Inverness CT 1 Dundee Utd 0

Marley Watkins' fourth goal of the season ensured Inverness recorded back-to-back 1-0 victories in the Scottish Premiership.

The Welsh winger popped up with an early goal at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium as the Caley Jags saw off a tepid Dundee United side.

Caley Thistle made one change from the 1-0 win over St Mirren, as the suspended Ryan Christie dropped out for James Vincent. Dundee United made one change to their starting lineup as Ryan Dow replaced Paul Paton, who was suspended by the club this week.

The visitors were the better side early on and created three solid chances inside the opening five minutes. Former Partick Thistle midfielder Chris Erskine scooped over from Stuart Armstrong's pass.

Jaroslaw Fojut headed a chance over the crossbar before Erskine, finding himself in space inside the area, thumped an effort off the post. But it was the home side who took the lead with 10 minutes on the clock after a great ball by Greg Tansey. Swinging the ball into the box from deep, he picked out a sliding Marley Watkins perfectly and the winger steered it home.

Inverness were beginning to get into the game more with Watkins and Danny Williams causing problems for the United defence. If it was not for the head of Sean Dillon, Williams would have found the back of the net with a rasping drive.

Chances were starting to fall nicely for the Caley Jags as Tansey, at the centre of everything for the hosts, delivered a corner into the box for Josh meekings to thump a header off the post.

Ross Draper was next to chance his arm as he got on the end of another Tansey corner on 35 minutes, but headed over the crossbar. With rare chances going forward, United were always going to struggle to test Dean Brill. Shortly before half-time, Meekings turned a dangerous Gary Mackay-Steven cross behind and from the resulting corner, Callum Morris headed over.

Playing with a favourable wind in the second half, Jackie McNamara's side were getting more of the ball and putting more pressure on Inverness' defence. However, a timely intervention from Graeme Shinnie set Caley Thistle on the break and he slid a perfect ball through to Mckay, who, seemingly attempting to chip Radoslaw Cierzniak, lifted the ball straight into the goalkeeper's hands.

The Northern Irishman saw two further efforts fail to find the back of the net while at the other end, Nadir Ciftci headed over Conor Townsend's cross. For a team that has stayed near the top of the table all season, United were largely unimpressive in the Highland capital. Inverness were comfortable on the ball for large periods of the game and always looked capable of troubling the visitors on the break.

Mckay, still short of a goal since the opening day of the season, was removed with 15 minutes to go in favour of Nick Ross. With time winding down, Vincent had a golden opportunity to double Caley Thistle's lead but he prodded his shot inches wide of Cierzniak's far post.