Caley Thistle came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock, however Hamilton Accies’ late victory against St Johnstone saw the Highlanders return to the bottom of the Premiership.
Kris Boyd had given Killie the lead from the spot on 19 minutes, however Billy Mckay’s equaliser six minutes later secured Richie Foran’s men a point, with both sides spurning chances to win the match.
Accies’ stoppage-time winner against Saints means Inverness are now two points adrift at the foot of the table, with only eight games left.
Inverness made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 against Ross County a fortnight previously, with the injured Carl Tremarco and Iain Vigurs dropping out along with Henri Anier, with Brad McKay, Billy King and Larnell Cole drafted in.
Inverness made the better start and created the first clear-cut chance on 15 minutes, with Larnell Cole showing neat footwork to get past Iain Wilson before seeing his low shot saved by Freddie Woodman.
The hosts gifted Killie the perfect chance to take the lead on 19 minutes however, as Brad McKay dived clumsily into a challenge on Jordan Jones inside the box, with Boyd sending Owain Fon Williams the wrong way from the spot.
That lead lasted just six minutes however, as Inverness restored parity midway through the first-half. David Raven swung in a cross from the left flank, with the ball eventually falling for Mckay to send the ball home on the turn from 12 yards.
Inverness continued to threaten and Aberdeen-bound midfielder Greg Tansey came close to netting in his first appearance since signing a pre-contract with the Dons, when his powerful long-range strike forced a fine save round the post from Woodman on 36 minutes.
Foran withdrew McKay at half-time, with Kevin McNaughton brought on for his first appearance since August. Caley Jags continued to have the better of the play, with Tansey shooting over from the edge of the box and Mckay hooking a shot wide.
Killie rarely troubled the hosts in the early part of the second-half but they threatened to burst into life on 71 minutes, with Sean Longstaff seeing his shot blocked by Jamie McCart before Jones’ follow-up was met by an outstanding near-post save from Fon Williams.
Mckay was presented with another fine chance moments later when McNaughton threaded the ball through for him, only for Woodman to make another excellent save, while at the other end Fon Williams did well to block substitute Greg Kiltie’s low effort.
Killie finished firmly on top and it took another excellent save from Fon Williams to deny them all three points, with the Welshman doing well to tip substitute Callum Roberts’ driven shot from the edge of the box wide as both sides had to settle for a draw.
