Draw denies Celtic top spot

FT Inverness 1 Celtic 1

Celtic lost their chance to go top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a 1-1 draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the Tulloch Stadium.

Hoops’ midfielder Stephen Pearson, playing because Stilian Petrov was injured, slid home a Kenny Miller pass after 25 minutes to give the visitors the lead.

The Highlanders showed more spirit after the break and were rewarded in the 80th minute when defender Grant Munro fired home the equaliser from the edge of the penalty area.

The game opened up in the final stages with Caley’s increasing desire to grab an equaliser allowing Celtic to find more space in attack.

However, in the 80th minute, as the champions looked to be cruising towards the three points, the home side got the leveller they were looking for.

Bayne chased a lost cause on the right hand side and when his cross eventually landed at the feet of Munro, the Caley defender drove the ball home from just inside the Celtic penalty area.

The Hoops responded by piling on the pressure and Pearson swung his left foot at the ball 30 yards from goal in injury time – but his volley went inches past the post.