Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | David Davis (20 years 228 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Nick Ross (2013 years 63 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 26 years 221 days |
| Domestic Players: | 11 (100.00 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | Aidan Chippendale (19 years 134 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Andrew Shinnie (2013 years 63 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 24 years 150 days |
| Domestic Players: | 17 (94.44 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
There is light at the end of the tunnel after all:
Inverness had to come from behind in a tough encounter at Caledonian Stadium to edge out St Mirren.
McAusland opened the scoring against the run of play but Man of the Match Andrew Shinnie restored parity after half an hour then had a big hand in the winner as Gregory Tade knocked in a rebound with twelve minutes remaining, but in a pulsating game, sighs all round as the Buddies had a goal chalked off in injury time for offsides, and there endeth the action as Inverness claimed a well deserved second win of the season.
A dreich day after the Indian summer conditions earlier in the week kept some fans in the pre-match boozer a bit longer than usual, and they missed the first opportunity of the game as Foran missed a sitter inside the first minute. Andrew Shinnie had dispossessed Mair and teed up Foran, only for the captain to put the ball wide. A big let-off for the Saints and agony for the home fans.
The wintery conditions made the ball extremely difficult to control and perfect for sliding tackles and with ten minutes gone the impressive Davis tested former County keeper Craig Samson in the Saints goal with a long range effort which he saved well considering the damp atmosphere.
Foran saw a netbound header deflected agonisingly the wrong side of the post as Inverness kept the pressure on the visitors.
Inverness were taking the game to their more fancied opponents and forced a series of corners which the Saints defence dealt with. Strong running by Davis and Tade was causing the visitors some anxious moments but Saints scored in their first foray upfield.
Gary Teale swung a corner into the box and a moment of slackness by the home defence saw Marc McAusland head home virtually unchallenged. Frustration for the home fans as Inverness had started very brightly and all the good early work was undone by a moment of indecision at the back.
Big Steven Thompson was putting himself about and his robust style was causing the home defence some problems in the air as Saints eventually started playing but Inverness were level within ten minutes, but not before Tade missed the first of a number of one-on-ones, pushing the ball just wide of the post and into the side netting.
An excellent goal from neat build up play when Davis crossed for Foran to head into the path of Andrew Shinnie, and he directed a low shot past the helpless Samson from twelve yards. No more than Butcher's boys had deserved.
Esson was called into action near the break as he blocked an effort by Paul McGowan, but Inverness trooped of at half time deservedly back on level terms.
Half Time 1-1
The second half was a continuation of the first one, and Andrew Shinnie was unlucky not to score his second of the game as he surged forward and unleashed a powerful 25 yarder which bounced off the post with Samson well beaten.
Danny Lennon obviously did not like what he was witnessing and made a double substitution with midfielders Thomson and Teale leaving the action, but Inverness still dominated and Tade still missed one-on-ones, but he was definitely proving a handful for the overworked Paisley defence. He pulled yet another one across the face of the goal and left us all wondering if that was going to be the story of the match, but he had the last laugh as he bundled in the ball after Andrew Shinnie had struck the post once more. Not sure if he hit the ball, or the ball hit him, whatever, it ended up in the net and Inverness were in front for the first time with twelve minutes remaining.
Saints realised the game was slipping away from them and came to life in the last ten minutes as they tried to salvage an unlikely point from a game that Inverness should have won at a canter, but too many good opportunities went astray with the industrious Tade the main culprit, but you can't deny his energy and passion for the game.
As Saints pushed for an equaliser an unlikely hero in the shape of David Proctor stood firm and between himself and the rock that is Ross Tokely they mopped up the visitors last remaining hopes of taking a point down the A9, ably assisted by Richie Foran who defended when he was needed.
Saints did put the ball in the net, but their celebrations were brought to an abrupt halt when they eventually spotted the linesman waving his wee flag, what a shame.........not.
Full Time 2-1
One or two players had something to prove to the home fans today and I think they acquitted themselves rather well. David Proctor has had his knockers (ooerr missus) but he came onto a solid game today and made some vital clearances as Saints tried to snatch a point. Gregory Tade is maybe not the most gifted player to have played for Inverness, but his work rate is tremendous and he deserved his goal, although he could also have had a handful of goals, still, he is getting into these positions and hopefully that will come. Ross Tokely did what he does best, cleared his lines and was crucial alongside Proctor at the end, oh how the Saints fans love him.
To be honest there were no failures, maybe Nick Ross was having a quiet game today as he seemed to slip under the radar, but one lad who came good today was Andrew Shinnie, my MotM and also the sponsors MotM, thoroughly deserved and he was unlucky not to score a hat-trick.
This was an important win today as it puts us back in touch with the pack and yes, there does appear to a chink of light at the end of the tunnel.
Match report written by tm4tj
