Inverness CT 0-0 Dundee United

Both sides struggled in front of goal

Inverness and Dundee United fought out a goalless draw, with both sides sorely lacking a cutting edge in attack.

The home side created the best chances and Graham Bayne should have beaten Derek Stillie from close range.

But United were unfortunate not to take the lead in the 10th minute when Craig Conway struck the bar with a powerful drive from 18 yards.

And United were denied a late winner when Mark Brown made a top class save to keep out a header from Barry Robson.

Inverness were unchanged from the side that hammered Motherwell last weekend.

Dundee United captain Robson returned from suspension at the expense of Noel Hunt and Garry Kenneth came in for David McCracken in defence.

Inverness created the first opportunity in the seventh minute when Roy McBain seized on a misplaced header by United's Stuart Duff before delivering a cross from which Dargo's header was well saved by Stillie.

Bayne then attempted a shot on the turn from 25 yards which was easily gathered by Stillie, before United midfielder Conway was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring.

The 21-year-old capitalised on Ross Tokely's failed attempted interception and after cutting back inside the defender, cracked a drive off the crossbar.

The home side responded to that scare by drawing an acrobatic save from Stillie, this time from Bayne's header.

Home defender Darren Dods then almost turned a deflected Christian Kalvenes cross past his own goalkeeper.

Fortunately for the Inverness captain, Brown was alive to the danger and managed to smother the ball at his near post.

The away side were looking dangerous through their attacks down the left and a low, driven Kalvenes centre was fired over the bar by a lunging David Proctor.

Barry Wilson then robbed of Kalvenes possession, before delivering a cross which John Rankin directed just wide on the volley.

Seven minutes before the interval, Inverness blew a great chance when Bayne fired straight at Stillie when it looked easier to score.

After a clutch of goalscoring chances were created in the first 45 minutes, neither team were able to fashion any threatening attacks for the bulk of the second period.

Robson was denied the winning goal in the latter stages as Brown's brilliant block from his header ensured the match ended goalless.

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Inverness CT: Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Keogh 72), Black (Morgan 79), Rankin, McBain, Bayne, Dargo (McAllister 84). Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Duncan, Sutherland.

Booked: Black.

Dundee Utd: Stillie, Kalvenes, Archibald, Kenneth, Proctor, Conway, Kerr (Brewster 53), Cameron, Robson, Duff (Robb 71), Samuel (Hunt 45). Subs Not Used: McLean, Mair, Easton, Robertson.

Booked: Cameron.

Att: 3,586

Ref: K Clark