Inverness CT 1-0 St Johnstone

Inverness shrugged off the absence of a manager for the last two weeks and consolidated their second place in the Premiership by beating St Johnstone.

Billy McKay's winner ended Saints' winning run at three games and extended the hosts' own to the same number.

With youth coaches Duncan Shearer and Scott Kellacher temporarily in charge, Inverness created more in an otherwise even game.

And the visitors found it difficult to penetrate in the final third.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle remain five points behind leaders Celtic while St Johnstone slip to sixth.

The first piece of serious action, with less than three minutes on the clock, saw Carl Tremarco burst down the left and fire over a precise cross to McKay.

The Northern Ireland international's athletic volley found the net via the post.

Soon after, Graeme Shinnie spurned the chance of a second when he shot over but St Johnstone were still well in the game with Stevie May and in-particular Nigel Hasselbaink frequently looking dangerous.

Hasselbaink had two penetrating runs, but in both cases his efforts were deflected wide.

However, a tight Caley Thistle defence seriously restricted Saints' scoring opportunities.

At the other end, Saints keeper Alan Mannus did well to get one hand to a McKay shot from a tight angle.

The away team's best chance came when Hasselbaink fed David Wotherspoon but the ever-present Tremarco blocked his 18-yard effort.

In the second period, Ross Draper and Marley Watkins both sent attempts narrowly over for Inverness but the rest of the half drifted largely into anonymity.

The Perth side were awarded a late 19-yard free kick but May's effort, and his shot from the rebound, both crashed into the Inverness wall.

So, as Caley Thistle proceed towards what they hope will be the appointment of a new manager before their Scottish Cup tie at home to Morton on 30 November, the new incumbent can be sure he will inherit a team sitting in a clear second place in Scotland's top flight.