Caley Thistle's win over Dundee United not enough as top six hopes end
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CALEY Thistle's hopes of making the top six were extinguished on Saturday afternoon, despite a comfortable 2-0 win over Dundee United.
John Hughes' side were left needing favours after recent defeats to Hamilton Accies and Motherwell but goals from Miles Storey and Iain Vigurs at least gave them a shot.
However, Ross County's 1-0 win at home to Partick Thistle means the Caley Jags cannot catch their Highland rivals, whom they sit four points behind with a game in hand.
They were rarely troubled at Tannadice against relegation-threatened United and the scoreline could have been more heavily-weighted towards the travelling side.
But Caley Thistle were left to rue earlier dropped points and will miss out on the top six for the first time in four seasons, instead having to watch neighbours County contend for a potential European spot.
Needing a win at the start of the day just to avoid being dragged into the relegation mire, Inverness made one change from the side that lost 2-1 to Motherwell. Greg Tansey, now free from suspension, came into the side at the expense of Liam Hughes, which meant Storey returning to his natural striking role.
Inverness' leading scorer looked in the mood to add to his 10-goal tally and quick-thinking from Vigurs nearly brought that about after 11 minutes. Vigurs took a free kick sharply to find Storey but he could only find the body of Eiji Kawashima.
The Japanese goalkeeper had no response to Storey two minutes later, however, as he was found unselfishly by Ross Draper and he slid the ball under Kawashima's outstretched leg.
Aside from an early Guy Demel free kick that Owain Fon Williams parried, the hosts were struggling to put anything of note together in the final third. His opposite number was significantly busier, getting down low to repel a Tansey effort before the half-hour and then scooping clear a header from Gary Warren.
United were all over the place at the back and Storey should have punished them further before the break. Tansey and Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo exchanged passes before the ball was perfectly weighted through for Storey. He escaped the attentions of all home defenders but on his weaker left foot, blazed over when primed to score.
Only their profligacy in front of goal prevented the game being done at half time. Mixu Paatelainen's side offered little going forward and looked fragile at the back, as Storey found space with alarming regularity.
Any fears were allayed five minutes into the second half when United only cleared a Tansey corner as far as Vigurs, who controlled the ball before firing a right-footed shot beyond Kawashima.
Fon Williams was called into action more often in the second half, first repelling a Simon Murray effort well before producing an even better stop to prevent Kyle Knoyle pulling one back. However, it all appeared too desperate for the Tannadice club, who were out of the running in this one after Vigurs' goal.
It was now all about seeing out the remaining minutes for Inverness in the hope that Partick Thistle, so often Caley Thistle's bogey side, could do them a favour, with St Johnstone and Dundee also losing.
They would not get their wish though, with five games in the bottom half of the table to ensure they end the season on a high.
DUNDEE UNITED: Kawashima; Morris, Gunning, Demel, Knoyle, Rankin, Paton, Dixon (Murray, 38), Dow (Fraser, 55), Anier, Mckay. Subs unused: Szromnik, Dillon, Erskine, Spittal, Donaldson. Booked: Murray, Rankin.
CALEY THISTLE: Fon Williams; Meekings, Warren, Devine, Tremarco, Draper, Tansey, Vigurs, Polworth, Mbuyi-Mutombo (Vincent, 63), Storey (D. Williams, 79). Subs unused: Esson, R. Williams, Foran, Horner, Hughes. Booked: Mbuyi-Mutombo, Tansey, Tremarco, Fon Williams.
Attendance: 6927.
Referee: C. Thomson.
