Inverness CT 1 - 0 St. Mirren

League Match
Sunday, January 4th, 2015, 3:00 PM at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,751
Referee: Bobby Madden
Inverness CT  St. Mirren

Goalscorers
Billy Mckay (77)
None.

Team Managers
John Hughes Gary Teale (interim manager)

Starting Eleven
Dean Brill
Josh Meekings
Gary Warren
David Raven
Carl Tremarco
Nick Ross
Graeme Shinnie
Aaron Doran
Greg Tansey
Ryan Christie
Billy Mckay
Mark Ridgers
Jason Naismith
Marc McAusland
Jim Goodwin
Jeroen Tesselaar
Adam Drury
Stephen Mallan
John McGinn
Shaun Kelly
Kenny McLean
Steven Thompson

Substitutes
Ryan Esson
Daniel Devine
Ross Draper
James Vincent
Danny Williams
Lewis Horner
Ibra Sekajja
Marian Kello
Greg Wylde
Isaac Osbourne
Thomas Reilly
Jack Baird
Lewis Mclear
Callum Ball

Substitutions
Danny Williams for Ryan Christie (64)
Ross Draper for Aaron Doran (78)
James Vincent for Nick Ross (83)
Lewis Mclear -> Adam Drury (78)
Greg Wylde -> Shaun Kelly (78)
Thomas Reilly -> Stephen Mallan (85)

Bookings
Greg Tansey (26)
John McGinn (66)

Red Cards
None. None.
Appearances & Goals To Date
Dean Brill (GK) 68 apps -
Carl Tremarco 30 apps -
Josh Meekings 127 apps3 goals
David Raven 98 apps1 goal
Gary Warren 100 apps11 goals
Nick Ross 158 apps11 goals
Ryan Christie 39 apps6 goals
Aaron Doran 135 apps19 goals
Graeme Shinnie 166 apps6 goals
Greg Tansey 82 apps12 goals
Billy Mckay 138 apps59 goals
James Vincent (sub) 41 apps2 goals
Danny Williams (sub) 45 apps2 goals
Ross Draper (sub) 100 apps7 goals

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Ryan Christie (19 years 318 days)
Oldest Player:Graeme Shinnie (2016 years 159 days)
Average Player Age:26 years 332 days
Domestic Players:6 (54.55 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Ryan Christie (19 years 318 days)
Oldest Player:Graeme Shinnie (2016 years 159 days)
Average Player Age:26 years 243 days
Domestic Players:10 (55.56 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones
Gary Warren played his 100th major competitive game for the Club.
Ross Draper played his 100th major competitive game for the Club.

Just enough:

In a game low on drama, Inverness did just enough to take all three points with a fabulous, brilliantly executed goal from Billy Mckay after tremendous wing play by David Raven. St Mirren had stifled the Inverness engine room and used the Partick tactics of closing us down quickly and it almost paid off for them, but for Raven and Mckay's invention, Billy flicking the ball home with around fifteen minutes to go.

With it being a seasonal Sunday kick off, the attendance was also seasonal, but full of anticipation after the performance at Dingwall giving fresh hope to our campaign.

Ross Draper was available but only made the bench, and Marley Watkins had picked up a knock and missed out. Nick Ross was the surprise inclusion in an otherwise unchanged side. St Mirren had the luxury of Steven Thompson and Kenny McLean available and had Inverness lad Mark Ridgers in goal

A fine afternoon saw St Mirren kick off and the usual slow pattern of play ensued. Inverness content to hold the ball, the visitors happy to let us have it, but no goal threats as a consequence of St Mirren shutting us down quickly a las Partick Thistle, which would make it an uncomfortable afternoon for the home fans.

From BBC Sport

Billy McKay's late strike earned back-to-back victories for Inverness Caley Thistle despite struggling for top form against a spirited St Mirren.

David Raven did superbly to beat his man and found McKay.

The striker had his back to goal but coolly flicked the ball towards the far post, where it found the target.

Kenny McLean came closest for the visitors with a superb 30-yard drive that crashed off the bar, but the Paisley side's woes continue.

Ross County's draw at Dundee means the Buddies are only above bottom spot on goal difference, while Inverness remain five points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Aberdeen in fifth spot.

McKay should have netted in Caley Thistle's only real chance of the first half when Jeroen Tesselaar's horror pass-back put the striker clean through.

He seemed short of confidence and that hesitation proved costly as goalkeeper Mark Ridgers advanced to block with his feet and the chance was gone.

It was an unusually quiet performance from John Hughes' side for long periods, partly the result of some organised defending from St Mirren.

McLean, the subject of £150,000 bid from Fleetwood Town, showed just why he is attracting interest.

The midfielder gathered a Stevie Mallan square ball and, without hesitation, struck a fierce left-foot drive that beat goalkeeper Dean Brill but not the bar as it rebounded to safety.

Caretaker-manager Gary Teale does not want to lose McLean and the midfielder further demonstrated why with a curling effort that Brill did well to tip over.

McLean went close for a third time with another confident effort from distance that curled agonisingly wide.

Chances were few and far between as the second half wore on, but the breakthrough came from a great piece of skill from McKay.

The Northern Irishman proved his worth with a second goal in two games with a lovely flick with his back to goal.

The spadework was carried out superbly by Raven, who beat his man to reach the bye-line and drilled the ball across for McKay to net superbly.

McKay could have played in James Vincent, who was free in the middle, then almost netted from the bye-line as Ridgers flapped.

You can see a clear improvement in St Mirren's overall play, but they go back level on points with County.

Inverness will reflect on a hard-fought victory that may go a long way to achieving their aims this season.

Match report written by tm4tj



None.

Pld W D L F A +/- Pts
1. Aberdeen 20 14 1 5 31 17 14 43
2. Celtic 18 12 3 3 34 12 22 39
3. Hamilton Academical 20 12 3 5 36 19 17 39
4. Dundee Utd 20 12 2 6 39 26 13 38
5. Inverness CT 20 12 2 6 28 20 8 38
6. St. Johnstone 20 9 2 9 17 21 -4 29
7. Kilmarnock 19 8 3 8 20 23 -3 27
8. Dundee 20 5 7 8 26 32 -6 22
9. Partick Thistle 19 5 6 8 25 23 2 21
10. Motherwell 20 5 2 13 13 34 -21 17
11. St. Mirren 20 3 2 15 15 35 -20 11
12. Ross County 20 2 5 13 19 41 -22 11