Last updated on .From the section Scottish Championship

Inverness' Brad McKay (left) celebrates his goal

Inverness moved above Ayr United into third place in the Championship after a goal from substitute Brad McKay at Somerset Park.

Ayr goalkeeper Ross Doohan saved Aaron Doran's penalty after he had brought down Nathan Austin in the box.

The home side had chances through Calvin Miller, Steven Bell and Andy Geggan.

But McKay met a Joe Chalmers free-kick and scored what could be a vital winner for the Scottish Cup semi-finalists.

The victory means Inverness are just seven points shy of Dundee United in third, but Ayr United still have two games in hand.

'We just couldn't believe it' - post-match reaction

Ayr United manager Ian McCall: "I thought the first half after the penalty we were dominant, a draw at half-time was fair. But the second half, for 25 minutes we battered them.

"There was silence in the stadium after the goal, there was shock - the second half was so once sided, we just couldn't believe it.

I wasn't disappointed with the performance - the Somerset Road end was like a real football ground, it was fantastic, then we lost a silly goal. Its a really hard one to take but we've got to go and win all three points to try and clinch the top four."

Inverness Caledonian Thistle John Robertson: "We had a superb first half, but our Achilles heel came back to haunt us with another missed penalty. I thought Ayr were superb - they were the team on the front foot in the second half - but then we got the goal and that gave us the impetus to defend and see the game out.

"We had to dig deep. I wouldn't have complained with a draw but its a massive three points for us.

"Ian McCall and I are too long in the tooth for a tactical game. We set up our teams to entertain and go and win matches, that's what we do, we go for it."