Dundee 2-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
- Published
George Oakley's late equaliser secured Inverness Caledonian Thistle a Scottish Cup replay with top-flight Dundee.
Former Caley Thistle defender Josh Meekings misjudged a long throw from Brad McKay and Aaron Doran volleyed home from the sliced clearance.
The equaliser came after the break when A-Jay Leitch-Smith's shot was deflected in off team-mate Sofien Moussa and Mark O'Hara fired the home side ahead.
But Oakley poked home from close range for the Championship side.
Dundee started without defender Jack Hendry, who has been linked with Celtic, and looked sluggish from the kick-off and paid the price as they fell behind.
McKay's throw caused panic in the Dark Blues defence and, when Meekings misjudging the flight, it fell for Doran to volley home.
That setback fired up the hosts as they poured forward in search of an equaliser.
It took a last-ditch tackle to keep the Highlanders' lead intact as Scott Allan and Paul McGowan combined to put in Moussa, with McKay arriving just in time to deny the Tunisian before he could pull the trigger.
Sofien Moussa and A-Jay Leitch-Smith combined for Dundee's equaliser
Moussa did get a effort away when he met Allan's outswinging corner with a full-blooded header, but it came back off the crossbar.
Allan was again the creator with a defence-splitting pass for Leitch-Smith, who should have done better than fire straight at goalkeeper Mark Ridgers.
It was only another case of weak finishing that prevented Dundee going in at half-time two behind.
Oakley found himself clean through on Elliot Parish but again failed to find a way past.
It appeared as though it would be a costly miss as the leveller arrived within three minutes of the restart.
On-loan Shrewsbury United striker Leitch-Smith exchanged passes with Allan on the edge of the box before taking aim, with his strike ricocheting off Moussa and bouncing past the wrong-footed Ridgers on its way into the net.
Dundee manager Neil McCann felt his side were "sloppy" and lack a competitive edge
Inverness almost hit straight back but Parish did brilliantly to claw away Connor Bell's header.
Once more, Caley Thistle's failure to take their chances cost them as O'Hara put Dundee in front after 65 minutes.
It was an alarmingly simple goal from Caley Thistle manager John Robertson's point of view.
O'Hara robbed Iain Vigurs on half way but was then allowed to stride forward unchallenged and rifle home from 18 yards.
With the clock ticking down, Oakley squared it up again, prodding home as Dundee switched off just after Riccardo Calder swung in the ball from the left.
Post-match reaction
Dundee manager Neil McCann: "You could see that we've not played competitively for the month. Because we were rusty at the start, that gave Inverness a bit of a lift.
"We conceded a very sloppy goal from a long throw in but grew into the match. Once you go 2-1 up you should see the game off. We were sloppy in possession, sluggish and lacked a spark at times. Real indecision in the six-yard box has cost us dearly. The only positive is that we're not out the cup. I've told them I'm not happy.
"The [winter] break was required, because we had seven game in December, but you could see that our game suffered, in terms of the sharpness, moving the ball, doing the things we've been good at.
"Jack Hendry has the flu and I'm hoping he's back fit and fresh for Monday."
Inverness manager John Robertson: "There was little between the teams. We started well, got the goal, looked dangerous, then Dundee come into it. They turned the screw, created opportunities, and it was a terrific second goal.
"We had to change it. Liam Polworth was in his sick bed all week, but travelled because he knew we were short, came on and started to cause problems. Then big George managed to get a goal and we deserved it for our bravery, because we kept going forward and throwing men into the box. A replay was about right.
"It's taken us a while to get going, but we've got a shape that suits us now. The players have confidence and to come here to Dens Park and put on that kind of performance shows our improvement. We'll go at them in the replay with the same vigour and resilience, and we'll have a chance."