The result left the table-toppers' advantage over Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at just two points.

Two first-half goals in two minutes from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink put Celtic in control at the Caledonian Stadium, but John Rankin set up a scintillating second half by scoring a penalty not long before the break following Steven Pressley's foul on Marius Niculae.

A header from David Proctor brought Caley level and then Don Cowie's stabbed finish put the home side into the lead and the Highlanders held on to that hard-earned advantage despite Proctor's 68th-minute dismissal for hauling down Scott McDonald when the Australian was clean through on goal.

The hosts looked like a side unbeaten in their last three matches early on and started promisingly, but the potency of the away side's attack was demonstrated as early as the 10th minute.

Aiden McGeady surged past two defenders and when Inverness goalkeeper Michael Fraser could only flap at the Irishman's cross, Scott Brown gathered the ball and his shot was cleared off the goal-line by the well-placed Phil McGuire.

Fraser did far better when he was next called into action, pushing a McDonald drive past the post, but that save was soon eclipsed by Mark Brown in the Celtic goal.

Niculae drove his effort from close range into the turf and the ball would have bounced up into the far corner of the net had it not been for Brown's acrobatic intervention.

That near-miss only served as a wake-up call to Celtic though as they responded in clinical fashion, scoring twice in quick succession through Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The Dutchman's first goal was a firm header from Paul Hartley's free-kick, and he demonstrated his predatory instincts for the second to get the merest touch on a bending shot by McGeady and glance the ball past Fraser.

Celtic were now content to keep possession in the midfield area, but the spirit of this Inverness side could not be questioned as they tried valiantly to battle back into the game.

For all the home side's enthusiasm it looked as if Celtic's defence would be robust enough to repel Caley's efforts until the interval.

However, Pressley pulled down Niculae as the Romanian stretched to turn a shot goalwards, allowing Rankin to smash his penalty kick past Brown.

The home side were given another stern reminder of Celtic's threat up front in the 51st minute though, when Vennegoor of Hesselink gathered a pass from McDonald and dispatched a well-hit low shot across goal which rebounded off Fraser's far post.

That said, it was the Highlanders who would take the ascendancy in this thrilling contest, and also the lead.

Cowie's cross from a corner was met by the head of Proctor to restore parity and then the former Ross County player brushed off the attentions of Stephen McManus to prod a shot past Brown after latching on to a long ball from Richard Hastings.

The dramatic twists and turns then continued when Proctor was sent off for bringing down McDonald, with McGeady clipping the resultant free-kick just wide.

Celtic piled on the pressure in the closing stages with Hartley shooting just wide, McManus' header then looked destined for the top corner until it was clawed away by Fraser and substitute Chris Killen just failed to get a touch on fellow replacement Derek Riordan's shot across goal.

However, Inverness survived those scares and left Celtic with much to ponder as Rangers are now well placed to overhaul Gordon Strachan's side at the top of the table thanks to holding two games in hand.

* Sorry about the vintage headline, but you don't get the chance to run classic headers like that too often...