Dundee Utd 0-2 Inverness CT: Hughes dedicates win to fans

John Hughes dedicated Inverness Caledonian Thistle's win over Dundee United to fans after his side failed to make the Premiership's top six.

Goals from Miles Storey and Iain Vigurs gave the Highlanders the three points and pushed United closer to the drop.

After reaching third and winning the Scottish Cup last year, Hughes admits 2015-16 has been a disappointment.

"That one was for the supporters," Hughes told BBC Scotland. "The supporters have had a hard season,"

The Inverness manager pointed to the loss of key players for his side's failure to secure another top-half finish.

He cited the loss of Graeme Shinnie, Edward Ofere, Billy Mckay, Ryan Christie and Marley Watkins, who have all moved on from the Highlanders.

"They were all players who played every week," said Hughes.

"You try and get on with it then at the start of the season the skipper Gary Warren breaks his leg, Aaron Doran has not played for us this year, Dean Brill is out injured, and we've been battered upside down with injuries.

"But we just need to roll on, we can't feel sorry for ourselves."

'Wouldn't back against United'

Inverness never looked in any danger of losing to struggling United, but Hughes believes Mixu Paatelainen can still achieve safety with the Scottish Cup semi-finalists, despite them falling eight points adrift at the bottom of the table following Kilmarnock's win over St Johnstone.

"Absolutely delighted with the performance," added Hughes. "When we get like that we're okay. It's the consistency of performance - we need that every week.

"I don't think Dundee United are the worst team in the league. They just need to stick together. Maybe the Cup is a distraction that they don't want.

"But Mixu's team - I wouldn't back against them. As long as we keep winning and stay well out of the way then I wish them all the best."