Caley Thistle finally ended their sequence of seven straight draws as they defeated Partick Thistle 1-0 at Firhill.
Tom Walsh’s stunning strike 19 minutes from time proved the difference, with Inverness goalkeeper Mark Ridgers also playing a huge part in the victory as he saved a penalty from Jags midfielder Blair Spittal just four minutes later.
The result means Caley Jags are now 24 league matches unbeaten, moving them up to fourth in the Championship.
Caley Jags made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Ross County in the previous weekend’s Highland derby, with Riccardo Calder having since been sacked by the club after being found guilty of attacking a woman, while Shaun Rooney was also ruled out with ankle ligament damage. Jamie McCart and Charlie Trafford were the two players drafted in.
Although Partick came into the game on the back of six straight losses, the Maryhill side started strongly, with Jai Quitongo seeing a low shot well saved by Ridgers on 11 minutes following a fine flick from Kris Doolan, who saw an effort blocked by Coll Donaldson moments later.
Inverness had struggled to test the hosts’ rearguard, with their first attempt coming when Liam Polworth’s free kick was well gathered by Cammy Bell, while Thistle threatened once again on 25 minutes when Blair Spittal burst past Trafford and Donaldson before releasing Doolan, whose shot on the turn drifted wide.
Caley Jags’ threatened on the half hour mark as Tom Walsh saw his low drive well beaten away by Bell, however a better chance arrived four minutes later when Walsh’s cross picked out Sean Welsh, but he saw his effort blocked behind by Jags midfielder Craig Slater.
Inverness attacker George Oakley had two headed opportunities to break the deadlock early in the second half, firstly nodding over Walsh’s corner before he directed the winger’s open play delivery wide of target.
The decisive moment of quality arrived on 71 minutes however, with Walsh picking the ball up on the left flank before drifting inside and unleashing a right footed strike which flew into Bell’s top-left corner, with the goalkeeper unable to keep the ball out despite getting a strong hand to it.
Thistle had the ideal chance to level within just four minutes when Trafford was penalised by referee Steven Kirkland for handling inside the box, however Ridgers came to Caley Jags’ rescue as he got down to his left to save Spittal’s low spot kick, before standing tall to block Doolan’s follow-up.
