St Mirren 1 Inverness CT 2

Picture courtesy of Jeff Holmes

High-flying Inverness moved level on points with second-placed Aberdeen in the Premiership table after a crucial win over St Mirren. The away side dominated for long spells but ultimately were made to battle for their three points as St Mirren almost made them pay for their profligacy in front of goal. Greg Tansey got the early opener for the visitors in a one-sided opening half, with the passing and movement of Inverness a joy to behold at times. Ryan Christie got the crucial second just before the hour mark, before a Jim Goodwin header dragged St Mirren back into the match. St Mirren were looking to produce the same high-tempo start that brought them the early lead at Partick last time out but were stunned by a well-worked Inverness opener after just two minutes. A lovely exchange on the left between captain Graeme Shinnie and Christie allowed Shinnie to pull the ball back to the edge of the box, where Tansey opened up his body and side-footed high past Mark Ridgers. The Highlanders had a great chance to double their lead when James Dayton lost possession on the edge of the Inverness box and Tansey launched the ball over the static home defence for Marley Watkins to run on to. The forward galloped clear of Marc McAusland before drawing Ridgers, but squeezed his left-foot effort inches past the far post. There was another moment of concern for Gary Teale's men soon after when a simple headed clearance over the top again opened up the Saints' rearguard, but Goodwin got back to scramble the ball away from the feet of Watkins. It took St Mirren almost half an hour to create a chance worthy of the name, a good out-swinging cross from left-back Sean Kelly finding Steven Thompson at the back post, but his header was deflected up and into the grateful arms of Ryan Esson. Almost immediately, Watkins had yet another good chance for Inverness, and again it was a simple ball over the top that set him clear on Ridgers. His first attempt at a lob was parried before Watkins skewed the rebound wide. The visitors should have been out of sight and another interchange between Christie and Shinnie on the left allowed the latter to draw a great save from Ridgers before Ross Draper picked up the loose ball and his drive was deflected just wide. From the corner, Gary Warren's header was kept out by a combination of Goodwin and the crossbar and Inverness manager John Hughes would have been disappointed to have gone in at the break with just one goal to show for his side's dominance. St Mirren started the second period slightly better but it was Inverness who again looked the more dangerous, and Danny Williams went agonisingly close when his shot on the turn from the edge of the area drifted just over the bar with Ridgers well beaten. Their second eventually came after 59 minutes when Nick Ross released David Raven on the right and the full-back beat his opposite number Kelly before slipping the ball through the legs of Goodwin to put Christie clear. The youngster kept his composure to wrong-foot Ridgers with a cool low finish. The two-goal advantage did not last long as the hosts finally put up some resistance to haul themselves back into the game after 68 minutes. They won a corner following a soft-looking free-kick for a foul by Draper on Dayton, and from the resultant delivery Goodwin planted a header past Esson. They almost had an unlikely equaliser moments later as Mallan's corner glanced off an Inverness head at the front post and came to McAusland around the back, but he could only head over from close range. The same player had an almost identical chance late on but again could not react in time.