Inverness end barren spell

Inverness edged their way past Saints to end their winless run of SPL games.  Goals from Ross Tokely and Russell Duncan saw the home side take all three points in a tense encounter at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

Despite the injury crisis, Terry Butcher was able to field a team that proved to be difficult for Saint Johnstone to break down and a single goal in each half was enough to see off the lads from Perth.  Jonny Hayes Graeme Shinnie and Nick Ross all missed out again as Butchers patched up side earned a hard fought victory in a game where neither side really took control and the result was on hold until the last few minutes when St Johnstone finally ran out of ideas.

The Perth fans came in their droves, but it was all in vain as they went back down the A9 with nothing to show for their day out, but hopefully they enjoyed some Highland hospitality while they were here.

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davie was on hand to witness this rare home win and his report is here for your pleasure.

Right, that's the home run jinx beaten just in time for another win against Hibs! Yesterday's line up was visibly dictated by availability, any back four being evidently better than no back four. The day was bright, despite gloomy forecasts and St. Johnstone had brought a sizeable support for their "massive" away day. The auspices were looking up, especially with the realisation that an established thorn in our side by the name of Samuel was missing.

Saints started brightly enough, Morris pulling the strings as usual. The Caley Jags had to overcome some early St Johnstone pressure to make their mark. Saints had started the brightest with midfielder Chris Millar, who was forced off injured towards the end of the opening period, troubling Ryan Esson inside ten minutes. Millar cut in from the flank to fire a right-foot strike just over from 20 yards. At this point, the value of Chris Hogg was increasing by the minute as he blocked, tackled and distributed the ball against all comers. Esson then charged out to save from Davidson and the game was taking on a worrying complexion as ICT struggled to impose a gameplan on the match. In a foray upfield in 28 minutes, we won a corner on the right, which was whipped in by Aaron Doran and met by the considerable and specially toughened forehead of Ross Tokely. It fairly bulleted the ball into the back of the net, and cued great joy in the home support. Their regard for this man really does know no bounds.

At this point, the Saints game plan fell apart and the game decended into an exercise in scrappiness that was hard to watch at times. Inevitable, with so many people playing out of position, but hard to fault.

Half Time: Inverness CT 1 St. Johnstone 0

The second half continued in the same vein as the first, with Doran firing over when he was beautifully set up by Tokely who was storming around in inimitable fashion by this time. In 51 minutes, David Proctor left the field in some distress with a knackered hamstring in another injury setback for ICT. Saints at this point had little to offer in terms of creativity and they decided to substitute it with clogging and cynicism. Ably abetted by the referee Mr. Collum, this culminated in Duberry catching Cox by the throat in what was clearly an infringement of the rules. Willie had a wee word, presumably out of the alternative rule book he had been reading. Any doubts about the outcome of the match were rested in peace on 62 minutes, when a cracking interchange of Irish attack resulted in Rooney squaring a peach of a ball across the six yard box. Russell Duncan had time to say "thank you and goodnight" bow and light a cigar before sidefooting the ball past the bilious green Enckleman. Any doubts about the outcome were firmly bedded at this point.

Yet this cued what was Saints best period as they huffed and puffed to secure something from the game, but they left empty handed after prompting the usual goal saving stop from Ryan Esson who seems to have a burning need to pull at least one per game out of the repertoire. Levein, this is getting ridiculous – he would do well against Brazil! Alex MacDonald came on again to display a "rooneyesque" physique and some deft touches. Up to speed, he will be an asset. Pass marks all over the field though.

Full Time 2-0

There was the usual puzzlement with the sponsors MotM which was claimed morally by one Mr. Ross Tokely. He is indeed superman, but everyone played their part.