Inverness CT 1-1 Dumbarton - 10 man Sons hold Caley Jags on opening day

Dumbarton’s return to League One saw the 10 man Sons take a point from a trip to the Highland capital.

Carlo Pignatiello’s thumping volley cancelled out Danny Devine’s opener for Inverness, with Sons’ Sena Niang sent-off for two soft bookings 10 minutes from time.

And boss Stevie Farrell felt his side had earned their point.

He said: “I was pleased with a point. In the first-half we weren’t good enough with the ball, we gave it away 12 or 13 times. Which isn’t like us.

“At half-time we knew we had to change the shape. We went 3-5-2, moved Kalvin Orsi up front and I thought we were the better side in the second-half.

“Our goal was coming and they didn’t threaten us at all until the red card.”

Boss Farrell made two changes to the side which had lost heavily to Aberdeen a week previous as Carlo Pignatiello and Ryan Blair dropped to the bench; Jinky Hilton and Kalvin Orsi earned recalls, whilst Bonhill’s Adam Brooks started for the hosts.

The first-half was one of very few openings, as Duncan Ferguson’s men dominated the ball - but struggled to turn their possession into chances.

It took until the 20 minute mark for Brett Long to be called into action for the first time as a corner found Charlie Gilmour eight yards out - but he fired straight at the keeper from point blank range.

10 minutes later a slick move down Caley’s right saw debut man Adam MacKinnon get in on goal, but he slid the ball wide of the post.

Just as it looked as if the half was destined to end goal-less, the home side took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Luis Longstaff’s corner into a packed penalty box dropped right onto the head of Danny Devine, who had the simplest of tasks to nod into the empty net.

It could’ve been 2-0 soon after as Adam Brooks