Coming away from Tannadice with four points in two games is something Caley Thistle would have taken at the start of the season.
They dominated the first half and should have had more than Iain Vigurs’ opener to show for it and were ultimately punished for their profligacy, as Thomas Mikkelsen found the net to secure a Championship point for Dundee United.
Inverness made three changes from the 1-0 defeat by Dunfermline on Tuesday. Brad McKay, Charlie Trafford and Connor Bell replaced Cameron Harper, Aaron Doran and Jake Mulraney. United were unchanged from the 3-1 win against Queen of the South.
Their shot-shy performance on Tuesday greatly frustrated Robertson but Inverness delivered one of their best performances of the season at Tannadice in October. They emerged 2-0 victors on that day and should have been ahead in a chaotic opening 10 minutes for the United defence.
George Oakley escaped their attentions to collect a Vigurs pass and probably had too long to think about his one-on-one chance, with Harry Lewis telegraphing it to make the save.
However, the on-loan Southampton stopper did not cover himself in glory 90 seconds later as he flapped at a high ball that Oakley managed to divert away from him. Three tangerine shirts backed away from the bouncing ball, allowing Gary Warren to leap and nod it goalwards. The ball was hacked off the line but broke to Oakley, with Mark Durnan getting in the way of his shot.
Sensing an opportunity to exploit a fragile United defence, Robertson moved Bell alongside Oakley and moved Chalmers out wide. Bell and Oakley were able to get behind Durnan and Tam Scobbie far too easily for United’s liking and Vigurs was in the mood, floating into pockets of space in front of the back four and given the time to pick them out.
He made an even more decisive contribution on the half-hour mark, heading home Liam Polworth’s corner to give Caley Jags a deserved lead. The decision to give the corner was dubious, though, as Bell’s cross looked to have gone straight out rather than take a deflection.
Vigurs could have doubled his tally on 35 minutes by finishing off a sweeping move as he met Carl Tremarco’s lay-off from the edge of the box, but his shot was low and easy for Lewis to hold. Inverness were able to fashion so many chances they should have had the game sewn up before the break. Vigurs, again orchestrating things, strode forward and fed a drifting Oakley but instead of shooting, he tried to find Bell at the back post, which allowed Durnan to slide in and clear.
The second half started in the same fashion, with Chalmers the first to try his luck. It took the hosts an hour to have a shot that would remotely threaten Mark Ridgers’ goal, with Mikkelsen cutting inside McKay and aiming for the back post, only to watch it drift harmlessly wide.
Mikkelsen, who had been quiet up to this point, made his mark with a well-taken finish, stretching a leg out to direct Jamie Robson’s drilled cross back across goal and seeing it bounce inside Ridgers’ far post. The goal gave the Arabs a lift and changed the flow of the game, with Mikkelsen starting to make a nuisance of himself and Inverness pressed into a period of defending. Warren – superb all afternoon – thwarted a couple of attacks, while Ridgers was called into action twice, saving from Willo Flood and Paul McMullan.
The winning goal would not come for either side and both will feel like they should have taken all three points. But at least Caley Jags can take some positivity into this weekend’s silverware push and not after back-to-back defeats.
DUNDEE UNITED (4-1-4-1) – Lewis 6, Murdoch 6, Durnan 5, Scobbie 6, Robson 6, Quinn 5 (McDonald 46), Smith 6 (McMullan 74), Stanton 5, Flood 6, King 6, Mikkelsen 6 (Fraser 85). Subs not used – Mehmet, Edjenguele, Slater, Ralston.
CALEY THISTLE (4-3-3) – Ridgers 6, Seedorf 6, McKay 6, Warren 7, Tremarco 7, Chalmers 6, Trafford 6 (Mulraney 71), Vigurs 7, Polworth 7, Bell 7 (Doran 78), Oakley 6 (Austin 87). Subs not used – Esson, Calder, Donaldson, Mackay.
Referee – Steve Kirkland.
Attendance: 4,772.
Man of the match: Iain Vigurs.