CALEY’S WINLESS RUN NOT AFFECTING EUROPA BID
IT’S a measure of Inverness Caley Thistle’s consistency earlier in the season that they are within touching distance of a Europa League spot, despite not having won a Premiership match for almost three months. The last time they did so was on Valentine’s Day when they prevailed 2-1 away to St Mirren. Since then, they have lost four and drawn five of their subsequent nine matches, garnering a paltry five points in the process. Yet they remain four points ahead of their only rivals, Dundee United and St Johnstone, having played one game fewer than the Perth side. The match in question will take place at the Caledonian Stadium tomorrow evening, when Inverness host United in what could turn out to be the defining moment of their remarkable season of overachievement. In truth, they were a shade fortunate to avoid defeat at McDiarmid Park after Aaron Doran struck early in the second period to claim his sixth goal of the campaign. Doran’s goal in the 55th minute came against the run of play and justice was seen to be done when substitute Brian Graham headed an equaliser with eight minutes remaining. Inverness finished the match with 10 men after full-back David Raven was redcarded for a second caution. It must be said that John Hughes (below), the Inverness manager, was justified in his post-match analysis of referee Andrew Dallas’ performance. The officials saw fit to administer nine yellow cards and one red when less than half were justified, and Hughes reflected: ‘I think he had a poor match. I felt he was out of his depth. ‘He’s a young kid learning his trade and I understand that he has to gain experience. ‘But we are going for a European place and we deserve better than that.’ Hughes’ counterpart Tommy Wright, meanwhile, was of the opinion that a point was the least Saints merited for their efforts. He hid his disappointment well and paid the opposition the compliment of saying: ‘They are a good side and they defended well. ‘Dundee United beating Aberdeen probably doesn’t help us, but the big game will be the one on Tuesday when Inverness play United and we’ll see how that falls. ‘We still have United to play and nine points to play for, and if we keep putting in performances we will be there or there abouts. ‘I think the situation, with regards to catching Inverness, is out of our hands. It’s up to what they do.’
ST JOHNSTONE (4-4-2): Mannus 6; Miller 6, Mackay 6, Anderson 6, Scobbie 6; Millar 6, Wotherspoon 6, Davidson 5 (Graham 76), Swanson 7; MacLean 5 (McFadden 73), O’Halloran 5. Subs not
used: Banks, Lappin, Wright, Caddis, Kane. Booked: Davidson, MacLean, Wotherspoon, Anderson, Swanson.
INVERNESS CT (4-4-2): Esson 6; Raven 6, Warren 6, Meekings 8, Shinnie 7; Vincent 6, Tansey 5, Williams 6, Doran 6 (Devine 76); Ofere 6, Watkins 7. Subs not used: Ross, Mackay, Tremarco, Polworth, Christie, Kink. Booked: Meekings, Ofere, Raven, Vincent. Sent off: Raven. Referee: Andrew Dallas.
Attendance: 2,986. Man of the match: Josh Meekings.