Dunfermline manager Jim Jefferies refused to concede the relegation fight after his team slipped five points behind Hibernian with two games left.
The Clydesdale Bank Premier League’s bottom club stretched their unbeaten run to three games but Hibs’ victory at Aberdeen saw the Pars slip further behind the capital club, who also have an eight-goal advantage.
However, Dunfermline can take it to the final day if they win at Easter Road on Monday and Jefferies will take his side to Leith in defiant mood.
”It was important we didn’t lose tonight because with Hibs winning we had to keep it alive,” he said. ”We know what we have to do we have to go to Easter Road and get a victory. And if we do we take it to the last game, they have got to come here and we have a home game (against Kilmarnock). Both tough matches.
”We would liked to have got a win but it’s a tough place to come. Inverness probably had more goalmouth incidents.”
Jefferies’ side had revived their survival fight with seven goals in two games and they welcomed back full-backs Austin McCann and Jordan McMillan from illness and injury.
Nick Ross and Kenny Gillet replaced Owain Tudur Jones and the suspended Jonny Hayes for Inverness.
The home side had the better of the first half hour. Billy McKay came close to getting a touch on Aaron Doran’s ball across the goalmouth following a good run.
Chris Smith produced a diving save to stop Steve Williams heading home Doran’s corner and the Pars goalkeeper then held McKay’s 20-yard drive.
Inverness claimed for a penalty when Doran went down under McCann’s challenge after the left-back misjudged a long ball but referee Stevie O’Reilly gave a goal kick.
Dunfermline had been restricted to a weak David Graham effort from 25 yards but they had a decent chance in the 34th minute when Joe Cardle’s cross found Kyle Hutton. However, the on-loan Rangers player fired straight at Ryan Esson.
Inverness soon had another scare when McMillan’s powerful cross skimmed off the head of Gillet and not far over his bar.
With Hibs two goals up at half-time, there was need for more urgency from both teams and the game stepped up a gear.
Doran passed up a chance to shoot from 12 yards before Shinnie failed to catch hold of a volley. Inverness survived a couple of goalmouth scrambles and almost struck on the counter-attack.
Greg Tansey’s 50-yard pass got McKay round the side and he laid the ball back for Shinnie but the midfielder scuffed the ball just wide from 18 yards.
Richie Foran chipped over after good skill by McKay and Dunfermline brought on Martin Hardie for Gary Mason.
Doran slid Tansey’s driven ball just wide at full stretch but the home side almost paid for their missed chances when Alex Keddie’s header from Cardle’s inswinging free-kick landed on the roof of the net.
The unmarked Hardie had a great chance with 11 minutes left when a defensive header fell for him 18 yards out. The midfielder connected well with a half-volley but shot straight at Esson and the goalkeeper clung on to the ball at the second attempt.
Jefferies brought on forwards Andrew Barrowman and Liam Buchanan but the Pars could not force a winner.