Scottish Premiership: Inverness secure 2-0 victory over St Johnstone

Billy McKay's 10th goal of the season helped Inverness climb to within one point of second-placed Celtic as they eased past St Johnstone at the Caledonian Stadium.

Mckay's goal was supplemented by Marley Watkins' strike before half-time as Inverness recorded a fourth successive win against a St Johnstone side that carried precious little threat all night.

The home side had implemented a pay-what-you-can scheme for the Scottish Premiership game and were rewarded with a healthy crowd of 3,161 on a bitter winter's night on the banks of the Moray Firth. 

Inverness, who had beaten their opponents in their last three visits to the Highlands, did have to withstand a brief flurry of early corners but the pattern of the opening half was quickly set as Danny Williams worked Alan Mannus in the Saints' goal.

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Aaron Doran shot narrowly wide after McKay had fired the ball across the face of the goal and the latter then brought the best out of Mannus with a close-range header.

The visitors saw Michael O'Halloran forced off through injury before the half-hour and minutes later Inverness' positive start earned its reward with the opening goal in the 34th minute.

The St Johnstone defence were unable to clear a deep cross and Graeme Shinnie was able to pick out McKay who could not miss from four yards.

A tremendous first-time cross from Carl Tremarco then eluded the over-worked Mannus and fell perfectly for Watkins to calmly slot into an empty net in the 41st minute.

The one-sided pattern continued in the second half as Mannus blocked Doran's effort and McKay saw his follow-up deflected over the bar.

The beleaguered Saints lost Frazer Wright as he hobbled off before Gary Miller blasted a left-footed effort over the crossbar in a rare threat to Dean Brill's goal, but the home side were able to stroll to the final whistle.