Caley Thistle seal last-gasp draw with Championship leaders Partick Thistle

Scott Kellacher praised Caley Thistle for going to the very end to seal a 1-1 draw at home to Championship leaders Partick Thistle.

Seb Drozd fired Thistle in front in the 17th minute and it seemed like that would be the clincher, but on-loan Aberdeen attacker Bavidge was on hand to secure a point.

Partick Thistle are now just three points clear of Ayr United, Stenhousemuir and Raith Rovers going into the weekend fixtures, with ICT nudging up to sixth spot on three points.

League One champions Inverness, who are competing in the second tier for the first time in three years, returned to this level with goalless draws against Dunfermline Athletic and Arbroath.

Facing title favourites Thistle was going to be a tall order, although they did enter the game on the back of a year without loss at home and they now have a 21-game unbeaten league record overall, the best in the SPFL.

The Glasgow Jags arrived at the Sarens PSG Stadium having gone 16 league games without defeat, having been beaten in the Premiership play-off final by St Mirren in their latest quest to reach the top-flight.

Kellacher thrilled to match Thistle

So perhaps it’s right this was to end all square, albeit thanks to late drama from Inverness.

Kellacher praised his players for digging deep to get a result.

He said: “We have now played three teams who were in the play-offs and drawn with them all. We matched them, which is pleasing. We’ve created chances and played well.

“It was a game of two halves. They were better than us in the first half. We never got going and never played the way we wanted to or pressed how we wanted to press.

“You have to give credit to them. They are tipped to win the league. They’re a good side with very good players.

“We were a lot better in the second half. It was a lot better all round in terms of pressing and getting balls in the box. We had one or two chances and hit the post as well.

“Overall, I felt a draw was the right result. We changed the shape late on and went with two strikers up top and three at the back. Sometimes these things pay off and sometimes they don’t and it did tonight.

“I looked at the unbeaten stats beforehand and it maybe had draw written all over it. When you play against a team of Partick’s quality, you’re happy to take a point.”

[Source: Press and Journal]