Inverness hang on for goalless draw at Alloa

Alloa Athletic 0

Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

Inverness Caledonian Thistle drew their fifth game in a row but were fortunate to leave Alloa Athletic with a point after being put on the backfoot for most of the match.

Inverness made two changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Dundee United. Jamie McCart was brought in for the suspended Coll Donaldson with Aaron Doran in for Riccardo Calder.

Alloa started the match off brightly when Dario Zanatta forced a save from Mark Ridgers after being allowed to shoot from the edge of the box.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure in the first quarter of the game when Zanatta’s pass into the box found Kevin Cawley who with space from 12 yards forced another save from Ridgers as ICT had to fend off early pressure.

Inverness’ first chance of the game came midway through the first half when Joe Chalmers’ pass found Tom Walsh in the box but his shot from 12 yards forced a fine save from Neil Parry.

The visitors then lost their captain as Carl Tremarco suffered an injury and was taken off replaced by Ricky Calder after 31 minutes.

Alloa kept the pressure on and had a great chance just before half time when a great passage of passing play which started with Scott Taggart in his own box found Jon Robertson whose cross found Connor Shields unchallenged from 18 yards who shot just over the bar.

ICT could have taken the lead just before half time when Aaron Doran stayed onside to run on to a Polworth lob but couldn’t keep his shot under the bar.

Alloa started the second half as they finished the first with Cawley finding success down the left wing and firing a shot from 12 yards which went wide of the post.

ICT tried to get back into the game and Joe Chalmers' shot from 25 yards whistled above the bar.

But Alloa always looked the more likely to score. Midway through the second half when Alan Trouten unleashed a ball from midfield that found Cawley who managed to beat the challenge of Calder in the box and his thunderous shot from 12 yards went inches wide of the left-hand post.

Alloa pressed for a winner in the final 15 minutes of the games as Zanatta hit the crossbar after Trouten's pass cut open the Inverness defence.

At the other end, Sam Roscoe fouled Nathan Austin 25 yards from goal and Chalmers launched a free kick into the box which took a nick off an Alloa defender that went inches past the left hand post.

Inverness almost won it at the end when Austin flicked the ball into the box that found Daniel Mackay but his shot from close range was straight at the goalkeeper.

Sean Welsh also had a long range effort from 25 yards that went close but Inverness had to settle for a point

Inverness - Ridgers, Rooney, Tremarco (Calder 31), Chalmers, McCart, Polworth, Doran Mackay (65), Walsh (Austin 79), Welsh, White, McKay. Subs - Hoban, Austin, Trafford, Harper, Fyffe.

Alloa Athletic - Parry, Taggart, Dick, Roscoe, Graham, Cawley (Hastie 65), Robertson, Trouten (Hetherington 83), Flannigan, Zanatta, Shields (Brown 77). (Subs) Burt, Peggie, Spence, Henry.

Referee: Mike Monroe.