Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Caley Thistle will soon reel rivals in, insists boss Billy Dodds after league gap widens

Dundee match-winner Paul McMullan celebrates his goal at Inverness. Images: Craig Williamson/SNS Group
Dundee match-winner Paul McMullan celebrates his goal at Inverness. Images: Craig Williamson/SNS Group

Billy Dodds will have heard the unrest in the stands as the 1-0 Championship defeat to Dundee had some supporters turning their frustration on the Caley Thistle head coach.

Dundee’s first-ever win at the Caledonian Stadium, at the 15th attempt, was earned with the swipe from the boot of November’s Championship player of the month, Paul McMullan.

The lively attacker was afforded too much space to cut in from the left flank and unleash the killer goal on 26 minutes.

The only victory injury-ravaged Inverness have posted since winning 1-0 at Cove Rangers on October 15 was last week’s nervy 3-2 Scottish Cup fourth-round win against League Two visitors Stirling Albion.

Ayr United, 2-0 victors against Raith Rovers, are now nine points in front of sixth-placed Inverness, with Dundee sticking closest to the leaders, just one point off top spot.

Main striker Billy Mckay returned the Caley Thistle casualty list to nine players as a calf strain put him on the sidelines and his absence was felt.

Paul McMullan crashes home the only goal of the game for Dundee at Caley Thistle.

Man-of-the-match defender Danny Devine, left-back Cammy Harper and midfielder David Carson were three of the main men seen breaking up play and sparking attacks.

However, overall Gary Bowyer’s side defended smartly and – vitally – scored when it counted.

Confidence will return with wins

There was no lack of effort from ICT, but it all came to nothing as Dodds felt they all too often were not ruthless enough when seeking an opening against Dundee.

He said: “We were firing into challenges and we passed the ball well. We did a lot of work on Dundee this week and they carried it out almost to the letter of the law. The one time we didn’t, we got punished.

“Once we get a couple of wins, the confidence and momentum will come back. There is no doubt we will reel teams in.

“We also have to not get too far detached while we have these injuries. All I’m asking for is a wee bit more quality and a willingness to get on the end of things.”

Inverness head coach Billy Dodds makes his point from the sidelines.

Good home start before Dundee goal

Carson and Aaron Doran had early attempts fly wide early on for ICT after Nathan Shaw and Devine set them up.

However, McMullan’s moment of direct action gave Dundee’s neat play an end product, with a goal which had Dodds fuming on the touchlines.

Cammy Kerr had a similar effort, but from closer in, which keeper Cammy MacKay dealt with.

Inverness responded and, just before the break, striker George Oakley was denied by a key interception from Tyler French.

It’s glee for Dundee’s winning manager Gary Bowyer as his side post their first-ever league victory at ICT.

No way through for Caley Thistle

It took a while for anything noteworthy to happen in the second half. It came on 64 minutes when Doran, whose goal sunk Stirling Albion a week ago, dipped a drive just over the crossbar.

McMullan then launched a Maradona-like weaving run, but the move broke down when Josh Mulligan failed to keep hold of the pass.

Substitute Luke McCowan and Mulligan forced saves from Cammy MacKay as Dundee sought a clinching second goal.

Dundee’s Cammy Kerr, left, slides in to stop Aaron Doran in his tracks.

However, Caley Thistle were every bit as determined and Oakley and Dan MacKay were not far off target with shots flashing past left and right posts respectively.

For all the endeavour though, ICT ran out of time and this sore outcome for the weary Highlanders was a bitter pill to swallow.

ICT all set for Accies’ double-header

Inverness have a weekend off from league action, but they’re gearing up for successive Saturdays away to basement opponents Hamilton.

This weekend, they take on Accies at New Douglas Park in the SPFL Trust Trophy fourth-round before returning on league business seven days later.

Dundee fans set off a smoke bomb after their side scored at Inverness.

There’s little doubt the second match will be seen – by both clubs – as the more crucial clash.

Dodds will hope fans can stick with him and his shattered players as they seek to rediscover the form which seen them secure five straight victories earlier this season.

CALEY THISTLE (4-4-1-1) –  Cammy Mackay 6, Duffy 6, Harper 7, Devine 7, Carson 7, Doran 7 (Nicolson 84), Oakley 6, Ram 6 (Barrett 72), Hyde 6 (Boyd 72), Dan MacKay 7, Shaw 6. Subs not used – Ridgers (GK), Boyd, Strachan, Calum MacKay, Bray.

DUNDEE (4-3-3) – Legzdins 6, Kerr 7, French 7 (Grayson 90), Sweeney 6, McGhee , Byrne 6 (Robertson 70), Ashcroft 6, Mulligan 6, McMullan 7, Rudden 6 (McCowan 7), Williamson 6 (Osei 70). Subs not used – Sharp (GK), Jakubiak, Sheridan, Anderson , Cameron.

Referee – Alan Muir.

Attendance – 2,435.

Man of the match – Danny Devine.

Conversation