FEW understand the character traits under-pinning St Johnstone's relentless success story better than Liam Craig. Fewer still know just how aberrant the brawl between team-mates at Hamilton was given bonds of spirit and friendship running deep in the dressing room.

Midfielder Craig made his landmark 300th appearance in Inverness just a week after Richard Foster and Danny Swanson's extraordinary exchange of blows at New Douglas Park.

If anyone felt the eruption between the players was a sign of hidden fissures in the Perth camp, they would be sorely mistaken, according to Craig. Subsequent victories over Hearts and Inverness have, in fact, re-energised Saints' push for yet another European place.

Now in his second spell and seventh season at McDiarmid Park, the 30-year-old Craig spoke eloquently of his love of life at the club.

"We know what we are at St Johnstone," Craig said. "We know if we don't work hard we won't get anything. But I think sometimes it is overlooked just how much ability there is in the squad because of that hard work and honesty. We wouldn't be in the top six over the last six or seven years without it.

"It's a great team to be a part of and we're just enjoying being in the top six again and still in with a chance of playing European football next season.

"It has been the same core of players over the last few years who've delivered results, week-in, week-out. The manager has brought in two or three to add freshness, but the success has been built on that core squad and the togetherness we have.

"There's a good atmosphere among the players. I think at Hamilton that was our first two red cards of the season last week and it was completely out of character. If it wasn't a good dressing room and team spirit we wouldn't fight as hard as we do for each other. We enjoy training and being in each other's company. It's just a great place to be."

That satisfaction and enjoyment in their work is reflected in Craig's appearances landmark, as well as that of fellow members of the 300-plus club in colleagues like Steven Anderson and Chris Millar.

But while the experienced midfielder was glad to mark his big day with a goal, what mattered most was staying on track for yet another impressive Premiership finish.

"I got my 50th goal against Inverness at home this season, so to mark my 300th game for the club and get a goal is great," Craig said. "But to get the win is even more important. It keeps us five points clear of Hearts. We're in a right good position and there's a real feel-good factor about the club just now.

"We're still looking to catch Rangers and all the pressure is on them. If we don't finish third it won't be the end of the world for us, but they'll be looking at third as the absolute minimum for them. We'll have six games against the top six and that will be a real test for us and one we're looking forward to."

For Inverness, this was an ominous day, leaving them still with only one league win in 21 attempts – and very much on the brink of relegation disaster.

It had started brightly for the Highlanders who held the upper hand through much of the first half without finding that vital cutting edge, with chances eluding strikers Alex Fisher and Billy Mckay.

Then came the latest hammer-blow to fragile confidence as Saints made a 40th-minute breakthrough against the run of play, with Steven MacLean pouncing after home keeper Owain Fon Williams palmed away a Michael Coulson effort.

The hosts lost momentum and belief for a good spell in the second half but the match was only settled as a contest when home midfielder Larnell Cole imploded with two senseless acts of dissent within seconds earning him an 82nd minute red card.

Forced to chase the game with 10 men, chaos ensued for the hosts. Carl Tremarco tripped Graham Cummins in the box and Craig sent Fon Williams the wrong way from the spot.

Rubbing salt in the Inverness wounds, substitute Chris Millar then set up Cummins for the third. Adding to Richie Foran's woes, skipper Gary Warren was red-carded for dissent in the tunnel after the game.

Inverness now sit four points adrift at the foot of the table with six games to play. The boos ringing out in the spring sunshine on Saturday showed supporters' patience is close to snapping.

"We are not stupid - we know the situation," Fisher, who made his first start since September, said. "We know the pressure that's on our shoulders and, truth be told, it's not easy to play freely under pressures like that.

"The manager is frustrated and we're frustrated, and we have to take our share of the responsibility. It's only fair."

Fisher, the former Oxford United, Mechelen and Mansfield Town striker, added: "It seems to be repeating itself quite a lot at the minute. We seem to have good spells in games but we haven't really had clear cut chances, just good sustained pressure.

"Having had the majority of possession in the middle to final third, the first goal was a bit of a low blow. If anything, I felt losing the goal at the end of the first half could have given us a spark to go on and score, but we couldn't and they scored when the game opened up late on.

"It's now a six-game league. We need points and I don't care how we do it. Ultimately, the table shows we're still on 25 points and I can feel the atmosphere in the stadium. It was very disheartening for the supporters but we've just got to crack on and not dwell on it."