JIM GOODWIN is convinced it is written in the stars that St Mirren will be involved in a final-day shoot-out for Premiership survival, after the Saints nine-month agony for a home league win was extended further on Saturday.
Goodwin, who netted his first goal of the season as Saints almost snatched a point at the death, said: "It's going to go all the way, there is no doubt about it. It's going to go right down to the last game of the season. There's ourselves, Motherwell and Ross County, and even Partick might get drawn back in if we can win a game or two and they don't. So it's going to be exciting stuff for the neutrals.
"Whoever has got the most togetherness, team spirit and character and the team that shows those traits will get out of it. I think we have got plenty of that in our dressing room. Today was an off day. It was disappointing not to back up the Partick game with a good performance, but it wasn't to be and we have to be realistic, Inverness are a team at the top end of the table and they deserve to be there on that showing, they are a really good side."
But Goodwin well knows that the catalyst to Saints top tier survival is to finally achieve that allusive home victory. Just two draws and 12 defeats at St Mirren Park this campaign is weighing heavily against their chances.
"We are desperate to get it," added Goodwin. "I remember Partick Thistle last year, although I'm not sure their's went on as long as ours, but there is definitely a little bit of nervousness setting it, even with the crowd."
John Hughes' Caley made a magnificent start taking the lead after just three minutes. Captain Graeme Shinnie got in behind the Saints defence down the left and took a return pass from the outstanding teenager Ryan Christie before cutting the ball to Greg Tansey. The midfielder, with time and space, sent a first time shot soaring high into the net from 16-yards.
Goodwin went on: "Losing the goal straight away the fans were thinking, here we go again. It was important we stayed in the game early doors but we didn't do that unfortunately. We have to go out there and roll our sleeves up."
Any thoughts that Saints were finally going to get that illusive first three points in the league at home this term were ended on the hour mark when David Raven sliced open the static Saints defence for Christie to run on with pace, and with the composure of a seasoned pro, clinically passed the ball beyond goalkeeper Mark Ridgers into the net from 12 yards.
Saints threw themselves a lifeline in 69 minutes when Stevie Mallan curled in a corner from the right for Jim Goodwin to launch himself at the ball and head through a ruck of players into the net.
It was backs to the wall for Caley in the final 15 minutes, as Saints piled on the pressure in a desperate attempt to salvage a point, but the Inverness rearguard, led by Gary Warren, held firm.
Warren said: "We're still in a cup competition and have a very good chance in that. But for us our focus is on the league and we're in a position where we want to try and finish as high as we can. Top three is a definite possibility. We've come a long way in the last few years. To get where we are now we'd be very disappointed not to finish in the top three. For a side like Inverness to get into Europe would be a tremendous achievement."
It might have been different for Caley, who have now gone eight games without defeat, but for two shocking headers off target late on, from good goal scoring positions, by Marc McAusland, which cost Saints not just a point, but the chance to finally get that first home league win since last May.
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