A 37th-minute Barry Wilson penalty earned Inverness Caledonian Thistle a point against Dundee United in the Bank of Scotland Premier clash at Tannadice.

An own goal by Caley defender Grant Munro had given the home side the lead on the half-hour mark.

But, after United skipper Billy Dodds had charged down a Darren Dods shot inside the penalty area, Wilson sent Tangerines' goalkeeper Tony Bullock the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick.

The visitors survived a first minute scare when Munro was late into a challenge with James Grady inside the Inverness penalty area, but referee Iain Brines waved away the home side's penalty claims.

In the 16th minute, the Taysiders had the first attempt on goal of the game when United striker Jim McIntyre headed down to skipper Dodds, but his header from 12 yards was easily saved by Mark Brown.

But, out of the blue in the 30th minute, United took the lead courtesy of an own goal.

Tannadice midfielder Stuart Duff swung a right-footed cross in from the left and Munro, stretching under pressure from McIntyre, glanced a header from 12 yards out past the helpless Brown and into the corner of the net.

However, seven minutes later, the visitors were back level with the equaliser coming from the spot.

After a short burst of pressure following a Wilson corner, Dods fired in a shot from just outside the box which struck the arm of Dodds forcing referee Brines to instantly award the penalty.

Wilson confidently stepped up to send Bullock the wrong way with his well placed penalty.

In the 40th minute, United midfielder Mark Kerr came close with a volley from the edge of the box after Brown had punched clear but the ball went inches past the upright.

The ineffective Grady was replaced at the break by Barry Robson as United boss McCall tinkered with his line-up.

However, it was Inverness who had the first strike at goal of the second period, although Wilson's effort from 25 yards went wide of Bullock's left-hand post.

In the 51st minute, Inverness midfielder Richard Hart's free-kick from 30 yards took a deflection off the United wall and spun agonisingly past the post.

Nothing came of the visitors' corner, however, and, moments later, at the other end, Robson came just as close with his free-kick from distance.

On the hour mark, the visitors nearly stole into the lead when Wilson sent Hart away wide on the right with a well-weighted first-time pass.

When the midfielder's tempting cross came into the box, Graham Bayne's flick from 10 yards beat Bullock but, fortunately for the Tannadice side, United defender Mark Wilson was racing back to clear off the line.

In the 65th minute, Caley player-boss Craig Brewster tried a delicate curling shot with his left foot from 25 yards, but Bullock was well placed and gathered with ease.

The home side then missed a great double chance to regain their lead when a Robson cross from the right found United defender Lee Mair all alone at the back post.

The former Dundee player's header from no more than 10 yards was blocked by Brown and, when the ball broke kindly to McIntyre, the Inverness keeper again stopped the Tannadice player's effort.

In the 85th minute, Robson came close with a 25-yard free-kick which went just inches over the bar.

Teams

Dundee Utd Bullock, Duff, Mair, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerr (Brebner 68), Wilson, Dodds (Scotland 57), Grady (Robson 45), Crawford, McIntyre.

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Samuel, Cameron, Kenneth.

Booked: Archibald, Mair, Ritchie.

Goals: Munro 30 og.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Golabek, Wilson, McBain, Duncan, Hart, Bayne, Brewster.

Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Juanjo, Hastings, Proctor, Fox, Black.

Booked: Munro.

Goals: Wilson 37 pen.

Att: 6,110

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).