Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2
Ayr United 2
League (Championship)

Match Report

Ayr United twice came from behind to draw at Inverness Caley Thistle and finish eighth, ensuring their Scottish Championship safety.

The visitors finished a tense evening level on points with Morton but a better goal difference spares them the anguish of a play-off.

Daniel MacKay shot Caley Thistle in front, with Aaron Muirhead equalising from the penalty spot.

Sean Welsh made it 2-1 with a spot-kick but Josh Todd levelled the game again.

Following Todd's close range finish from a Joe Chalmers cross there were few chances as the Highlanders finished the campaign in fifth place with a fifth successive season in the second tier to come.

For the sixth-minute opener, Mackay found the bottom corner from 18 yards following an assist from Welsh.

Muirhead's goal came before half time after Sam Baird was fouled by David Carson, while the home penalty was awarded when Roddy MacGregor was brought down by Sam Roscoe.

Inverness Caley Thistle interim manager Neil McCann: "I'm hugely disappointed we didn't win but I'm proud of the players. I think they've been absolutely magnificent since I came in. There's been so many games to turn around in a short period of time. I'm really disappointed they haven't made the play-offs but I've really, really enjoyed my time here.

"I'm definitely going. My time has come has to an end and I'm thoroughly looking forward to seeing John (Robertson) take the reigns again. Hopefully I'll be welcome back here. We'll see where life takes us."

Ayr United manager David Hopkin said: ""We worked our way into the game. We showed resilience to hang on. We've been working on shape and everyone worked hard and limited a very good Inverness team to very little in the second half. Josh Todd scored a fantastic goal.

"I was delighted when the final whistle went. You could see a togetherness in everyone that was here and we wanted to remain in the Championship. We've got very good players and I thought tonight they probably played the best they've been as a team since I've been here."

Match report written by BBC