Connor Bell and Iain Vigurs give Caley Thistle victory over Dundee United
CALEY Thistle won only their second game of the Ladbrokes Championship season with an impressive 2-0 victory at Dundee United.
First half goals from Iain Vigurs and Connor Bell had John Robertson's side cruising and they were unlucky not to add to this, which was their first league triumph since crushing Brechin 4-0 in late August.
This fine win on Tayside took ICT into eighth spot, within one point of Dumbarton and to within eight points of United, who are fourth.
The hosts came into this one on the back of a 2-0 loss and Livingston and coming into the starting 11 came Scott McDonald and Sam Stanton, while ICT were unchanged from their goalless draw the week before at Falkirk.
The Highlanders arrived in Dundee with just one league win from their opening round of fixtures and in the relegation play-off berth and in desperate need of a victory.
Although they didn’t beat Falkirk, they deserved to and will have taken heart from the performance.
United started well and Stanton forced an early corner after his drive was deflected past the left post, although the delivery was then defended well enough.
At the other end, a sweeping free-kick from Liam Polworth was met by Carl Tremarco, but the defender’s header was gathered by keeper Harry Lewis.
Inverness CT striker John Baird was not far off the mark with his header as he nodded a Polworth corner over from 10 yards after 10 minutes.
Brad Mckay was booked by referee Willie Collum on 16 minutes for a poorly timed tackle on James Keatings and from the free-kick 20 yards out Keatings drew a save from Mark Ridgers.
Inverness CT replied though and Jake Mulraney saw his drive saved by Lewis.
Caley Thistle got their noses in front after 28 minutes when stand-in skipper Vigurs drilled the ball through bodies and into the net after Willo Flood failed to clear another corner from Polworth.
What a great position for the visitors, who did everything but score seven days ago.
United almost hit back in the next move but Ridgers superbly kept out a McDonald shot.
However, the advantage was doubled on 37 minutes when a fine Mulraney run took him to the edge of the box and he lined up Bell for a simple tap-in.
That sparked boos from the home supporters and Vigurs almost added another moments later, but Lewis was equal to it.
Early in the second half, Joe Chalmers had a pop at goal from distance, but again Lewis held it.
Then Vigurs had an attempt from a free-kick 25 yards from goal, but it had too much height to trouble United.
The one-way traffic continued and Lewis saved a low drive from Tremarco as he met a Mulraney delivery on 54 minutes.
Inverness CT were thoroughly in control and Lewis needed to be alert to keep out a near post Vigurs header that he got on target when met a Polworth corner.
Mulraney was then stopped in his tracks by a brilliant William Edjenguele tackle as he broke on to a Polworth pass as they pressed for a third one.
Keatings almost got United into it with a long range free-kick, but it dipped just over the top on 68 minutes.
However, that was the final main chance and ICT headed north more than satisfied with their work here. It was also their fourth successive clean sheet.
Caley Thistle face another testing tussle in the Championship next week when they host Dunfermline Athletic, who beat them 5-1 earlier in the season.
DUNDEE UNITED: Lewis; Durnan, Toshney, McMullan (Murdoch, 60), McDonald, Stanton (Fraser, 76), Edjenguele, Flood, Robson, Keatings, Fyvie (King, 52). Subs not used: Mehmet, Scobbie, N'koyi, Smith.
CALEY THISTLE: Ridgers; Raven, Tremarco, Chalmers, Polworth, Baird, Vigurs (Oakley, 87), Mulraney (Cooper, 74), Bell (Trafford, 82), Mckay, Donaldson. Subs not used: Esson, Warren, Elsdon, Mackay.
Referee: W Collum.
Attendance: 5560.