An obvious literary metaphor sprang to mind watching this match, with the Jekyll and Hyde nature of both of these sides strikingly apparent. Dundee, for their part, reverted to much the same supine bunch of misfits that were often on show prior to the Neil McCann era. No doubt the Dundee manager would be disparaging of his side’s performance at great length had he still been in a television studio, but the succinct analysis that many of the punters put forth in the creaking old main stand at Dens Park was as profane as it was appropriate. With safety secured, the flip-flops it seems, were well and truly on.
On this evidence though, it is a wonder that Inverness have found themselves marooned at the bottom of the table for the majority of the campaign, and their fans must be querying where this committed and driven group of players have been hiding since last August. By the end of the match, Frankenstein was the more appropriate comparison to the Highlanders, as defying all logic, this patient somehow has flickering signs of a pulse. Inverness are alive.
Hamilton’s defeat at Ross County the previous evening had given Richie Foran’s men hope of pulling off the first part of their great escape, with the relegation play-off spot now looking more than just a mere pipe dream, and they weren’t about to pass up the opportunity handed to them by their Highland rivals.
The club’s official Twitter feed had put out a plea to supporters on the back of that result for them to turn up in numbers at Dens Park, even though they acknowledged they had little right to ask for their presence after such a dismal season. Those who did heed the call, who made up for their lack of numbers with noisy and fulsome support of their team, were richly rewarded.
Inverness came roaring out of the traps. Brad McKay set the tone as he robbed Paul McGowan to allow Greg Tansey to curl a cross just beyond the reach of Billy McKay at the back post, before the striker charged down a clearance from a languid-looking Scott Bain only for the ball to ricochet just wide.
McKay wouldn’t be denied though, and the visitors’ lively opening was rewarded as the forward found the net moments later.
Dundee were sleeping as they failed to deal with a flick from Liam Polworth that bounced through to McKay on the penalty spot, and the striker made no mistake as he finished low beyond Bain into the bottom corner.
Remarkably, Inverness doubled their lead soon after, as a lovely clipped ball over the top from Tansey found Alex Fisher clear in the area, and the striker had time to control before producing a lovely finish high beyond Bain.
Dundee’s response was hardly immediate, but captain Darren O’Dea should have dragged them back into it when he headed a Kevin Holt corner over from a couple of yards out, before a nice passing move ended with Mark O’Hara sliding Cammy Kerr in, who shot wide from the right angle of the box.
Marcus Haber then passed up a glorious opportunity to reduce Dundee’s deficit, as a through ball from Nick Ross was flicked into his path by O’Hara to leave him clean through on goal. Ryan Esson made himself big though, and deserves credit for making the block, even though the Dundee striker really shouldn’t have given him the opportunity.
The interval gave Dundee the chance to turn over a fresh page, but despite a tactical reshuffle, there was little to write home about.
Inverness were more comfortable than they could ever have expected to be going into a game with of such significance to them, and they passed the ball about well enough to take the little sting out of the match that there was.
Dundee’s build-up play when they had the ball was far too slow and predictable, and despite an O’Hara header from a good position that flew straight at Esson and a half-volley from the same player late on that he failed to make proper connection with, they never really looked likely to get the goal that would have made for a nervy finish.
So, for Inverness, it all comes down to a last-day home encounter with Motherwell, who like Dundee, are already safe. Whether the Steelmen are as committed to doing their Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton a turn as Ross County were for Inverness remains to be seen, and it is doubtful that Dundee manager McCann will tolerate such an insipid performance from his side as they round off their campaign at the Superseal Stadium. All to play for then, with everything in place for a dramatic last day. For now at least, you can call off the last rites. Inverness are still alive and kicking.
DUNDEE: Bain; Kerr, O’Dea, Gomis (Higgins, 45’), Holt; Vincent, Ross; O’Hara, McGowan, El Bakhtaoui (Wighton, 72’); Haber (Ojamaa, 56’).
INVERNESS: Esson; Brad McKay, Warren, Laing, Raven; Polworth, Tansey, Draper, Vigurs (McCart, 89’); Fisher (McNaughton, 85’), Billy McKay (Anier, 66’).
Scorers: Billy McKay (2’), Fisher (10’)
Booked: Vigurs, Anier
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Attendance: 5574
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