborn defence, with only wayward efforts from long distance to show for their efforts.
Dundee may feel they should have gone two goals up on the cusp of the interval when Mackay skewed an attempted clearance outside of his box straight to Rudden, but the Dundee man could only fire straight at Danny Devine as Gary Bowyer's men went in search of daylight.
The second half followed much the same pattern as the first, with Caley Thistle trying but struggling to find a way through the travelling defence.
Aaron Doran did play a one-two with Wallace Duffy, leading to a shot at goal just after the hour mark, but although the ball was dipping it was not quickly enough as the shot went over the bar.
With around 15 minutes left, Dundee forced back-to-back saves out of Mackay as they tried to extend their lead.
First it was substitute Luke McCowan who had the time to shoot after a quick Dundee break forward, but straight at Mackay. That was followed quickly by a fairly tame effort from Josh Mulligan from the edge of the box that was comfortably stopped.
Mulligan then fired over the bar as the clock ticked down, but Inverness did come close to a stoppage time leveller.
Daniel MacKay, making his first start since going off injured against Hamilton in October, looked like he was trying to pick out a teammate with a low cross – only for the ball to go inches past the post.
That was as close as they came, as Dundee were the ones celebrating when the final whistle went.
Caley Thistle: Mackay, Duffy, Harper, Devine, Carson, Doran (Nicolson 84), Oakley, Ram (Barrett 72), Hyde (Boyd 72), D MacKay, Shaw.
Subs not used: Ridgers, Strachan, C MacKay, Bray.
Dundee: Legzdins, Kerr, French (Grayson 90), Sweeney, McGhee, Byrne (Robertson 70), Ashcroft, Mulligan, McMullan, Rudden (McCowan 70), Williamson (Osei 71).
Subs not used: Sharp, Jakubiak, Sheridan, Anderson, Cameron.
Referee: Alan Muir
Attendance: 2435
