Match ends, St Johnstone 0, Inverness CT 1.
St Johnstone 0-1 Inverness CT
- From the section Football
Garry Warren's first-half header gave Inverness Caledonian Thistle a narrow Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone.
The defender rose highest to nod Richie Foran's pass into the net.
The goal was a deserved one for the visitors after a first half in which they created the better chances.
Saints' Nigel Hasselbaink headed a gilt-edged chance off target after David Wotherspoon's shot had been blocked in the second period.
The win for Inverness stretches the gap between the two sides to nine points with John Hughes' side now level on points with fourth-place Dundee United.
And Hibernian, who drew with Kilmarnock, move level on points with St Johnstone, meaning Tommy Wright's men have preserved their top-six place by virtue of a superior goal difference.
Frazer Wright's injury, which required the defender to be stretchered off, compounded a disappointing day for the hosts.
Indeed, Saints almost fell behind early on when Warren headed a Josh Meekings cross wide.
Inverness continued to press and Billy McKay's shot was beaten away by Alan Mannus before Greg Tansey drove wide.
Mannus then saved bravely at the feet of McKay but the visitors soon made the breakthrough.
David Raven swung in a high cross that Foran nodded down and back up into the air for Warren to power home.
Stevie May tried to force a St Johnstone equaliser early in the second half but his shot was blocked by Warren.
Hasselbaink, who tested Dean Brill twice in the first half, should have levelled when presented with a chance on the rebound following Wotherspoon's but could not direct his header into the net.
And the match ended on a sour note for the hosts when Wright sustained suspected ligament damage and was taken from the field on a stretcher.
Line-ups
St Johnstone
- 1Mannus
- 2Mackay
- 24Easton
- 7MillarBooked at 32minsSubstituted forCroftat 71'minutes
- 6Anderson
- 5WrightSubstituted forScobbieat 37'minutes
- 10WotherspoonBooked at 33mins
- 4CreggSubstituted forIwelumoat 45'minutes
- 17May
- 11HasselbainkBooked at 31mins
- 8McDonald
Substitutes
- 3Scobbie
- 12Dunne
- 15Banks
- 19Miller
- 22Croft
- 25Iwelumo
- 29O'Halloran
Inverness CT
- 12Brill
- 2Raven
- 3Shinnie
- 8DraperBooked at 67mins
- 5Warren
- 6Meekings
- 10Doran
- 16Tansey
- 7MckaySubstituted forVincentat 78'minutes
- 9Foran
- 15WatkinsBooked at 34minsSubstituted forRossat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Esson
- 4Vincent
- 11Ross
- 14Devine
- 18Tremarco
- 20Polworth
- 21Pepper
- Referee:
- Euan Norris
- Attendance:
- 2,415
Match Stats
Home TeamSt JohnstoneAway TeamInverness CT
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away14
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, St Johnstone 0, Inverness CT 1.
Foul by Steve May (St Johnstone).
Gary Warren (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Lee Croft (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT).
Attempt missed. Nigel Hasselbaink (St Johnstone) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Chris Iwelumo (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Greg Tansey (Inverness CT).
Attempt missed. Richie Foran (Inverness CT) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left.
Foul by Thomas Scobbie (St Johnstone).
Richie Foran (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Lee Croft (St Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT).
Foul by Chris Iwelumo (St Johnstone).
Gary Warren (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Chris Iwelumo (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Gary Warren (Inverness CT).
Attempt missed. Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. James Vincent replaces Billy McKay.
Nigel Hasselbaink (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Greg Tansey (Inverness CT).
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Nick Ross replaces Marley Watkins.
Brian Easton (St Johnstone) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Richie Foran (Inverness CT).
Foul by Lee Croft (St Johnstone).
Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, St Johnstone. Lee Croft replaces Chris Millar.
Booking
Ross Draper (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card.
Nigel Hasselbaink (St Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Ross Draper (Inverness CT).
Corner, St Johnstone. Conceded by Graeme Shinnie.
Foul by Gary McDonald (St Johnstone).
Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Steve May (St Johnstone).
Josh Meekings (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Steve May (St Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Foul by Nigel Hasselbaink (St Johnstone).
Gary Warren (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Nigel Hasselbaink (St Johnstone) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high.