Graham goal earns a pointA late header from substitute Brian Graham earned St Johnstone a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw at home to 10-man Inverness at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.Danny Swanson hit the crossbar early on and Michael O'Halloran missed two good chances either side of half-time before Aaron Doran gave the visitors a second-half lead with an excellent finish.But Graham's late intervention denied Inverness victory and David Raven's late red card for a second yellow card meant they had to endure a nervous few minutes before leaving with a share of the spoils.St Johnstone came close to a spectacular opener inside the first 10 minutesDavid Wotherspoon played a clever corner out to Swanson 20 yards from goal and the winger unleashed a curling right-footed effort which cannoned off the bar.Inverness offered a decent response when a neat passing move ended with Edward Ofere setting up Doran, whose effort drifted past the far post
James Vincent then forced Alan Mannus into action with a well-struck long-range shot.The hosts were in the ascendancy again when a purposeful run and through-ball from Swanson set up Michael O'Halloran, but the attacker's attempt was off-target as a presentable opportunity was wasted.Inverness came close themselves when Vincent found Danny Williams, who fired in a powerful effort from the edge of the area which forced Mannus to dive to his left and push to safety in the visitors' best moment of the opening period.Tommy Wright's men were almost in front within moments of the second half
O'Halloran started a period of sustained pressure with a run and cross from the right and after his team-mates struggled to get a meaningful shot away, he lashed an effort over from six yards when it seemed easier to score following Steven MacLean's knock-down.St Johnstone had squandered the better opportunities and paid the price in the 55th minute when Raven made ground down the right and his cross found its way to an onrushing Doran at the edge of the area
The Irishman showed impressive technique to guide his finish in off the underside of the bar.Inverness threatened to find a second when Josh Meekings' lung-busting run from defence resulted in Ofore finding Doran, who was off-target from the edge of the area.Just as it looked like John Hughes' men were set to secure victory, the Saints found a deserved equaliser with eight minutes remaining
Wotherspoon played in Tam Scobbie down the left and the full-back's pinpoint cross found Graham, who powered a thumping header into the top corner for his ninth league goal of the season.With five minutes to go, Inverness were down to 10 men
Raven had already been booked for dissent in the first half and was given his marching orders after a foul on Swanson earned him a second yellow, but the visitors avoided any further damage
Source : PA
Source: PA