Scottish Premiership: Inverness CT 2-2 Dundee United

Lewis Horner (third left) scored a last gasp equaliser for Inverness CT

Dundee United were denied a much needed win by a late equaliser from Inverness CT's Lewis Horner.

John Rankin gave the visitors the lead with a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.

Liam Polworth side footed a cross into net seconds after half-time to level.

Billy McKay thought he'd won it when he stabbed United in front, only for Horner to bundle the ball over the line at the death.

It was a cruel blow for the Premiership's bottom side just when they thought they had claimed a third win of the season.

There was certainly no sign of a crisis of confidence about Mixu Paatelainen team's play going forward as McKay nearly scored after just 20 seconds.

Chris Erskine skinned Horner down the left and McKay was just inches away from knocking home the cross.

That was the start of a traumatic first half for Horner - who was to have the last laugh - as all of the visitors effective attacks started in his area of the park.

That included the route from which they carved out the opening goal with the only surprise being it wasn't McKay who claimed it.

It was another former Caley Thistle player, though, as Rankin marked his recall to the starting line with a vicious 16-yard drive from Scott Fraser's cut back.

That was the first any Dundee United player other than McKay had scored in the Premiership since Sean Dillon netted against Ross County in September.

While they might have struggled to score goals, the club at the foot of the league have had no such problem conceding them this season.

Quite why that should be the case was evident from the panicky way they went about coping with whatever Inverness could throw at them.

John Rankin (left) gave Dundee United a first half lead

They did have a big slice of luck just before the interval when James Vincent squandered the Highlanders' best chance of the first half.

Polworth placed the perfect cross on his team-mate's head just six yards out, but with the goal gaping the midfielder steered it wide.

Polworth decided to take more direct action as Caley levelled within seconds of the restart as he guided in a Danny Williams cross.

However his desire to add a second was probably the wrong option as his shot from an acute angle was saved when there were team-mates screaming for a pass.

It was a fumble by Wales international Owain Fon Williams that helped United score a second goal in a league game for the first time since August.

He spilled a cross from the left and McKay pounced to clip in the loose ball for his eighth league goal of the season.

However, there was cruel twist of fate two minutes into stoppage time as Inverness pressure paid off when Horner's header just crossed the line before being cleared to earn his side a point.