ICT ease past Saints
CALEY Thistle came from behind as Gregory Tade hit the winner 12 minutes from time to claim victory against St Mirren.
After putting in a good performance, despite losing 2-0 to Celtic last weekend, Inverness were looking to make it a third successive Scottish Premier League game at home without defeat.
Manager Terry Butcher made just the one alteration, Andrew Shinnie returning to the starting line-up in place of on loan Huddersfield winger Aidan Chippendale.
And it was Andrew Shinnie who was involved in setting up a glorious chance for Richie Foran following a slip by visiting defender Lee Mair after just 38 seconds, but from six yards the Irish striker sent the ball wide with the goal gaping.
David Davis had a long range effort saved by Craig Samson, while Foran's header was deflected wide as Caley Thistle pressed for the opener.
Such was the dominance of the home side that you could only see them scoring, but it was St Mirren who took the lead with their first effort on goal after 22 minutes.
Gary Teale's corner found the head of the unmarked Marc McAusland and he added the finishing touch from just inside the six-yard box with the Caley Thistle defence ball watching.
Tade passed up a chance to equalise when put through by Foran, but Inverness deservedly restored parity in the 31st minute, Andrew Shinnie crashing the ball home from 12 yards after good build-up play involving Davis and Foran.
The home fans were still celebrating as play swung to the other end, Paul McGowan testing the reflexes of Ryan Esson with a shot from 20 yards.
It was the last action of the opening 45 minutes, but it did not take long for the second half to come to life.
Andrew Shinnie was again involved, the former Rangers player sending in an effort from 22 yards that struck the upright before bouncing away to safety.
Teale drove a shot from the edge of the box a couple of yards wide as St Mirren looked to regain the initiative, but it was the home side who still had the better of the chances, Tade twice failing to find the target when through on goal.
The Frenchman's fortunes, however, changed in the 78th minute. Andrew Shinnie again rattled the post with his driver, but the ball came back and hit Tade from less than two yards out before going into the goal.
McGowan did have the ball in the net for Saints deep into stoppage time, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
CALEY THISTLE - Esson; Piermayr, G. Shinnie, Tokely, Proctor, Davis, Ross, Tansey, Tade (Chippendale, 87), Foran (Sutherland, 90), A. Shinnie. Subs unused: Golobart, Morrison, McKay, Gillet, Tuffey. Booked: Ross.
ST MIRREN - Samson; van Zanten, Mair, Goodwin, Thomson (Barron, 59), Thompson (Carey, 72), McGowan, Hasselbaink, McAusland, Teale (McLean, 59), Tesselaar. Subs unused: McKee, McShane, Haddad, Smith.
Attendance: 3249.
Referee: G. Salmond.
Read Terry Butcher's column exclusively in Tuesday's Inverness Courier
