Boring, Boring, Boring !!!! the first half was invisible from a Caley Thistle point of view with St Mirren registering 4 or 5 chances, but the first five minutes of the second half saw quite a few chances for ICT, none of which were converted, and the only other action was a flurry of substitutions for both sides, the result of which was two attempts by new boy Claude Gnakpa, one which hit the inside of the post, and then a booking for him for alleged simulation ......

0-0 the final score ... 2 points dropped for sure, but on the bright side it was a third SPL clean sheet in a row, and seven games unbeaten. Bring on Celtic next week !!!!

Buddy Hell

Inverness managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory as they passed up a number of gilt edged opportunities to take all three points.

A beautiful January afternoon failed to tempt more fans down to the Caledonian Stadium and the game kicked off in bright sunshine, with a rermarkable skyline to the east. It looked as if someone had painted a straight line across the sky with incredible accuracy; a massive bank of cloud reaching down to sea level.

Butcher had to change his back line once more as a knee injury ruled out Steve Williams. Ross Tokely slotted into the centre back role, but the rest of the team remained the same as last week with new boys Winnall and Gnakpa securing a place on the bench. Swindon bound Lee Cox was absent. Jim Goodwin missed out for Saint's, but ex-Inverness wide player Dougie Imrie started with Hasselbaink and Teale as subs.

The first half was quite a borefest with Inverness unable to put their foot on the ball and string two passes together. It was the visitors that made most of the running in the early stages but if truth be told neither side turned up at all. Last week against Hearts, you could see the determination and quality that merited the plaudits. This had deserted the entire team in that first half, none moreso than the enigmatic Jonny Hayes. He looked jaded, and without that spark, Inverness struggled to create anything. St Mirren fared slightly better and Esson had to make a couple of routine saves to keep the clean sheet intact. Maybe the Saint's strikers could have done better, but they shot straight at Esson through Carey, and Thompson headed one into Esson's midrift when either side of him would have given cause for concern. Thompson almost caught out Ryan Esson with a looping header but he palmed the ball from under the bar and then gathered the loose ball comfortably.

What were Inverness doing meantime? Absolutely nothing. They could not bring the ball under control and a number of misplaced passes roused the sleeping fans in the North Stand. The only positives for Inverness in that first half was Man of the Match Kenny Gillet had Dougie Imrie in his back pocket and produced an outstanding French lesson for all to see. Just before half time, it was Gillet who almost broke the deadlock, he sidestepped the defenders but dragged his shot wide. Easy to see why he has never scored a goal before, but it was more promising from the home side.

Terry Butcher must have compiled a huge list for his half time pep talk after enduring that rubbish. It was so boring that we were reduced to watching a strange light on a hilltop in the direction of the Slochd. Many theories were put forward as to what it was, at least it was more entertaining than the football on display.

Half Time 0-0

Words were undoubtedly spoken in the dressing room and Inverness came out of the blocks with all guns blazing. Someone had woken Hayes up and all of a sudden we were lurking with intent around the visitors box. Hayes fizzed a ball across the box, unfortunately for Tade the ball had too much pace on it and he could not direct his toe poke into the net at the far post. He only succeeded in knocking the ball wide of the target and twisting his foot in the process. Tade turned provider soon after but his cut back went behind Ross and Hayes and another great chance was gone.

More neat play saw a chance open up for Tansey, but his shot from the edge of the box flashed inches wide of the upright when he should have made the keeper work. Inverness were still pressing the game and the Buddies were on the back foot as Foran cleared the North Stand with an effort from 25 yards, the ball landing somewhere near Munlochy.

St Mirren ventured upfield and Barron shot straight at Esson then the industrious McGowan inexplicably trundled a shot into a grateful Esson's hands from point blank range as Meekings stifled the strike.

New boys Gnakpa and Winnall were introduced for the less than effective Tade and Sutherland and it was Claude who looked the likeliest to open the scoring. He was waltzing past the St Mirren players with some dazzling runs, but the referee booked him at the end of a four man waltz for alleged diving. He was however causing the Saint's problems as he ran at them with skill and pace and his aerial presence offered us another dimension. He almost put the icing on the cake after he fired a low shot across the keeper, but it bounced off the post and along the face of the goal line before being scrambled away That was as close as it got, but no, hang on a minute.

Nick Ross missed an incredible opportunity to wrap up the points late on but he somehow managed to thump the ball over the bar from right on the goal line. He almost made amends right at the death but shot weakly at Samson from the edge of the box as he tried to curl one in.

Full Time 0-0

After a dull first half we came to life and should have won at a canter, but chances went abegging and we missed an opportunity to climb the table. A couple of positives though. That's seven games unbeaten now. Claude looks like an all round player, pacey, tricky and good in the air. Ryan Esson kept his third clean sheet in a row and Kenny Gillet had his finest hour and a half for Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Josh Meekings was next best and Tansey came onto a game in the second half.

So, chance missed to stretch away from the bottom clubs, but with Dunfermline and Hibs both losing, it's not such a bad weekend after all.

We never did find out what the mysterious glowing light was on top of the hills, but thankfully the game picked up after the break and it was all forgotten about.

No highlights available

Celtic in the cup next Saturday, and it's an early kick off.