There was no winning home debut for new Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson as they were held 1-1 by Inverness Caley Thistle.
This was always going to be a challenging fixture, with ICT having not lost a match since August 14.
It was a decent enough display from the Tangerines but they should really have come away with the three points.
Pavol Safranko gave them the lead on 55 minutes but they were pegged back by Inverness before the visitors lost ex-Tannadice defender Coll Donaldson to a red card eight minutes from time.
Neilson had been greeted by an impressive flag display in the Eddie Thompson Stand as he walked up to the technical area before kick-off.
He made only one change to their line-up that started against Partick Thistle, with the injured Paul Watson being replaced by suspension-free Stewart Murdoch.
The first half took an age to get going, with both teams carrying little attacking threat.
The first shot on target arrived on 19 minutes and it was a low strike from United’s Paul McMullan which was easily gathered by keeper Mark Ridgers.
McMullan then tried to squeeze one in at the far post but it was blocked at close range by ICT defender Sean Welsh.
Good work from Callum Booth on 29 minutes set up McMullan for another shot but it was straight into Ridgers’ arms
United were gradually getting the upper hand and Billy King was next to have a pop at goal, with the goalie saving once again.
With 36 minutes on the clock, Tangerines skipper Fraser Fyvie scrambled the ball forward to Safranko in the box and space opened up for the Slovak. However, his strike was blocked.
United should have been ahead by now and it was a similar story for Fraser Aird seconds later when his shot was deflected away.
Aird pulled yet another shot wide when he had options to either side of him then, just as the opener looked certain on 43 minutes, ICT’s Brad McKay intervened to hook McMullan’s cross out for a corner.
On 53 minutes, United missed another golden opportunity when a great cross from the right by Aird was glanced inches past the far post by Safranko’s forehead.
The home fans in the 5,628 crowd were roaring the Tangerines on and, finally, saw their team take the lead two minutes later.
It was a beautiful headed goal from Safranko, who rose to meet an Aird corner and placed the ball perfectly to give Ridgers no chance.
Safranko had a chance at the back post three minutes later but he blasted his shot over from close range.
However, they were pegged back on 72 minutes when a Liam Polworth’s cross caused problems and a looping Coll Donaldson header beat United keeper Benjamin Siegrist.
It probably should have been 2-1 to the Highlanders on 79 minutes when White beat the home offside trap but somehow slid his shot wide of the post when in acres of space.
United got a break on 82 minutes when ICT went down to 10 men, with Donaldson walking for a second booking after he pulled down Safranko.
The better of the late chances fell to the hosts but they just could not find the winner.
