Dundee-light for Caley Jags

Dundee 0

Inverness 1

AN EARLY strike by Billy McKay put Caley Thistle into the quarter-finals of the League Cup after a testing affair at Dens Park.A seventh goal of the campaign from Inverness' number seven just ten minutes into the game was the decider, with a solid if unspectacular performance from the Caley Jags proving good enough on the night.McKay had the first chance of the game when he was played through by Aaron Doran, but the striker lashed the ball into the stand.The Northern Irishman made no mistake with his second chance, turning home from close range after Richie Foran scuffed his effort into McKay’s path.A goal-saving tackle by Iain Davidson denied McKay his second minutes later as he turned a cross by Graeme Shinnie goalwards. Nick Ross blazed over from the resulting corner.Peter MacDonald wasted a glorious chance for the hosts to respond as former Celtic forward Craig Beattie floated a ball over the Caley Thistle defence, only for MacDonald to miscue under pressure from Meekings.Terry Butcher’s side went straight down the opposite end and nearly scored themselves but Nick Ross was denied by the foot of the post.Brill kept Caley level just before the break, reacting instinctively to turn away a fierce drive from Beattie, and parried one from MacDonald over the bar.McKay turned an cross from Foran on to the crossbar and with 20 minutes to go, Ross chased down Ryan Conroy to block a goal-bound effort from the Dark Blues' winger.Dundee looked a far more adventurous side in the second half, with Conroy and MacDonald testing the Inverness back line.Ross fired over what could have been the decider before the home side came even closer, Conroy drilling low at Brill's near post which the on-loan Luton stopper did well to save.

Dundee: Letheren; Irvine, Dyer, Gallagher, Riley, Rae, Davidson, McAlister, Conroy, MacDonald, Beattie (Doris, 70). Subs unused: Twardzik, Thomson, Monti, Boyle. Booked: Beattie, MacDonald, Davidson.

Inverness: Brill; Raven, Meekings, Devine, Shinnie, Foran (Agdestein, 90), Draper, Doran (Polworth, 64), Vincent, Ross, McKay. Subs unused: Esson, Greenhalgh, Tremarco. Booked: Raven, Draper, Meekings

Attendance: 1,682Referee: S. Finnie