Caley Thistle will play European football for the first time next season following their 1-0 win at Dundee this afternoon.
Edward Ofere’s early header was enough to secure all three points and a third place finish for the Highlanders in a scrappy, uninspiring encounter at Dens Park.
But the performance will not matter one bit to manager John Hughes, his players or the club’s supporters, who can now look forward to playing in the Europa League in July.
Hughes made one change to the team which beat Dundee United 2-1 on Tuesday with Ryan Christie restored to the starting line-up in place of James Vincent, who dropped to the bench.
Dundee manager Paul Hartley made three changes to the side which lost 5-0 at Celtic in their last outing with goalkeeper Kyle Letheren replacing the injured Scott Bain. Paul McGowan, who was unable to play due to his curfew and the suspended Greg Stewart were both restored to the starting 11 in place of Simon Ferry and Alex Harris.
The Dark Blues were keen to make amends for their Parkhead mauling and they started the game on the front foot with Luka Tankulic going close from distance but Caley Jags stunned the home side when they took the lead with their first effort on goal.
A short corner to Greg Tansey ended with the midfielder flighting an enticing cross into the box which was headed past Letheren by Nigerian attacker Eddie Ofere for his fifth goal for the club.
Dundee continued to threaten the Inverness goal with Stewart seeing his header cleared off the line in acrobatic fashion by Danny Devine before Ryan Esson turned his 22 yard free kick around the post as the Dark Blues pushed for a leveller.
The equalising goal the home side craved should have come within seconds of the second half getting underway as Tankulic played in Jim McAlister but the midfielder’s effort trundled harmlessly into Esson’s arms.
That was the only chance of note in a poor second period until Esson made a terrific save 10 minutes from time to keep out James McPake’s low header, diving low to his left to turn the ball past the post.