Inverness CT v Ross County

Team badge of Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Inverness CT 3

Draper 9′ Shinnie 28′ Doran 87′

Ross County 1

Vigurs 48′

FT 90 +5
HT 2-0

Inverness beat Highland rivals Ross County 3-1 at the Caledonian Stadium

Highlights - Inverness 3-1 Ross County

By Stevie Miller BBC Sport Scotland

Inverness took the bragging rights from the first-ever top-flight Highland derby as Ross County slumped to a third successive defeat.

The hosts took the lead when Ross Draper connected with Graeme Shinnie's corner after strong early pressure.

And Terry Butcher's side doubled their lead when Andrew Shinnie finished after being set up by Richie Foran.

Iain Vigurs' free-kick gave County the chance of a comeback, but Aaron Doran's late strike secured the points.

The Caley Jags almost took the lead after only 25 seconds when Doran curled in a cross from the right which, inexplicably, Ross Tokely headed towards his own goal.

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Luckily for the former Inverness defender the ball cannoned back off the bar to spare his blushes.

Less than a minute later Inverness could have been ahead again as Owain Tudor-Jones picked up on a one-two at the edge of the box.

However, his deft right-footed flick was cleared from under the crossbar by Grant Munro as County looked nervous at the back.

The home side took a deserved lead when Draper forced Graeme Shinnie's corner over the line with what looked like his shoulder after eight minutes.

At this point the ball had barely been in the Inverness half.

However, out of nowhere, a curling long-range effort from new County signing Mark Fotheringham beat Antonio Reguero in the home goal, but came back off the bar.

County were settling into the game as the first half wore on, and captain Richard Brittain went close with a 30-yard free-kick which flew narrowly over.

But, just as it seemed the visitors were coming back into the game, they found themselves two down.

Foran broke free of the County rearguard on the right and fed a delightful low pass across goal for Andrew Shinnie to sidefoot home.

As the visitors pressed for a way back into the game as half time neared they left gaps at the back, and Michael Fraser had to save smartly with his legs when Doran was played through one-on-one with the keeper.

The Dingwall side had clearly had half-time words from manager Derek Adams, and carved out the first chance of the second half when a free-kick was awarded at the edge of the box.

And Vigurs curled the ball up and over the wall and into the top corner of the net to give his side a lifeline.

The game raged from end to end in a real derby style, with set-piece opportunities arising from the all-too-frequent blasts of Iain Brines' whistle.

Crosses peppered both goal areas, but defenders had the measure of forwards and chances dried up, although County were having the lion's share of the ball.

County were desperately chasing a leveller, and Rocco Quinn passed up a chance when he shot straight at the keeper from the angle of the six-yard box.

But, for the second match in a row, County conceded late on as Conor Pepper headed a long ball into the path of Doran, who lashed a low volley past Fraser at the near post.

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Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (5)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

12 Reguero
02 Raven Booked
03 Shinnie
05 Warren
14 Meekings
04 Tudur-Jones
08 Draper Booked
10 Shinnie (Morrison - 76' )
09 Foran (Pepper - 60' Booked )
17 Doran Booked
23 Roberts (McKay - 85' )

Substitutes

31 Mathieson
32 Cooper
19 Morrison
21 Polworth
22 Pepper
07 McKay
16 Oswell

Ross County

01 Fraser
03 Fitzpatrick
04 Munro
05 Boyd
06 Tokely
10 Brittain Booked
11 Vigurs
12 Quinn
14 Scott Booked (Kettlewell - 77' )
29 Fotheringham Booked (Glen - 77' )
09 McMenamin

Substitutes

25 Brown
22 Kovacevic
23 Macphee
07 Kettlewell
24 Ross
20 Glen
26 Dingwall

Ref: Brines

Att: 6,766

Match Stats

Possession 47 53

Shots

9 11

On target

6 6

Corners

3 5

Fouls

16 18

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:42 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +4:03

Iain Vigurs concedes a free kick for a foul on Conor Pepper. Josh Meekings takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:59

Ross Tokely challenges Aaron Doran unfairly and gives away a free kick. Owain Tudur Jones takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:10

Stuart Kettlewell takes a shot. Antonio Reguero makes a save.

89:55 Booking

Booking Booking for Aaron Doran for unsporting behaviour.

88:39

Free kick taken by Richard Brittain.

88:39 Booking

Booking Conor Pepper is given a yellow card.

88:30 Booking

Booking Caution for Richard Brittain.

88:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Conor Pepper on Iain Vigurs.

86:57

Assist on the goal came from Billy McKay.

86:57 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron Doran - Inverness 3 - 1 Ross Co Aaron Doran grabs a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Inverness CT 3-1 Ross County.

86:37

Colin McMenamin concedes a free kick for a foul on Graeme Shinnie. Graeme Shinnie takes the free kick.

85:38

Ross Draper takes a shot. Save by Michael Fraser.

85:07

Gary Glen takes a shot. Save made by Antonio Reguero.

84:33 Substitution

Substitution Billy McKay is brought on as a substitute for Philip Roberts.

84:12

Corner taken by Iain Vigurs from the right by-line.

83:49

Gary Glen takes a shot. Antonio Reguero makes a save.

82:00

Unfair challenge on Ross Draper by Richard Brittain results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Meekings.

77:40

Richard Brittain challenges Gavin Morrison unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Antonio Reguero.

76:24 Substitution

Substitution Gary Glen replaces Mark Fotheringham.

76:24 Substitution

Substitution Martin Scott goes off and Stuart Kettlewell comes on.

74:06

Michael Fraser restarts play with the free kick.

74:06 Substitution

Substitution Gavin Morrison joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andrew Shinnie.