Duncan Ferguson's home managerial debut with Inverness Caley Thistle ends in stalemate with Partick Thistle as hosts keep first clean sheet of campaign
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Inverness Caley Thistle (0) 0
Partick Thistle (0) 0
Att 2,374
Duncan Ferguson’s first home game as Caley Thistle manager ended in stalemate as the hosts held the Championship’s top scorers to claim a first clean sheet of the season.
While there was much to admire in the home performance, they lacked a killer touch when it counted.
Charlie Gilmour’s shot just wide later in the match was perhaps chance of the day as ICT remained just above bottom side Morton on goal difference.
Both sides were unchanged, with Ferguson seeing no reason to tweak the line-up that earned a much-needed victory at Arbroath in his first match in charge.
For Ferguson’s first home bow, experienced defender Danny Devine returned to the bench with youngster Keith Bray dropping out.
Partick were also unchanged after a superb 3-0 home victory against Dunfermline.
The Glasgow side had lost in their last three visits to the Highland capital, last winning here in 2019, but were in keen goalscoring form with 16 goals in their last six games.
It proved a competitive first half, but there were few chances.
Early on, Australian Nikola Ujdur headed a foot wide of the left hand post from Aaron Doran’s corner in the only clearcut opening for either side.
ICT’s Cammy Harper was lucky to escape a card of either colour after catching Kerr McInroy high and late before the break.
Early in the second half, a terrific Aidan Fitzpatrick run on the left ended with the wide man striking the outside of the post from a tight angle.
The hosts had a strong penalty claim as Doran went down in the box under Aaron Muirhead’s attentions, but referee Dan McFarlane wasn’t interested.
Doran exited with a painful hamstring injury soon after.
Partick’s best chance came in the 67th minute as Brian Graham’s low attempt from 25 yards was pushed wide of the post by keeper Mark Ridgers.
The game was opening up into the final quarter and Charlie Gilmour went within a whisker with the chance of the game - an eight yard attempt just wide from substitute Austin Samuels’ pass.
It was anyone’s game entering the last 15 minutes, but Harry Milne’s powerful run ended with a skewed finish wide as the goal opened up for the left back.
A great chance came late for the Maryhill men as McInroy’s strike was blocked by Ridgers and Tomi Adeloye shot over.
Inverness Caley Thistle (4-4-1-1): Ridgers 7, Carson 6, Ujdur 7, Boyes 8, Harper 7; Shaw 7 (Brooks 85, 3), Gilmour 7, Anderson 7 Longstaff 7; Doran 7 (Samuels 65, 6); Mckay 7 (Lodovica 85, 3). Subs: MacKay, Delaney, Devine, Davidson, Hyde, Thompson.
Partick Thistle (4-3-3): Sneddon 6; Ngwenya 7, Muirhead 7, Neilson 7, Milne 7; McInroy 7, Robinson 6, Bannigan 6; Lawless 7, Graham 6 (Adeloye 74, 4), Fitzpatrick 6 (MacDonald 74, 4). Subs: Mitchell, Williams, McGinley, Williamson, Alston, Stanway, MacKenzie.
Booking: McInroy 72
Referee: Dan McFarlane 6
