Inverness CT 1-1 Dundee United

Inverness and Dundee United extended their respective winless runs to five with an eventful draw in the Highlands.

Billy McKay's early close-range opener was quickly cancelled out when Keith Watson headed United level.

Brian Graham fired against the post before Radoslaw Cierzniak saved a penalty by Caley Thistle's Nick Ross.

And United's Chris Erskine also watched his well-taken shot hit the inside of the upright as both sides chased the win that again evaded them.

As you were, then, in the Scottish Premiership with Dundee United and Inverness occupying fourth and fifth spot respectively.

When these sides last met, Caley Thistle's Scottish League Cup quarter-final win was overshadowed by a bad-tempered affair which culminated in a mass brawl between players on the pitch.

This time around in the Highlands, the headlines were for good, decent footballing reasons - despite Inverness manager John Hughes needing treatment for a head wound at half-time.

It was self-inflicted, though, because Hughes cracked his forehead off the dug-out when he jumped up to celebrate the opening goal.

McKay wasted little time in getting things off to a wholesome start by banging in his 18th of the season; swivelling on the six-yard box to dispatch Gary Warren's deflected header into the net following Danny Williams' corner.

But any ideas Hughes had of wrapping up his first home win early on were put to bed five minutes later.

Inverness boss John Hughes nurses a cut to his head after banging it off the dug-out

United, too, showed their attacking competency from corner kicks as Watson rose to meet Gary Mackay-Steven's delivery to head firmly into Dean Brill's top corner.

The Caley Thistle goalkeeper has been a reliable presence for the hosts this season but a poor punch almost allowed the Tangerines to go in front.

It fell to John Rankin on the edge of the box and his blocked drive dropped for striker Graham to hammer off the post when most expected to see the net bulge.

On the half-hour it was United's turn for a blip, and not for the first time in recent games the culprit was John Souttar.

McKay's eyes must have lit up as the 17-year-old defender miscontrolled and the Northern Irishman sent in a low angled shot which Cierzniak dealt with routinely. His save for the cameras would follow minutes later.

With one hand, the Polish 'keeper turned over McKay's good header expertly after Aaron Doran had scuttled down the right-hand side to swing in a tasty cross.

A worrying-looking ankle injury to Graham provided Farid El Alagui with the chance to make his debut following his loan move from Brentford.

From another corner, Warren missed a brilliant opportunity to score before Brill had another awkward moment for the hosts.

Graeme Shinnie's back-pass went right under the English goalkeeper's foot and Brill had to sprint back and boot the ball out of touch when it was merely a yard from the net.

In contrast, Cierzniak's afternoon went from strength to strength; saving Ross's penalty after Souttar had tripped Shinnie following a neat one-two which had the full-back darting into the box.

Both teams were desperate for all three points and Erskine was extremely unlucky to see his steered left-footed effort rebound off the inside of Brill's left-hand post.

Mackay-Steven, who had set-up the former Partick Thistle midfielder, went clean-through only to be thwarted by Warren's last-ditch tackle.

And, in stoppage time, Caley Thistle's Doran slashed a low shot into the side-netting.