[DavidMc]

Inverness CT 1-1 Dundee United
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 16th February 08
Caledonian Stadium, Inverness

Inverness and Dundee United had to settle for a share of the points at the Caledonian Stadium.
After a dismal first half, The Tangerines went in front, Prince Buaben netting in the 67th minute when he shot home from Noel Hunt's low cross.

As Inverness began to press, they finally earned a deserved leveller.

Midfielder Markus Paatelainen fired into the roof of the net with six minutes remaining, with United holding off a late home assault.

United manager Craig Levein decided to change five players for the visit to the Highland capital, following the midweek defeat to St Mirren.

Sean Dillon, Garry Kenneth, Danny Grainger, Jim O'Brien and Buaben returned after not starting in Wednesday's Scottish Cup fifth-round replay.

Darren Dods, Hunt, David Robertson and Craig Conway dropped to the substitutes' bench, while Christian Kalvenes was not named in the squad.

Recent Inverness signing from Clyde, Dougie Imrie, made his first start at the expense of Dennis Wyness, with Phil McGuire returning from a three-match league suspension.

United struggled to find any continuity in their play early on, as a much-changed team took time to in trying to gel.

Inverness, on the other hand, started well with Don Cowie flashing a right-footed shot wide.

In the 14th minute the home side called for a penalty when Kenneth appeared to handle, before Russell Duncan then took aim from distance and shot powerfully over the crossbar.

Caley Thistle's attacking efforts were predictable high balls to lone striker Marius Niculae, but the Romanian was receiving little compensation from United central defender Lee Wilkie.

Buaben had United's best effort of the half, but his low shot was well held by Michael Fraser.

The fans were hoping for better fare than the turgid first half offering, and the Tangerines introduced Mark De Vries for the injured Noel Hunt at the interval.

Brewster made a switch, substituting the ineffective Niculae for Graham Bayne.

But the visitors finally broke the deadlock just as the game looked to be listlessly heading for a scoreless bore.

Hunt twisted and turned on the right flank and the Irishman's dangerous cross was precisely driven home from six yards by Buaben.

The Highlanders kept persisting, without any real fluency in their play, and carved out a leveller in the 84th minute.

After fastening on to a pass from Roy McBain, Paatelainen shot instantly past Zaluska as United's defence failed to clear the loose ball.



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Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire, Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black (Paatelainen 80), Imrie, Duncan, McBain, Niculae (Bayne 61). Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Watt, McAllister, Kerr, Vigurs.

Booked: Black.

Goal: Paatelainen 84.

Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dillon, Kenneth, Wilkie, Grainger, Flood (Swanson 58), Kerr, Buaben, Gomis, O'Brien, De Vries (Hunt 46). Subs Not Used: McLean, Dods, David Robertson, Conway, Odhiambo.

Booked: Kerr.

Goal: Buaben 68.

Att: 4,087