Caley Thistle were defeated 1-0 by leaders St Mirren at Paisley, with the match yet again dominated by controversy.
Inverness had trailed by a solitary goal at the break, following Gavin Reilly’s breakthrough midway through the first-half, however John Robertson’s men looked to have equalised when Liam Polworth’s cross-come-shot appeared to have crossed the line before being beaten clear by goalkeeper Craig Samson, however referee Willie Collum and assistant Sean Carr made no award.
It follows three straight matches in which Caley Jags had been reduced to 10 men, which prompted manager John Robertson to express his unhappiness at being harshly treated by referees in midweek.
Robertson made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Livingston on Tuesday. Iain Vigurs was ruled out through suspension, while Coll Donaldson, Jake Mulraney and George Oakley also dropped out. Carl Tremarco was back from a suspension of his own, while John Baird was also recalled, and there was also a first start for striker Nathan Austin. The fourth reinforcement was David Raven, with the right back drafted in to make his final appearance before departing the Highlanders.
Caley Jags were forced to make an early change, with Austin’s first start proving short-lived as he was forced off with a hamstring injury just nine minutes in, replaced by Oakley.
Saints were the first to produce an attempt at goal on 12 minutes, with winger Lewis Morgan testing Mark Ridgers with a low drive from the edge of the box.
Morgan was making his first appearance since his move to Celtic, which saw him loaned back to the Buddies, and he was clearly full of confidence with a surging run down the left which saw him set up Cammy Smith, whose shot was blocked by Gary Warren before Kyle Magennis lashed over.
Inverness’ first effort came on 21 minutes, when a long pass by Doran set up Baird, but his swivelled shot drifted wide. Baird had another attempt moments later, seeing his powerful effort from the edge of the box deflected over.
Caley Jags fell behind on 26 minutes however, as Stephen McGinn played in Smith whose delivery from the right found Reilly, and he steadied himself before unleashing a high shot that beat Mark Ridgers at his near post.
Caley Jags looked to find a way back into the match, with Baird setting up Doran for a low shot that was easily gathered by Craig Samson, however Saints came within inches of a second goal when Stelios Demetriou’s looping shot from the left struck the crossbar.
Inverness emerged strongly after the interval, and were close to a leveller when Liam Polworth’s short corner picked out Raven who in turn found Doran, but his low drive brushed the side-netting.
Caley Jags were even closer to an equaliser on 51 minutes, when Polworth’s mis-hit cross looked to have crossed the line after clipping the inside of the post, before Samson clawed it away, however assistant referee Carr was unmoved.
Inverness continued to pile on the pressure, with McKay seeing his header from another Polworth corner comfortably held by Samson, while at the other end Ian McShane saw his shot deflected wide as Saints pushed for a second.
Caley Jags spurned a glorious opportunity to level on 73 minutes, when Polworth picked out the run of Tremarco down the left, with his cross picking out Oakley eight yards out, but the Englishman shooting straight at Samson first-time.
There was still time for Inverness to threaten, with Connor Bell seeing his powerful near post drive saved by Samson after receiving a delivery from fellow substitute Jake Mulraney wide on the right.
Oakley saw a header flash wide from Tremarco’s delivery, but there was to be no breakthrough for the visitors.
