Inverness moved up to third in the Scottish Premier League as bottom club Dundee sustained their fifth straight home defeat this season.

The visitors struck twice in the opening six minutes through Billy McKay and Gary Warren.

Colin Nish's crisp shot hauled Dundee back into the match.

Andrew Shinnie calmly stroked home a penalty to put the game beyond Dundee and McKay put it beyond doubt four minutes from time.

The Highlanders go level on points with Aberdeen and St Johnstone but Terry Butcher's men have the better goal difference, with the Dons and Saints in action on Saturday.

Billy McKay scores for Inverness against Dundee

McKay opened and completed the scoring

Barry Smith's Dark Blues remain four points adrift of local rivals Dundee United, who have played three games fewer.

Inverness struck twice in quick succession to leave Dundee with a mountain to climb.

McKay netted the opener after a misplaced Dundee pass led to Aaron Doran firing in a shot that Rab Douglas diverted into the striker's path.

Two minutes later, Inverness added to their early goal when Warren raced on to the end of Doran's free-kick into the far post and hit a shot high past Douglas.

Dundee clawed their way back into the game and a Nish header brought a comfortable save from Antonio Reguero.

The Spanish keeper had no answer to Nish in the 13th minute though, as the big striker turned neatly on the left side of the box and fired across him into the far corner of the net.

Reguero was sharply off his line to block McAlister's shot as half-time approached and, on 42 minutes, he made a fine save, leaping to his right to beat away a Nish volley from Steven Milne's cross.

Two minutes into the restart, Milne missed a great chance to level for Dundee, shooting wide from just six yards with the goal gaping.

Ross Draper hit the bar for Inverness with 14 minutes left but, shortly afterwards, the visitors went 3-1 up from the spot after substitute Shane Sutherland had been fouled by Iain Davidson.

Shinnie converted and then laid on the pass for McKay's second goal, the forward side-stepping his marker to fire past Douglas.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (3)

Dundee

  • 01 Douglas
  • 02 Irvine
  • 03 Lockwood (Conroy - 74' )
  • 05 McGregor
  • 21 Grassi
  • 06 Davidson Booked
  • 07 Riley Booked
  • 28 Kerr
  • 15 Milne (Baird - 74' )
  • 20 McAlister
  • 24 Nish

Substitutes

  • 36 Baird
  • 17 Benedictus
  • 18 Gallagher
  • 08 McBride
  • 11 Conroy
  • 10 Baird
  • 23 Boyle

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

  • 12 Reguero
  • 02 Raven
  • 03 Shinnie
  • 05 Warren
  • 14 Meekings
  • 04 Tudur-Jones
  • 08 Draper
  • 10 Shinnie
  • 07 McKay
  • 17 Doran
  • 23 Roberts (Sutherland - 64' )

Substitutes

  • 31 Mathieson
  • 32 Cooper
  • 19 Morrison
  • 21 Polworth
  • 22 Pepper
  • 16 Oswell
  • 18 Sutherland
Ref: Craig Thomson
Att: 5,006

Match Stats

Shots

12 11

On target

4 5

Corners

2 3

Fouls

11 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +1:17 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

87:52

Shot by Aaron Doran from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

84:55

Assist by Andrew Shinnie.

84:55 Goal scored

Goal - Billy McKay - Dundee 1 - 4 Inverness Billy McKay gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Dundee 1-4 Inverness CT.

83:00

Mark Kerr takes a shot.

82:27

The ball is delivered by John Baird, comfortable save by Antonio Reguero.

80:31

Assist on the goal came from Shane Sutherland.

80:31 Goal scored

Goal - Andrew Shinnie - Dundee 1 - 3 Inverness Penalty taken right-footed by Andrew Shinnie and scored. Dundee 1-3 Inverness CT.

78:46

Gary Irvine gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Graeme Shinnie. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Aaron Doran from left channel. Foul by Iain Davidson on Shane Sutherland, Penalty awarded.

77:58

Nicky Riley produces a cross.

75:43

Ross Draper takes a shot.

74:37

The ball is crossed by John Baird, comfortable save by Antonio Reguero.

73:05

Davide Grassi takes the free kick.

73:05 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Lockwood goes off and Ryan Conroy comes on.

73:05 Substitution

Substitution Steven Milne leaves the field to be replaced by John Baird.

73:05

Billy McKay challenges Iain Davidson unfairly and gives away a free kick.

68:07

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Graeme Shinnie.

67:28

Foul by Gary Irvine on Ross Draper, free kick awarded. Graeme Shinnie takes the direct free kick.

