England goalkeeper Joe Hart has come under some criticism of late for his part in City's wobbles at the back but he was at his best to push Chris Brunt's free-kick wide and then tip Jonas Olsson's header over the bar from the resulting corner.
Moments later, Inverness goalkeeper Esson produced an acrobatic diving save to push wide a 30-yard free-kick from Eremenko, with Bryson volleying just wide soon after.