Dundee United came out to the tune of One Vision and they had to keep their eye on the ball to win this game.
The Queen song was followed by a match that was too close for comfort at times and it needed a penalty goal from Nicky Clark on 68 minutes to secure the three points at Tannadice.
The Tangerines needed to hang on after they were reduced to 10 men when Peter Pawlett was red-carded just minutes after Clark’s counter.
They did so – just – and they stayed five points behind leaders Ross County and moved into second spot because of Ayr United’s 3-2 defeat in Dingwall.
Watched by American owner Mark Ogren from the stand, the home team were without injured central defensive duo Rachid Bouhenna and Frederic Frans.
Straight back into the team, following his plastic pitch break, came Mark Reynolds and he skippered the side.
Paul McMullan was also drafted in as Cammy Smith, the scorer at Falkirk, was left on the bench.
With just four minutes gone, United came close to taking the lead.
It was a fine move that saw McMullan burst forward into the box before squaring to his right for Pawlett. The former Aberdeen man sidestepped a challenge and then fired over the bar.
Home full-back Charlie Seaman then drilled a low shot just past the far post as the Tannadice men started brightly.
With nine minutes on the clock, the home pressure continued as Ian Harkes showed some nifty footwork before cutting back across the face of goal. Clark’s boot was close to connecting at the back post but not close enough.
Clark almost got on the end of a knockdown on 18 minutes as United threatened again but the visitors were gradually starting to see more of the ball.
On 28 minutes, the Highlanders had a decent chance when Shaun Rooney headed over from a corner, with United keeper Benjamin Siegrist watching it all the way.
The hosts were giving the ball away too often as the match passed the half-hour mark and they conceded a freekick on 33 minutes. ICT’s Liam Polworth fired it into the goalmouth and it was nodded just over by former United defender Coll Donaldson.
The Tangerines were almost gifted a goal, though, two minutes later when Inverness goalie Mark Ridgers blasted an attempted clearance off Pawlett’s body and the ball flew inches past the post.
Pawlett then shot wide from outside the box with a couple of minutes of the first half remaining as the home side looked in vain for a goal.
United started the second half with a Clark shot that was straight into the arms of keeper Ridgers.
On 52 minutes, McMullan played the ball over from the right and, after a couple of stepovers, it was eventually clipped wide of the post by Pawlett.
Polworth blasted past from 20 yards at the other end then United survived again after Siegrist misfired with a clearance.
United midfielder Harkes redeemed himself for the mistake that gave ICT possession seconds earlier when he booted a netbound Joe Chalmers shot off the line.
The hosts, who had brought on Aiden Nesbitt for McMullan on 58 minutes, went for the fancy stuff when Clark tried a scissors kick that was held by Ridgers.
United were pushing for the opener and they finally got it on 68 minutes – via the penalty spot.
Good work from sub Nesbitt saw him feed the ball to Pawlett inside the box and he was taken down by Donaldson.
There wasn’t any doubt that it was a foul and Clark slammed home the spotkick.
However, they were quickly reduced to 10 men when Pawlett was sent off for his second booking after fouling Kevin McHattie in front of the George Fox Stand.
He had been yellow-carded three minutes after the restart for a foul on Nathan Austin so off he went on 71 minutes.
The Tangerines regrouped and eventually brought on Morgaro Gomis for scorer Clark.
The visitors, understandably, were on the front foot now and the Tangerines also drafted in sub Paul Watson at the back for the final six minutes, with Seaman going off.
It was backs to the wall for United but they did have one last chance when Pavol Safranko found space inside the ICT box but the Slovakain striker fired over.
Deep into stoppage-time, though, hearts were in mouths when a shot from Donaldson from outside the box was tipped over the bar by Siegrist.
There was then the biggest cheer of the night when the final whistle was blown by referee Barry Cook.
Attendance: 4,737.
Dundee United: Siegrist, McMullan (Nesbitt 58), Clark (Gomis 78), Safranko, Robson, Butcher, Reynolds, Harkes, Seaman (Watson 84), Pawlett, Connolly. Subs not used: Laidlaw, Fyvie, Sow, Smith.
Inverness: Ridgers, Rooney, Chalmers, Donaldson, Polworth, Austin, Welsh, White, McKay, Trafford (McCauley 82), McHattie (Doran 76). Subs not used: Mackay, Tremarco, McCart, Mackay, MacGregor.
Referee: Barry Cook.
