Dunfermline failed to get the win their SPL lives appeared to depend on as Inverness held them to a draw.

The single point on an afternoon of few real chances means next weekend's clash with relegation rivals Livingston will be vital in their bid to beat the drop.

Dunfermline went into this crucial clash knowing a victory would be vital in their bid to stave off the relegation most pundits have marked them down as favourites for.

However, as they were without a win since a 2-1 triumph over Aberdeen nine games ago, they looked likely to struggle against the team managed by former fans' hero Craig Brewster - and so it proved.

All their chances came in the opening period and how they rued their misses as the match went on.

After a brief flurry from Inverness, the Fifers held the upper hand throughout a first 45 minutes which was symptomatic of their whole campaign.

Davie Hay's side created a handful of chances with some neat build-up play through midfield but their football fell down in front of the target.

Dunfermline created and missed two gilt-edged chances in quick succession after 17 minutes.

Caley Thistle keeper Mark Brown was forced to tip Noel Hunt's deflected cross over the bar and from Iain Campbell's resulting corner Andrius Skerla failed to find the target with a free header.

A minute later, Derek Young's pass into the danger area was neatly flicked by Georgi Hristov into Simon Donnelly's path. However, the former Celtic man's shot was blocked into the path of Hristov and he too found an Inverness defender barring the route to goal.

Hunt somehow missed an open goal from the rebound but was deemed to be in an offside position anyway.

The Pars had the ball in the net in the 27th minute as Darren Young's shot from a short free-kick was deflected into the path of Hunt. However, the young Irishman was flagged for offside to cut short the celebrations.

Hunt was again in the thick of the action again in the 33rd minute as Campbell swung in a dangerous corner from the right.

But, yet again, Caley Thistle keeper Brown was equal to the task as he clutched the former Shamrock Rovers player's glancing header on the line.

In contrast to the raucous opening half, the second period fell flat as both teams failed to raise their game after the interval.

Derek Young's deflected header and wayward long-range efforts from Scott Wilson and substitute Billy Mehmet were all they had to show for their efforts.

In fact, as time went on it was the visitors who looked most likely to sneak a winner, although the match eventually petered out with neither making the breakthrough.

Teams

Dunfermline Stillie, Skerla, Scott Wilson, Scott Thomson, Campbell, Donnelly (Tod 79), Darren Young, Mason, Derek Young, Hunt (Christiansen 59), Hristov (Mehmet 59).

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Makel, Labonte, Ross.

Booked: Hristov.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Hart (Fatai 66), McBain, Black, Wilson, Prunty (Bayne 73), Brewster.

Subs Not Used: Fraser, Duncan, Hastings, Proctor, Fox.

Att: 4,481

Ref: C Murray (Scotland).