Inverness 1 St Mirren 0

A cheeky backheel from Billy McKay proved St Mirren's undoing as Inverness edged out their struggling opponents in a turgid affair in the Highlands. The Caley Thistle forward bagged his seventh goal of the season after 77 minutes to seal a 1-0 win, making it strikes in consecutive games for the first time since December 2013. Seeking another win after success at Highland rivals Ross County, Inverness boss John Hughes made only one change, with Nick Ross back for just his second start this term. Ross Draper, returning from suspension, made do with a place on the bench, while Marley Watkins, injured late in Thursday's 3-1 win, did not feature in the squad. St Mirren's Kenny McLean, subject of a reported £150,000 offer from Fleetwood, was available for the Buddies, with his red card in the 2-1 to defeat against Kilmarnock being appealed. Returning from a ban, captain Steven Thompson came in to pep up the Buddies' attack as one of two changes for interim boss Gary Teale. Blustery conditions hampered both sides in the early exchanges, but almost gifted a goal to the visitors. Dean Brill's poor kick out allowed John McGinn a 40-yard effort, but his audacious lob was carried just over. Inverness winger Aaron Doran, brimming with confidence following his new year's brace, burst forward on 10 minutes. He backheeled for Graeme Shinnie to play it short to the feet of David Raven and, with Doran still poised on the edge of the Buddies area, the Irishman took the initiative with a drive just wide of the left post. Stevie Mallan then squared to McLean to crash a 25-yard effort off the bar. McLean was then denied by Brill in the Inverness goal. Adam Drury beat the offside trap to move forward and his neat cutback was into the path of the former Scotland Under-21 man, but Brill proved alert to McLean's drive. Midway through the first-half McLean again came close as he curled a shot from 25 yards past a post. After a sustained period of St Mirren pressure, Inverness should have had the advantage just after the half-hour mark through McKay. A Jeroen Tesselaar mix-up allowed the Inverness striker an opening, but, as he attempted to round Mark Ridgers, the Buddies goalkeeper blocked McKay's final left-footed lunge. Inverness started the second half with purpose. Greg Tansey's early corner on the left was almost met by Josh Meekings and Gary Warren. The Inverness impetus soon petered out, though, with St Mirren seeking the opener. Tansey was dispossessed midway inside his own half just before the hour mark as McLean found Thompson. The former Rangers forward approached the left edge of the area, but, as he advanced near the six yard box, Warren made a fine saving challenge. Caley Thistle looked to get back into the game, with McKay again unable to unleash a shot following a promising passage of play, the striker opting to allow Doran another crack which the Buddies defence blocked. However, in the 77th minute Raven race down the right before laying the ball across the six-yard box for McKay to grab the winner.