Inverness 1-2 St Mirren

Sep 14 2008 Alasdair Fraser Reports

GARRY BRADY fired St Mirren to their first league win of the season - then branded it his side's WORST display so far. The straight-talking midfielder - who smashed in an 80th-minute winner after team-mate Billy Mehmet had cancelled out Adam Rooney's spot-kick opener - hailed the victory as a triumph of team spirit.

For the third season running a fine result against the Highlanders got Gus MacPherson's men up and running in the league campaign.

It left Craig Brewster's Inverness outfit with only one point from three home games despite an otherwise promising start to the season. Brady said: "I have to be honest and admit that was probably our worst performance of the season.

"We certainly weren't up to scratch in the first half compared with the last few games so it's ironic we won.

"We've played well and taken nothing in games this season so maybe we deserved something here.

"And maybe we can now push on."

Saints' togetherness was epitomised by a celebration pile-up that left Brady fearing for his life after scoring.

But the midfielder revealed boss MacPherson had tried to move him OUT of the scoring frontline.

Brady said: "The celebration shows the spirit there is in the side. We knew how important it was.

"I'm not renowned for my goals and the gaffer had changed things in the second half.

"He told me to try and get Andy Dorman into the danger areas through the middle - yet it worked the other way.

"We knew we could play better but sometimes you have to grind it out. We'll enjoy the journey home."

Caley carved out a chance in nine minutes when Richard Hastings on the left fed Ian Black inside.

The midfielder strode forward and drove a 25-yard effort a whisker high.

A loose header from Phil McGuire saw Jim Hamilton lashing just wide at the other end.

The home side were awarded a penalty in 42 minutes when Argentine Franco Miranda rashly chopped down Garry Wood.

Rooney stepped up to send Mark Howard the wrong way for not only his first SPL goal but the 6,000th in the league's history.

Rooney almost made it 2-0 after the restart when the ex-Stoke City man rocketed a 12-yard shot off the bar.

But Saints were level in 61 minutes with the home defence hesitant as Gary Mason flicked on a punt from Mark Howard for Mehmet to prod past keeper Michael Fraser.

The winner came when Saints substitute Stephen McGinn's cross was touched on by Hamilton for Brady to hammer past Fraser.

Saints boss MacPherson said: "We got the breaks today and we have to be grateful for that."

REF WATCH

IAIN BRINES couldn't be blamed for what was a poor match. The Linlithgow whistler did his best to keep the game flowing and kept cards in his pocket until late in the game when he waved deserved yellows at Caley's Ross Tokely for a foul and St Mirren's Mark Howard for time-wasting. Rating: 7/10