SAINTS ‘HURT’ BY FINAL-DAY DEFEAT

THOSE of a Perth persuasion might have frozen in fear yesterday as Stevie May entered the fray with 16 minutes left. However, Tommy Wright had only one thought in mind — salvaging victory. The small matter of a first Scottish Cup Final appearance in St Johnstone’s 130-year history, just six days away, hung heavily over the team as they were defeated by fine goals from Caley Thistle’s Ryan Christie and Greg Tansey. Understandably, Saints seemed a little distracted and reluctant to risk injury ahead of the big day. Wright, for his part, was not about to castigate them for that. But it said much about the essence of the club’s ethos that there was genuine ‘hurt’ in the camp, according to Wright, after a relatively meaningless defeat consigned them to sixth place. ‘It wasn’t about getting through the game without injuries,’ he asserted. ‘The main thing was getting the three points — and we didn’t. ‘We’re disappointed. The lads are hurting. Poor decision-making probably cost us and the second half was poor. ‘It is totally understandable as there was maybe one eye on next week, but it’s still hard to accept when you have an opportunity to go fifth. ‘That attitude is why they are a team who keep finishing top six and getting to semi-finals and Europe. ‘Come tomorrow morning, this will be quite easily forgotten. We have something really special to look forward to now. ‘Our players deserve to be in a cup final. Now we’ll prepare to go and win it.’ As for May’s late introduction, Wright added: ‘I planned not to play him, but I wanted to win.’ A lacklustre mood seemed to infiltrate both camps in a poor first half, before Inverness shone through. Saints’ start to the second half suggested they had taken a telling from Wright. Almost immediately, Michael O’Halloran saw his 12-yard strike tipped wide by the diving Dean Brill. But the hosts took control — and the breakthrough arrived on the hour mark. Aaron Doran let rip from outside the left angle of the box. Alan Mannus could only parry the swerving effort and young Christie headed home. A late five-on-three Inverness breakaway then saw Tansey fire in a wonderful clincher. Caley Thistle have shown consistency this campaign to follow up a fourth-place finish with fifth this season, while also reaching a first Cup Final.