Stalemate..................As predictable as bears going for a number two in the forest, this game ended in a no scoring draw. Neither side looked capable of taking control of the game and a draw was a fair reflection of the evening fare. St Johnstone had the majority of possession but we carved out the better opportunities and were denied the winner by a superb save by Mannus from a close range Draper header near the end.

A warm evening in Inverness gave way to cold, crisp skies – and sharp movement to match on the field.

Mehdi Abeid, on-loan from Newcastle United, had an early pop at goal for Saints which whistled dangerously close to Antonio Reguero’s upright.

The young midfielder looked sharp in a bright opening few minutes for Saints before the hosts settled.

Owain Tudur Jones produced Caley Thistle’s first attempt at goal and the big Welshman went even closer with a powerful stab from outside the box, tipped wide by Mannus, after 12 minutes. Andrew Shinnie also nodded just over from six yards from Ross Draper’s delivery as the home side began to look dangerous.

Saints held enough menace, themselves, though.

Steven MacLean won the ball easily from young Inverness defender Danny Devine after a poor touch and slid a pass to Rowan Vine on the left side of the box.

Clear chances were thin on the ground but Hibs-bound Liam Craig, earlier booked, made a tremendous surge past Graeme Shinnie into the right of the home box after 25 minutes.

As the Saints midfielder – who grabbed the equaliser against Untied – dug in a low cross, Reguero was again sharp down to save.

Josh Meekings did a tremendous mopping-up job on Vine as the Perth striker honed in on goal after 38 minutes.

It was finely-balanced but Abeid wriggled into space and whipped a tremendous long-range effort only just wide with half-time approaching.

Half Time 0-0

Early in the second half, the young French-born Algerian was set up after Vine’s grit and perseverance on the left.

Teed up square on goal, Abeid’s low-strike swerved through a ruck of players but was stopped by the one-handed reaction of Reguero.

A poor spell for the hosts ended with Tudur Jones’ attempt parried by Mannus and Shinnie then stabbing just over the bar from Billy McKay’s supply after the hour. Soon after, Aaron Doran broke at pace free behind the Saints defence and was about to pull the trigger as Mannus shut him down superbly.

The pendulum was swinging in Caley Thistle’s favour as Shinnie swept a shot just over from distance.

Saints thought they had opened after 71 minutes but Vine’s finish was in vain with play called back for a foul on Meekings. With ten minutes left, St Johnstoine retained slightly the upper hand and a strike by substitute Nigel Hasselbaink looked net-bound in a crowded box before striking the legs of team-mate Frazer Wright. There was another chance soon afterwards when Hasselbaink was floored by David Raven sharp left of the home box. The otherwise excellent Abeid swung his free-kick far too long.

Caley Thistle, though, went agonisingly close with a header from Ross Draper parried by the firm fists of Mannus close-in from a Nick Ross cross.

A draw is not the worst result by far as it keeps the Saints at bay, but I doubt many fans or Mr Butcher will be overly impressed by the performance. Highlight for many was the helicopter circling the stadium during the game, it certainly looked more interesting than the game itself and the rousing drumbeat chanting in the second half got many a foot tapping.

5th Apr 2013	Scottish Premier League	Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Inverness C.T.	0 -
	TEAM: Reguero, Raven, G.Shinnie, Devine, Meekings, Doran, Foran, Draper, Tudur-Jones, A.Shinnie (Ross 80), McKay
	SUBS: Mathieson, Polworth, Taylor, Christie
	Booked: none
	Sent Off: none
St Johnstone	0 -
	TEAM: Mannus, MacKay, Davidson (Scobbie 24), Wright, Anderson, Tade (Edwards 66), Abeid, Millar, Craig, Vine (Hasselbaink 77), MacLean
	SUBS: Tuffey, Cregg, McCracken, Caddis
	Booked: Craig (17), Abeid (56)
	Sent Off: none
Referee	Kevin Clancy
Attendance	3744