St Johnstone 1-1 Inverness CT

St Johnstone fought back against Inverness with Brian Graham's towering header earning a vital point to leave the race for Europe unresolved.

Inverness had gone ahead when David Raven's cross was knocked out to Aaron Doran, whose shot went in off the bar.

Danny Swanson had gone close early on for the home side with a wonderful curling effort which beat Ryan Esson but cracked off the bar.

In the closing stages, David Raven was dismissed for a second booking.

Scottish Cup finalists Inverness, who are third in the Premiership, are now four points clear of Dundee United and St Johnstone.

Third place will secure a Europa League qualifying spot next season but the Highlanders may achieve that through the cup and thus send the fourth-placed side into Europe as well.

Bitterly cold conditions seemed to suppress creativity early on, other than the invention of Swanson.

St Johnstone rolled the ball to the former United winger in space at the edge of the box and he measured a wonderful curling effort that smacked the goal frame.

Doran temporarily gave Inverness the lead

Chances were scarce in that first half but Doran fired a warning of what would follow when he lofted an effort over from a tight angle.

Michael O'Halloran tried to raise the temperature when he outpaced Warren, only too see his rushed effort sail high and wide.

Inverness struggled to penetrate the St Johnstone rearguard but Danny Williams almost found the answer with a blistering long-range effort which Alan Mannus palmed to safety.

St Johnstone started the second half brightly and Steven MacLean and O'Halloran both had close-range chances to put the hosts ahead, the latter particularly wasteful when blasting over from a few yards.

John Hughes' side capitalised on that profligacy when Raven's cross eventually found its way to Doran, who arrived at speed to finish with composure.

The flow of the game was interrupted by a series of yellow cards but St Johnstone found a way back into the game.

Substitute Graham positioned himself around the six-yard box and Tam Scobbie's delivery was inch perfect, allowing the striker to power his header home beautifully.

Tommy Wright's side were further encouraged when Raven was ordered off for a second yellow card, leaving Inverness exposed.

The visitors saw the match out, though, and earned a point which may prove crucial in their quest for a European place.

However, they have still not won a league game since mid-February.

Raven's match finished early