Caley Jags seal third spot and European place with win at Dundee
CALEY Thistle are heading into the Europa League after sealing a 1-0 Scottish Premiership win at Dundee to put the seal on a third place finish with two games to go.
Edward Ofere's headed goal after just eight minutes against the Dark Blues earned maximum points to ensure the Scottish Cup finalists cannot be caught and will finish below champions Celtic and runners-up Aberdeen to ensure their best-ever season.
It was all to play for here at Dens with ICT just 90 minutes away from potentially netting European football for the first time in the club's 21 year history.
They moved that step closer to that goal with a 2-1 home win against Dundee United, now they were facing a Dundee side who had finished top six in their first season back in the top-flight but also on the back of three straight defeats.
David Raven was available for Caley Thistle but was on the bench, with Josh Meekings playing again at right back as he did in midweek with Gary Warren and Danny Devine at centre half.
James Vincent was named as a sub for Inverness CT, with Ryan Christie handed a start.
Kyle Letheren replaced the injured Scott Bain in the nets following their 5-0 defeat at champions Celtic.
Greg Stewart and Paul McGowan were drafted into the hosts' starting 11, with Simon Ferry and Alex Harris dropping to the bench.
Dundee had a early chance when the ball was played into Luka Tankulic and he steered a 20-yarder just around the right post.
Tankulic and Jim McAlister were linking up superbly on the right and almost combined again but were cut out at the edge of the box.
However, it was Caley Thistle who grabbed control of the contest when Nigerian striker Edward Ofere headed home a cross from Greg Tansey which stemmed from the latter's corner.
It was the forward's sixth goal for the Highland club since arriving in February in this, his 12 game.
Devine ensured it stayed 1-0 on 15 minutes when he knocked a net-bound Stewart headed off the line after the ball was sent into the back post by McGowan.
Stewart then drew a fine save from Esson after bursting into the right side of the box and the follow-up corner came to nothing for Dundee.
Home keeper Letheren, who had just recovered from sustaining a knock, got down smartly on 24 minutes to deny Marley Watkins as he got set to connect with a low Ofere delivery.
The Taysiders almost levelled on 39 minutes when Stewart cracked a free-kick goalwards but Esson dived to push the ball to safety and maintain his team's one-goal advantage.
The last chance of the first half fell to Inverness CT as Christie's weak connection was held by Letheren when he met a free-kick from Tansey.
Dundee could have drawn level with their first attack of the second period as Tankulic fed the ball through to McAlister but his tame effort was an easy take for Esson.
There then followed a long spell where neither side could find a way through with challenges flying in all over the park and tempers fraying.
Play was broken up too often and, from an ICT point of view, they seemed to need a second goal.
A terrific diving save from Esson with 12 minutes left denied Dundee a certain goal as James McPake powered a header on target.
However, the single goal was enough to fire ICT into Europe thanks to this historic victory.
Dundee United's 1-1 draw today at St Johnstone meant even a draw for ICT at Dundee would have been enough to guarantee third spot for Caley Thistle.
Caley Thistle return to action next Saturday when fourth-placed Dundee United return to the Highlands.
Dundee: Letheren, Paul McGinn, McPake, Konrad, Dyer, Stephen McGinn (Wighton 76), Thomson (Harkins 82), McGowan, McAlister, Stewart, Tankulic. Subs not used: Brodie (GK), Clarkson, Colquhoun, Irvine, Ferry.
Inverness CT: Esson, Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, Ofere, Draper, Devine, Watkins (Vincent 64), Tansey (Tremarco 81), Williams (Doran 76), Christie. Subs not used: Mackay (GK), Raven, Ross, Kink.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Attendance: 5,123.
