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Dundee United fought back from losing a goal and a man to earn a draw against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

An exciting game was bookended by the dismissals of United goalkeeper Michal Szromnik and Inverness's Gary Warren.

In between, Inverness's Greg Tansey scored with a penalty awarded for Szromnik's foul on Marley Watkins and Ryan McGowan levelled.

Inverness ought to have extended their lead, but United were irrepressible after the break and got their reward.

Referee Calum Murray soon had several decisions to make. In the opening 10 seconds, Inverness defender David Raven clattered recklessly into United's Ryan Dow, drawing a yellow card from the official.

Ten minutes later Murray was faced with an even more significant decision.

Marley Watkins is brought down by Dundee United goalkeeper Michal Szromnik early in the match

After breaking United's offside trap, Watkins raced into the penalty area, where Szromnik rashly pushed him over having sprinted off his goal-line in panic.

It was a clear penalty kick, although United's coaching staff felt, wrongly according to TV pictures, that Watkins had been offside.

A minute or two elapsed before the decision was made to take off Chris Erskine for substitute goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.

Erskine was furious, and gesticulated as he took his place on the bench. There was further dismay for United when Tansey converted the penalty kick.

Greg Tansey netted from the spot to put Inverness Caley Thistle 1-0 ahead at Tannadice

United came into this game having lost their last two games - 3-2 to Kilmarnock and 2-0 at home against St Johnstone - while Inverness had been unbeaten in 2015 and still had ambitions of overhauling Aberdeen for second place in the Premiership.

They were emboldened by the way that United became increasingly insecure at the back and McGowan and Jaroslaw Fojut struggled to cope with the rangy, elusive running of Watkins.

The Inverness striker strode beyond the back line again, clipping the ball past Cierzniak, but McGowan recovered to usher Watkins away from goal.

The Tannadice faithful felt a sense of injustice.

There was uproar in the stands when Watkins and United defender Paul Dixon went head-to-head inside the penalty area at a corner kick. Both players were lectured by Murray, then Watkins met the set piece and his header was turned over by his team-mate Warren.

The interval allowed United to regroup and United manager Jackie McNamara used it to demand greater intensity from his players. After the break Inverness looked unsettled and were unable to take advantage of their extra man.

Raven could have been sent off for a second yellow card after the Inverness defender floored Dixon only seconds after the break.

Ryan McGowan secured a point for Dundee United with a late goal against Inverness at Tannadice

Watkins too might have feared dismissal after a stamp on United forward Aidan Connolly.

The tousy nature of their play reflected the unswerving effort of United, who were playing with renewed vigour. The home side were refusing to settle for a defeat, and Inverness keeper Ryan Esson had to rush from his goal to block Ryan Dow's shot from close range.

United's reward came through persistence. McGowan initially made poor contact with the ball at a corner kick, but he reacted quickly to clip it goalwards, while grounded, and it looped over the head of Esson into the net.

As Inverness brooded on their failure to cope with United's spiky resolve, the hosts continued to press for a winning goal.

Nadir Ciftci was too eager to supply it, and rushed a volley at goal when he could have controlled the ball and taken it closer in, Esson making a diving save.

Inverness eventually recovered their poise, and generated a run of chances. Danny Williams saw his header from inside the six yard box blocked, then Watkins turned a cross into the side-netting.

And Tansey's 30-yard strike stung the fingertips of Cierzniak.

An off-the-ball clash between Ciftci and Warren prompted the assistant referee to rush on to the pitch. After consultations, Warren was dismissed and Ciftci booked.

A pulsating game could only eventually be subdued by the final whistle.

Greg Tansey fired Inverness Caledonian Thistle into the lead from the penalty spot

United keeper Szromnik was dismissed after just 10 minutes against Inverness

Dundee United defender Ryan McGowan secured a crucial point with a late goal against Inverness

Warren and Nadir Ciftci confronted each other late in the game with the former being sent off

Warren was shown a red card late in the game for Inverness Caledonian Thistle