Match ends, Ross County 0, Inverness CT 0.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle dropped to second in the Scottish Championship after a goalless Highland derby draw with fourth-placed Ross County.
Staggies goalkeeper Scott Fox denied Aaron Doran, twice, Jordan White and Liam Polworth before the break.
At the other end, Michael Gardyne was constant menace to the away defence and fired several efforts off-target.
Caley Thistle's Tom Walsh came close, as did former Inverness striker Billy Mckay near the end, but neither netted.
Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson: "We felt we were a bit reactive rather than proactive and didn't quite get to grips with the way we wanted to play in the first half.
"Inverness came right at us and put us under pressure and thankfully we were able to stand firm. In the second half we got into a bit of a rhythm and the longer the game went the better we were feeling. As far a derby spectacle goes I don't think you could have asked for much more from the players."
Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson: "I thought we totally dominated the match for an hour, created all the best chances in the first half, played some lovely football and cut through them for fun. We just couldn't get it past Foxy - I thought he had a terrific game.
"We played the better football, created better chances but just didn't take them. In the end it's a good point - it's away and it's a derby game but we would have liked to have won. But to come to a club that's spent double the budget we've spent and be the better side shows that we are going to be at the right end of the table."
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Fox
- 15Watson
- 5Morris
- 4Fontaine
- 3KellyBooked at 72mins
- 26CowieSubstituted forMullinat 65'minutes
- 8Lindsay
- 6DraperSubstituted forVigursat 65'minutes
- 7Gardyne
- 9Mckay
- 19GrahamSubstituted forMcManusat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 10McManus
- 11Vigurs
- 12Demetriou
- 14Mullin
- 17Keillor-Dunn
- 21Munro
- 27Stewart
Inverness CT
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ridgers
- 2Rooney
- 22McKay
- 5DonaldsonBooked at 89mins
- 3Tremarco
- 11WalshSubstituted forMackayat 88'minutes
- 15Welsh
- 4Chalmers
- 10Doran Cogan
- 7Polworth
- 19White
Substitutes
- 6McCart
- 16Calder
- 23Mackay
- 24Trafford
- 35Macgregor
- 37Brown
- 42Hoban
- Referee:
- William Collum
- Attendance:
- 6,402
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Inverness CT 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Keith Watson (Ross County) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt missed. Michael Gardyne (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Booking
Coll Donaldson (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Coll Donaldson (Inverness CT).
Post update
Iain Vigurs (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Daniel Mackay replaces Tom Walsh.
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Attempt missed. Michael Gardyne (Ross County) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
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Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Joe Chalmers.
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Attempt missed. Billy McKay (Ross County) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt saved. Billy McKay (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. Liam Fontaine (Ross County) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is too high.
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Attempt missed. Michael Gardyne (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Declan McManus replaces Brian Graham.
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Jamie Lindsay (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Liam Polworth (Inverness CT).
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Attempt missed. Michael Gardyne (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Liam Polworth (Inverness CT) because of an injury.