Match ends, St. Johnstone 1, Inverness CT 1.
St Johnstone 1-1 Inverness CT
By Martin Dowden
BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park
- From the section Football
St Johnstone fought back against Inverness with Brian Graham's towering header earning a vital point to leave the race for Europe unresolved.
Inverness had gone ahead when David Raven's cross was knocked out to Aaron Doran, whose shot went in off the bar.
Danny Swanson had gone close early on for the home side with a wonderful curling effort which beat Ryan Esson but cracked off the bar.
In the closing stages, David Raven was dismissed for a second booking.
Scottish Cup finalists Inverness, who are third in the Premiership, are now four points clear of Dundee United and St Johnstone.
Third place will secure a Europa League qualifying spot next season but the Highlanders may achieve that through the cup and thus send the fourth-placed side into Europe as well.
Bitterly cold conditions seemed to suppress creativity early on, other than the invention of Swanson.
St Johnstone rolled the ball to the former United winger in space at the edge of the box and he measured a wonderful curling effort that smacked the goal frame.
Chances were scarce in that first half but Doran fired a warning of what would follow when he lofted an effort over from a tight angle.
Michael O'Halloran tried to raise the temperature when he outpaced Warren, only too see his rushed effort sail high and wide.
Inverness struggled to penetrate the St Johnstone rearguard but Danny Williams almost found the answer with a blistering long-range effort which Alan Mannus palmed to safety.
St Johnstone started the second half brightly and Steven MacLean and O'Halloran both had close-range chances to put the hosts ahead, the latter particularly wasteful when blasting over from a few yards.
John Hughes' side capitalised on that profligacy when Raven's cross eventually found its way to Doran, who arrived at speed to finish with composure.
The flow of the game was interrupted by a series of yellow cards but St Johnstone found a way back into the game.
Substitute Graham positioned himself around the six-yard box and Tam Scobbie's delivery was inch perfect, allowing the striker to power his header home beautifully.
Tommy Wright's side were further encouraged when Raven was ordered off for a second yellow card, leaving Inverness exposed.
The visitors saw the match out, though, and earned a point which may prove crucial in their quest for a European place.
However, they have still not won a league game since mid-February.
Line-ups
St Johnstone
- 1Mannus
- 2Mackay
- 6AndersonBooked at 78mins
- 3Scobbie
- 19Miller
- 11SwansonBooked at 90mins
- 18DavidsonBooked at 61minsSubstituted forGrahamat 76'minutes
- 7Millar
- 29O'Halloran
- 10WotherspoonBooked at 88mins
- 9MacLeanBooked at 37minsSubstituted forMcFaddenat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Lappin
- 5Wright
- 14Graham
- 15Banks
- 16Caddis
- 17McFadden
- 25Kane
Inverness CT
- 1Esson
- 2RavenBooked at 85mins
- 5Warren
- 6MeekingsBooked at 90mins
- 3Shinnie
- 10DoranSubstituted forDevineat 76'minutes
- 4VincentBooked at 27mins
- 16Tansey
- 19Williams
- 7OfereBooked at 53mins
- 15Watkins
Substitutes
- 11Ross
- 14Devine
- 18Tremarco
- 20Polworth
- 22Christie
- 25Kink
- 31Mackay
- Referee:
- Andrew Dallas
- Attendance:
- 2,986
Match Stats
Home TeamSt JohnstoneAway TeamInverness CT
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away21
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 1, Inverness CT 1.
Booking
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Booking
Josh Meekings (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card.
Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Meekings (Inverness CT).
Hand ball by Greg Tansey (Inverness CT).
Booking
David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Danny Williams (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to David Raven (Inverness CT).
Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by David Raven (Inverness CT).
Goal!
Goal! St. Johnstone 1, Inverness CT 1. Brian Graham (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Tam Scobbie with a cross.
Foul by Danny Swanson (St. Johnstone).
Greg Tansey (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone).
Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Steven Anderson (St. Johnstone).
Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Josh Meekings.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Danny Devine replaces Aaron Doran.
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Brian Graham replaces Murray Davidson.
Gary Miller (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Aaron Doran (Inverness CT).
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. James McFadden replaces Steven MacLean.
Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).
Josh Meekings (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Gary Miller.
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by David Mackay.
Attempt blocked. Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Danny Williams (Inverness CT).
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Gary Warren.
Booking
Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).
Danny Williams (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.