Inverness CT --- Kilmarnock: Match Report

11 August 2012 18:01

Pascoli earns point for Killie

Manuel Pascali was the hero for Kilmarnock as they drew 1-1 against 10-man Inverness.

The Italian midfielder cleared off the line and netted the leveller moments before half-time to cancel out the opener from Caley Thistle's Andrew Shinnie.

The game ended on a sour note for the hosts with Owain Tudur Jones sent off for violent conduct after 79 minutes, putting a downers on a solid performance which included a penalty save from goalkeeper Ryan Esson.

Both sides were unchanged from draws last weekend and extended their unbeaten starts to their Scottish Premier League campaigns.

Four Inverness summer signings - David Raven, Gary Warren, Ross Draper and Simon King - started for the hosts in their first game of the season at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

Kilmarnock suffered a blow when Gary Harkins made an early exit after a clash with King and was replaced with Danny Racchi.

As the visitors were shifting tactics Inverness showed no mercy.

Aaron Doran's free-kick fell to Draper, whose powerful shot was parried wide by Cameron Bell.

The resulting Doran corner was flicked towards the back post by Draper for Shinnie to steer home from from close range after seven minutes.

Kilmarnock responded with a low shot from James Dayton which was saved comfortably by Esson.

The keeper's distribution found Shane Sutherland who forced another save from Bell and moments later Shinnie's low whipped cross just managed to evade strike partner Billy McKay.

Inverness continued the pressure and might have had a second when Doran's shot beat Bell but was cleared off the line by Pascali.

The Irish midfielder tried his luck again soon after but Bell was equal to his free-kick from distance.

At the opposite end Kilmarnock were denied an equaliser thanks to a magnificent double save from Esson.

The first came from Racchi's penalty after Draper fouled Liam Kelly in the area and the stopper was up quickly to stop Dayton's rebound.

Dayton was soon forced off after being injured by King and had to be replaced by Rory McKenzie.

Moments later Raven left the pitch for treatment to a head injury and Kilmarnock seized the numerical advantage by levelling in the first minute of stoppage time.

A deep cross-field ball found Pascali in a crowded area and the 30-year-old managed to loop a header over Esson.

Shinnie might have restored the advantage seconds later but he fired wide.

Sutherland forced a save from Bell early on in the second half before Kelly headed over a Lee Johnson free-kick at the opposite end.

McKay fired over the bar as the game fell into a midfield battle.

Tensions flared in 79 minutes when Tudur Jones appeared to headbutt James Fowler.

Tudur Jones was shown a straight red card for his reaction to a mistimed tackle which saw Fowler get a yellow.

Inverness substitute Nick Ross might have scored the decider late on when he connected with Raven's cross but his powerful header from six yards was saved brilliantly by Bell.

Kilmarnock responded with a long-distance free-kick from Kelly which was turned wide by Esson to ensure a share of the spoils.


Inverness CT --- Kilmarnock: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.

Source: PA