IT WAS the night for guising and, fittingly, both Paul Hartley and John Hughes were to produce their best post-match impressions of aggrieved, hard done-by managers.

At first look from the back of the main stand, both penalties awarded by referee Brian Colvin had looked straightforward and correct.

As can often be the case, though, the men in the technical areas saw it differently, Hartley having had the benefit of television footage to back-up his anger.

Hughes and Hartley certainly had differing opinions over the first pivotal refereeing decision, with David Raven red-carded for knocking over Greg Sewart in the penalty area. But the pair were at least united in displeasure at Colvin's influence on the outcome.

For the Inverness manager, the Raven incident amounted to a grievous mistake. Hartley, though, topped Hughes's post-match comments for sheer venom, claiming Colvin had been "conned" and effectively accusing Celtic-bound Ryan Christie of cheating.

Colvin and Hughes have past form: back on December 20 last year, the home manager felt aggrieved when Ross Draper was red-carded as Brian Graham tumbled in the box for St Johnstone.

Hughes felt the same searing sense of injustice this time around as Raven took a red card for a foul in the box on Stewart.

"The sending off changed the whole mechanics of the game. It was a double whammy, the red card and them scoring from the penalty," the Inverness manager said.

"We would have won the game without the red card. I felt we were in total control. David Raven is one of the most honest guys. He toe-poked it, got a toe on the ball. Danny Devine is around on the cover, so how is it a red card?

"It so happens it is the same referee we last had about 16 months ago against St Johnstone, where he sent Ross Draper off and gave a penalty when Brian Graham dived.

"It is bitterly disappointing and I feel for the referee because I think he made a mistake."

The hosts, ravaged by injuries, had no recognised strikers for the occasion and played midfielders Christie and Danny Williams in attack. Still, it was the hosts who dominated the first half without cutting the Tayside team open.

The home crowd erupted in joy after 35 minutes, but it proved to be a false dawn.

Greg Tansey's swirling free-kick from deep evaded the Dundee defence and Josh Meekings executed the slightest of headed touches to ripple the net, only for the off-side flag to be raised.

The breakthrough came as Ryan McGowan's superbly measured ball from deep sent Stewart racing away from Raven.

The Inverness right-ack strained to make up ground and clearly barged into the back of Stewart as he controlled inside the box. Colvin had no hesitation – flashing his red card at the Liverpudlian.

Rory Loy stepped up confidently and sent Owain Fon Williams the wrong way with ease.

The lead lasted just 13 minutes, though, before 10-man Inverness won a penalty of their own. Kevin Holt's trip on Christie as he moved away from goal on the extreme right corner of the box was clumsy and unnecessary.

Tansey stepped up and drove low beneath Bain's dive into the left hand corner of the net.

The home fans were ecstatic to see Gary Warren, injured since the league opener, return from the bench but there was no further scoring.

Hartley, just as angry as Hughes about Colvin's display, accused young Celtic-bound Christie of cheating for the equaliser.

"It was a penalty for us but it never was a penalty for them. The referee has been conned," Hartley said. "I've seen the footage and there's no contact whatsoever. The linesman, also, who is in a great position, doesn't say anything.

"Kevin Holt is an honest lad and that's the disappointing thing. We'd controlled the game up to that point against 10 men. We'd like to think we'd have seen it out against 10 men. They've been given a lifeline."