Ross County struck late to secure a crucial 1-1 draw against Inverness at Caledonian Stadium.
Inverness looked to be on course to move to within a point of the Staggies following Greg Tansey’s opener three minutes into the second-half, however Alex Schalk’s strike four minutes from time secured a vital point for Jim McIntyre’s men.
Despite squandering the lead, the result was enough for Caley Jags to move off the foot of the table on goal difference, following Hamilton Accies’ 4-0 defeat against Rangers.
Inverness made two changes from the side that came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Partick Thistle the previous weekend, with Carl Tremarco and Ross Draper back from suspension and replacing Brad McKay and Liam Polworth.
County were once again without goalkeeper Scott Fox due to a back problem, with Aaron McCarey between the sticks, while Christopher Routis and skipper Andrew Davies replaced Martin Woods and Paul Quinn.
Inverness had the first opportunity on five minutes, when Billy Mckay worked the ball to Iain Vigurs, whose bending shot clipped the crossbar on its way over, while Tim Chow sent a low shot wide for the Staggies on 15 minutes.
Caley Jags threatened again when Draper’s header from Vigurs’ free kick landed on the roof of the net, but County created a glorious chance to take the lead on 36 minutes, when Jason Naismith cut in from the right flank before drilling a low ball across the face of goal, with Alex Schalk inches from a connection at the far post.
The Staggies appealed for a penalty shortly afterwards, with Schalk claiming to have gone to ground under contact from David Raven, while Inverness were forced into a change shortly before the interval when Vigurs hobbled off to be replaced by Polworth.
Inverness made a bright start to the second-half, and they grabbed the lead on 48 minutes. Polworth worked the ball to Tansey, whose driven low shot took a wicked deflection off Marcus Fraser to take it past McCarey.
Caley Jags were buoyed by their breakthrough and Tansey forced McCarey to make a fine fingertip save from a free kick moments later.
The Staggies missed their another fine opportunity just before the hour mark, when Naismith delivered an inch-perfect cross for Craig Curran who somehow steered a free header wide from less than six yards out.
Inverness were eager to kill the game off with a second goal, and Tansey’s strike was kept out by a fine save from McCarey, before Mckay struck the bar from close-range from Henri Anier’s cross.
The inability to find a second goal proved costly however, with Schalk securing a crucial leveller for the Staggies with just four minutes left, sending a swivelled shot into the far corner to the relief of County’s supporters.