Sunday 21 December 2014 15:10, UK
Match-winner Brian Graham insists St Johnstone can extend their winning run after their controversial 1-0 victory over 10-man Inverness CT.
Graham's 62nd-minute penalty was the difference between the two Scottish Premiership teams on Saturday but the spot-kick enraged the Highlanders, who fiercely argued Graham had thrown himself down under Dean Brill's challenge.
Inverness fans saw red again when referee Brian Colvin sent off midfielder Ross Draper just four minutes after the goal.
A third straight 1-0 victory - following the same scoreline against Kilmarnock and St Mirren - stretched St Johnstone's unbeaten run to seven matches, a sequence which has come after they had gone eight games with just one victory, and Graham is thrilled with the turnaround.
The on-loan Dundee United striker said: "We're on a good wee run at the moment.
"We've got to give a bit of credit to the defence as well and ('keeper) Alan Mannus, who was great last week and had a couple of good saves this week.
"We've got a good team spirit at the moment. We went through a wee sticky patch and everybody was writing us off here, there and everywhere.
"But we've shown what we're all about in this wee run we're on and long may it continue."
There was little between the teams for most of the match but St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright rightly claimed his side could lay claim to having had the better chances.
After the penalty and the red card, when Draper was accused of a forearm smash on Lappin, the home side should have been more comfortable.
However, it was 10-man Inverness who came closest to another goal 18 minutes from time but David Raven saw his powerful drive glance off the outside of the post and wide.
The defeat, a week after a shock 4-0 loss at home to Partick Thistle, means Inverness relinquish second spot in the table.
But defender Josh Meekings is optimistic Inverness can respond to the setback when they host Aberdeen on Sunday.
"It is two defeats in a row, which we're not happy with, but we've got to work hard and get back on the training ground and try and put it right over the festive period and into the new year," Meekings said.
"It's obviously going to be a big game (against Aberdeen). It's always nice against Aberdeen, it's a good game, we know they're a good side and they are where they are for a reason."