65:47

A cross is delivered by Graeme Shinnie, save by Rab Douglas.

63:52 Substitution

Substitution Shane Sutherland replaces Philip Roberts.

63:36 Booking

Booking Nicky Riley is given a yellow card.

59:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Josh Meekings by Colin Nish. Antonio Reguero restarts play with the free kick.

58:48

Nicky Riley produces a cross.

57:59

Centre by Aaron Doran, save by Rab Douglas.

56:31

Inswinging corner taken by James McAlister.

53:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Iain Davidson on Owain Tudur Jones. Josh Meekings takes the direct free kick.

53:08

Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Philip Roberts goes wide of the right-hand upright.

52:33

Foul by Aaron Doran on James McAlister, free kick awarded. Matthew Lockwood takes the direct free kick.

50:36

Shot from just outside the box by Andrew Shinnie goes over the bar.

50:03

Andrew Shinnie takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

48:25

Gary Warren gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Colin Nish. Gary Irvine restarts play with the free kick.

46:55

Effort from inside the area by Steven Milne misses to the left of the goal.

46:36

Mark Kerr crosses the ball.

45:39

Philip Roberts concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Kerr. Direct free kick taken by Gary Irvine.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:07 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

44:20

The ball is swung over by Owain Tudur Jones, save made by Rab Douglas.

43:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrew Shinnie by Neil McGregor. Aaron Doran takes the free kick.

42:25

Mark Kerr has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

41:42

Colin Nish has a volleyed shot. Save by Antonio Reguero.

41:04

The assistant referee signals for offside against Colin Nish. Free kick taken by Antonio Reguero.

39:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Iain Davidson on Andrew Shinnie. Graeme Shinnie takes the direct free kick.

39:15

James McAlister takes a shot. Save by Antonio Reguero.

38:23

The ball is crossed by Aaron Doran.

36:50

Josh Meekings concedes a free kick for a foul on Nicky Riley. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Davide Grassi.

35:28

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Gary Irvine.

34:39

Pass corner from right by-line crossed in by Graeme Shinnie, Gary Irvine manages to make a clearance.

32:39

The referee blows for offside. Rab Douglas restarts play with the free kick.

30:28

Owain Tudur Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on James McAlister. Free kick crossed right-footed by James McAlister from left channel, clearance by Gary Warren. Nicky Riley has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

26:39

Colin Nish is ruled offside. Antonio Reguero restarts play with the free kick.

25:20

Aaron Doran fouled by Matthew Lockwood, the ref awards a free kick. David Raven takes the free kick.

24:23

Long range shot by Steven Milne goes wide left of the goal.

23:37

Corner taken by Aaron Doran.

22:54

David Raven takes the free kick.

22:54 Booking

Booking Iain Davidson is shown a yellow card.

22:41

Andrew Shinnie fouled by Iain Davidson, the ref awards a free kick.

19:45

Foul by David Raven on James McAlister, free kick awarded. Davide Grassi delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Colin Nish concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Warren. Antonio Reguero restarts play with the free kick.

16:50

Nicky Riley sends in a cross.

12:37

Assist on the goal came from Steven Milne.

12:22

Steven Milne takes a shot. Josh Meekings gets a block in.

15:08

Billy McKay produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.

13:56

Corner taken by Nicky Riley from the right by-line to the near post, Josh Meekings manages to make a clearance.

12:37

Assist by Nicky Riley.

12:37 Goal scored

Goal - Colin Nish - Dundee 1 - 2 Inverness Colin Nish gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Dundee 1-2 Inverness CT.

12:22

Nicky Riley takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Meekings.

10:29

Effort from inside the area by Nicky Riley misses to the right of the target.

10:17

The ball is sent over by Steven Milne.

9:10

Foul by Graeme Shinnie on Nicky Riley, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Gary Irvine.

8:30

The ball is delivered by Aaron Doran, save by Rab Douglas.

7:28

Graeme Shinnie takes a shot. Save by Rab Douglas.

6:14

Assist on the goal came from Aaron Doran.

6:14 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Warren - Dundee 0 - 2 Inverness A goal is scored by Gary Warren from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Dundee 0-2 Inverness CT.

4:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Irvine on Aaron Doran. Aaron Doran sends in a cross,

3:54

Aaron Doran provided the assist for the goal.

3:54 Goal scored

Goal - Billy McKay - Dundee 0 - 1 Inverness Billy McKay finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Dundee 0-1 Inverness CT.

3:12

Aaron Doran takes a shot. Save by Rab Douglas.

2:31

Nicky Riley has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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