Nine-man Inverness reach play-off final after penalty shoot-out

Inverness survived two controversial red cards to beat Arbroath on penalties and reach the cinch Premiership play-off final.

Billy Dodds’ side will face St Johnstone in the first leg next Friday after winning the shoot-out 5-3 following 210 goalless minutes of action.

Kirk Broadfoot stepped up to convert the deciding spot-kick immediately after the long-serving Bobby Linn saw his effort saved by Mark Ridgers.

Caley Thistle – and watching Saints manager Callum Davidson – would have been delighted to see the tie go to extra time after a controversial red card for Danny Devine in the 66th minute.

Dick Campbell’s side could not capitalise even after Wallace Duffy became the second man sent off by Willie Collum in the 113th minute.

There was a typically strong wind blowing at Gayfield, on the shore of the North Sea, and the hosts had the elements and the majority of the 5,154 crowd behind them in the first half.

There was little football played in the opening period and zero shots on target, with home striker Jack Hamilton coming closest. Caley Thistle produced no first-half shots at all.

There were signs of a contest just after the interval. Hamilton fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal and Shane Sutherland ran on to a loose ball but sliced wide.

Arbroath’s Scott Stewart was well off target from good chances either side of the main talking point.

Hamilton beat Devine to a long ball in the air and the Caley Thistle defender threw an arm out as he collided with the striker and fell. There appeared little in it but Hamilton went down and Collum ruled the centre-back had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The referee soon flashed another red card to Caley Thistle coach Scott Kellacher.

Arbroath stepped up the