Date	Saturday, 16 March 2013
Competition	Scottish Premier League
Fixture/Score	Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2:1 Ross County
Venue	Caledonian Stadium
Attendance	5,750
Referee	Iain Brines
Comments	Match Report Report by Andy Campbell for the BBC. Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 Ross County 1 Inverness ended Ross County's 11-match unbeaten run to maintain their Highland derby upper-hand and leapfrog the visitors in the Premier League. Andrew Shinnie's tap-in gave the hosts an early advantage. But Paul Lawson's impressive curling strike levelled matters before the half-time interval. The hosts won a penalty following Mihael Kovacevic's tackle on Charlie Taylor and Billy McKay converted to move his side up to third in the table. Terry Butcher's men had gone into the match boasting two wins from the previous four derbies in all competitions this season, the other two encounters ending in draws. But County were a point ahead of their rivals at kick-off. The home side took the early initiative with top scorer McKay testing Michael Fraser with a fierce shot on the turn inside the box. And any prospect of a repeat of the 0-0 draw between the sides earlier this month ended with the corner that followed. Richie Foran's downward header from Taylor's delivery was blocked on the line by Fraser and Shinnie was on hand to roll the ball over the line. Suddenly, County's unbeaten 2013 was under threat and Derek Adams' men were required to display the battling qualities which helped them come from behind to beat Celtic last week. The visitors struggled to gain territory for much of the first half but took advantage of a set piece around 30 yards from goal. Iain Vigurs squared for Lawson, who unleashed a swerving shot that flew past Ryan Esson's despairing dive. There was a further blow for Inverness when Esson picked up an injury while kicking the ball forward and he was soon replaced by Antonio Reguero. Inverness started the second period positively and Shinnie's effort spun out off a defender's head. And, when Taylor went down in the wake of Kovacevic's sliding challenge, referee Iain Brines pointed to the spot. Ross County were incensed by the decision and players from both sides got involved in an angry exchange in the penalty area. When the melee had subsided, McKay calmly tucked the ball past Fraser for his 24th goal of the season. The visitors could not rouse another comeback with Sam Morrow's header claimed by Reguero in injury time. And though County slip to fourth, they remain a point ahead of St Johnstone. Ross County manager Derek Adams was "devastated" by the decision to award Inverness the penalty which won the Highland derby. Mihael Kovacevic's challenge on Charlie Taylor resulted in a spot-kick and Billy McKay converted to give the hosts a 2-1 victory. "Hugely disappointed to lose a derby match," Adams told BBC Scotland. "I think a draw would've been fair but they've managed to win with a major decision going against us." Adams reviewed the action after a tempestuous match and thought the challenge from Kovacevic had been "well timed". "I've seen it on the television and [it was] never a penalty kick," insisted the County boss. "It's another time we've played against Inverness and they've got a major decision in the game go for them; twice in the Scottish Cup, two offside goals, and today a penalty that never was. "I don't think Inverness will be happy with winning a match in that way." The result brought the Dingwall side's 11-match unbeaten run to an end and dropped them below Inverness into fourth place in the Scottish Premier League. However, County remain well placed for a European place for next season. "We've been on a terrific run, we've got the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League this season and we're proud of that," he added. "We've got a wee break now [with international matches next weekend] and we've put ourselves in a fabulous position this season." Meanwhile, Adams offered no comment when asked about the upcoming vacancy at Aberdeen, whose manager Craig Brown will be stepping down in the summer.
Ross County
Manager	Derek Adams
Starting 11	1: Michael Fraser, 4: Grant Munro, 5: Scott Boyd, 7: Stuart Kettlewell 1, 8: Paul Lawson 1 1, 11: Iain Vigurs 1, 12: Rocco Quinn, 16: Ivan Sproule, 17: Samuel Morrow, 18: Evangelos Oikonomou, 22: Mihael Kovacevic
Bench	28: Sean McCarthy, 13: Andre Hainault, 15: Steffen Wohifarth, 20: Gary Glen, 21: Alex Cooper, 23: Archie Macphee, 24: Steven Ross
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Manager	Terry Butcher
Starting 11	Ryan Esson, Josh Meekings, Charlie Taylor, David Raven, Gary Warren, Owain Tudor Jones, Andrew Shinnie 1, Ross Draper, Richie Foran, Aaron Doran, Billy McKay 1 (1 pen)
Bench	Antonio Reguero, Nick Ross, Connor Pepper, Shane Sutherland, Danny Devine, Liam Polworth, Jordan Gibbons