Stalemate gives Pars a platform
INVERNESS CT 0
Inverness lost their 100% league record and Dunfermline finally ended their dismal run of four successive defeats as the two sides from either end of the Championship table battled out a goal-less stalemate at East End Park.
Pars boss Peter Grant was in buoyant mood afterwards, indicating that he wanted to use this result as a springboard in his side’s quest to climb the table.
“I thought we dug in today and battled hard throughout” said Grant. “We had good chances and there’s no doubt in my mind we deserved to win the game today.
“A clean sheet gives you the chance to win the game and, had we taken our chances, it would have been a perfect day for us.
“What we need to do now is to build on this positive performance and kick on from here.”
Clearly anxious to end their horrendous run of form in recent weeks, Dunfermline began the game brightly and almost took the lead in the fourth minute, Josh Edwards’ corner landing on the head of Vytas Gaspuitis, but the Lithuanian defender’s deft glancing header slipped narrowly past Mark Ridgers’ left-hand post.
In terms of attacking momentum, that was about as much as the home side could offer during a first half which was largely dominated by the league leaders, who frustrated their hosts by stroking the ball around the
pitch in confident fashion but displayed an uncharacteristic lack of penetration when they reached the final third.
This particular facet of their play was evidenced in the ninth minute when a well placed cross from Aaron Doran landed at the feet of Shane Sutherland, six yards from goal and with only Owain Fon Williams to beat, but the Caley frontman failed to control the ball and the opportunity was lost.
Fon Williams then produced a magical double save as he denied both Sutherland and Robbie Deas, blocking the efforts of both players in quick succession.
Dunfermline’s principal attacking threat came in the shape of on-loan Rangers winger Kai Kennedy but his strong running on the left flank, while generating a degree of optimism among the home supporters, invariably petered out in anti-climatic fashion due to the efficiency of the Inverness defenders.
Tom Walsh and Billy McKay came close for the visitors as the game entered the closing stages, but the best chance of the 90 minutes came at the other end
when Nikolay Tododrov’s close range header was met with a superb save by Ridgers.
“I think both teams had chances to win the game’ reflected Caley Thistle manager Billy Dodds.
“But in the end I would say a draw was a fair result.”