SAME old Caley .

. . this is at once the opening line to a favourite fitba' round, arranged for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but is also an expression of assurance following the summer of change which was considered to have befallen the Highland club. Antonio Reguero away, Andrew Shinnie making for the Midlands, 11 new players from the murky depths of English football sought as replacements - all had incited a degree of hand-wringing as to how on earth these signings would gel and which, if any, might be able to help replicate the stirring success Inverness enjoyed last term.

That rash of business had been a source of concern but it was salved with exposure to the new SPFL Premiership season. There might have been a number of cosmetic changes made to the playing squad but they did not look much different; St Mirren left defeated by an Inverness side which still resembles last season's. Only two members of the starting XI did not have a hand in the fourth-place finish achieved in the last campaign - goalkeeper Dean Brill and midfielder James Vincent have been drafted in from Luton Town and Kidderminster Harriers respectively - while two of the goals came from Aaron Doran and Billy McKay. There are some things which may never change.

There was much familiar about how St Mirren were forced aside - Inverness moving the ball sharply and with purpose, with McKay darting between defenders and Richie Foran growling at whoever happened to come into view. There was even something recognisable in the habits of Vincent, the midfielder operating in a role similar to that of Shinnie last term and picking passes with the same wit. One early prod had drawn a groan after the 23-year-old seemed to ignore a run by McKay only for the ball to roll deliciously to the feet of Doran, who had crept into the penalty area.

It is a cruelty of football that a new player will find himself compared to whoever he is seen to replace, and Vincent does not possess the same grace or invention as Shinnie and may struggle to match the latter's 16-goal haul from last season. The Englishman still gave a convincing impression of his predecessor, though.

It was enough to fool St Mirren on Saturday. Jim Goodwin, deployed in defence at the weekend, later contended that the Paisley side had "played well" and "competed" but these terms are as unremarkable as the qualities they describe. They are also made to seem a little dull given the sharpness which had been expected from a midfield able to retain an air of dynamism despite the absence of the injured Kenny McLean, Saturday's starting XI having comprised the creativity of Paul McGowan, John McGinn and Gary Harkins.

The latter lacks the pace to burst forward from deeper positions but has still brought an assured touch to his new side and could combine well with St Mirren's moving parts, even if his only real impact at the weekend was on the palms of Brill. That sharp shot had provided a point of concern for the goalkeeper, who is on loan in the Highlands initially for six months, but his gloves were still of greater use keeping out the blustery wind than fending off St Mirren.

Danny Lennon was typically given to be positive about the efforts from his side and it is still too early this season for any of his grander ambitions to become worn out, while he later contested the decision to penalise David Van Zanten for handball which allowed the home side to go ahead through a penalty.

That is a manager's prerogative and will offer some comfort as he attends to his squad ahead of their next league outing, against Kilmarnock on August 17. Yet more serious consideration might be applied to ensuring there is better service passing through wingers Thomas Reilly and Gary Teale, whose drive stalled in Inverness.

It is a familiar practice to find promise in the Paisley side's attacking intentions simply to be frustrated by a reality lacking in goals, something which is exacerbated by the lack of striking options beyond Steven Thompson. Same old . . . etc.