Caley Jags sink sorry Saints
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Chris Innes opened the scoring for Caley Thistle in Monday's 3-0 win against St Johnstone.
CALEY Thistle are in pole position to finish seventh in the Clydesdale Bank SPL after a comfortable 3-0 Easter Monday win at St Johnstone.
ICT boss Terry Butcher had to ring the changes as Ross Tokely and Stuart Duff were suspended and Jonny Hayes is out for the last few games this term, having gone through his ankle operation.
Into the starting 11 came Chris Hogg, Grant Munro and Shane Sutherland.
The Highlanders were confident of getting revenge against the team who dashed their long, unbeaten away run when they won 1-0 in Perth at the New Year.
The Saints are the lowest scorers in British senior football, having netted just 18 times, with it being two months since a St Johnstone player had scored a goal.
The Caley Jags were on the hunt for their first victory since that 3-0 SPL victory against Motherwell on March 5 ahead of this weekend’s trip to Aberdeen.
The first chance at McDiarmid Park came after just 60 seconds as ICT goalkeeper Ryan Esson turned a shot from Andy Jackson around the post at the end of a swift Saints attack.
Moments later, Murray Davidson’s drive was deflected wide as he went for goal at the edge of the box. The corner was well defended by the Highlanders.
Aaron Doran sparked an away attack on 16 minutes. His cross was knocked down by Sutherland and Nick Ross fired a decent effort over the bar from the edge of the box.
Moments later, Sutherland went close from another Doran delivery from the left flank.
At the other end, Jackson then watched his looping header fly wide of Esson’s left post.
The Saints almost broke the deadlock when Stevie May fed the ball to Alan Maybury and his low drive cracked off the base of the post and away to safety.
Graham Gartland was booked when he hauled Richie Foran to the floor when the Irishman got the better of him. Doran’s set-piece was headed goalwards by Hogg, but it was an easy take for Graeme Smith.
Foran then came to the rescue to clear a Jackson header off the line from a Danny Grainger corner as the hosts pressed for the breakthrough.
It was Caley Thistle, however, who grabbed the lead on 36 minutes. Sutherland’s corner was played back to him by Doran and the cross was powered home by Innes from 10 yards, leaving Smith well beaten.
This was the former St Mirren defender’s first goal of the season and he took his chance well.
Millar almost replied for the Perth Saints, but his 20-yarder flashed over the top before Murray Davidson pulled a shot wide in the next home attack.
Butcher’s side went in at the break with the 1-0 advantage.
Esson was called into action early in the second half when he dived to grasp a shot from Jackson.
The Caley Thistle number one then held on to a shot from Liam Craig when he connected with a Grainger cross.
However, the visitors doubled their advantage with a fine goal on 57 minutes.
On loan Blackburn ace Doran got the better of Maybury and he curled a superb shot into the top corner of the net to move a step closer to the three points.
Danny Invincible squandered a chance to bring Saints back into when he tried to steer home a cross from Maybury, but he miscued his effort.
The Perth team were made to pay on 70 minutes when Foran crashed a low shot into the net after being set up by Sutherland in the box. It was 3-0 and ICT were coasting.
Jackson almopst gave the McDiarmid crowd something to cheer on 83 minutes, but his shot flashed past the right post from 20 yards.
At the other end, Adam Rooney was sent clear by Ross, but his effort had too much height to threaten Smith.
This victory for Butcher's troops leaves them four points ahead of Hibs with one game in hand - against Celtic - to their advantage.
St Johnstone: Smith, Mackay, Grainger, Gartland, Maybury, Millar, Craig (Moon 75), Davidson, Invincible (Reynolds 86), Jackson, May (Robertson 46). Subs not used: Clark (GK), Novikovas, Taylor, Adams.
Inverness CT: Esson, Cox, Foran, Rooney (MacDonald 87), Munro, Innes, Ross, Sutherland, Gillet, Doran, Hogg. Subs not used: Tuffey (GK), Golabek, Odhiambo, Duncan, Morrison.
Referee: Bobby Madden.
Attendance: 2,395.
