IT WAS a match billed as a battle between two men courted in vain by Dundee United. Wanted Tommy Wright and John Hughes may have been before Mixu Paatelainen's appointment, but it was two teams who were found sorely wanting in Inverness.

Both the Caley Thistle and Perth manager have proud records, having guided unfancied squads to cup triumphs and European football.

Those great achievements seemed a million miles away yesterday, though, in a game dismally bereft of inspiration before a late penalty award secured the points for 10-man St Johnstone.

Right at the death, with almost three minutes of stoppage time played, substitute Liam Craig was brought crashing by a clumsy challenge from Danny Devine in the box. The victim stuck it away himself with confidence to move Saints to sixth in the table.

After the dust settled, Wright revealed he had apologised for a furious rant at the fourth official over captain David Mackay's red card early in the second period.

The Northern Irishman re-assessed his initial instinctive reaction, but still felt the incident might have been dealt with more leniently by referee Don Robertson.

It certainly initially looked a harsh call on Mackay as the two combatants clattered into a 50-50 challenge, but video footage later showed Mackay's leg was straight and raised as he went for ball with Carl Tremarco.

"I gave the fourth official a lot of stick because I thought it was a poor decision, but having seen it back I've gone in and apologised to him," Wright admitted.

"I can see why the referee has given it but I think, with the pace that Dave has gone in, maybe on another day the ref could have given him a yellow.

"But I don't think we can appeal it because there isn't enough in there to give us a case.

"I don't think there was any real intent in it but his foot was slightly high even though he did get some of the ball.

"Maybe the reaction of the player as well influences the referee."

Wright was thrilled to end Saints' poor run of four straight defeats and six games without a win in Inverness, but admitted the match was dismal.

"In the whole game we worked hard but particularly when going down to 10 men. I can't remember Alan Mannus being under any real pressure," he said.

"So it was more like us in terms of a defensive performance.

"Unfortunately it took us going down to 10 men to get us going but there was a lot of character in there and a lot of desire to stop the opposition.

"I make no apologies for it but it was a terrible game of football, but we had to get something out of it and we stayed in the game."

Craig was dropped after defeat to Partick as one of three changes Wright made, but was to play his part at the death.

Home manager John Hughes had nine first team players missing and only five fit for the bench.

The two teams seemed to cancel each other out with only occasional flickers of invention and guile.

Ryan Christie showed flashes of skill for the hosts and was unlucky with a couple of creative contributions, including a clever pass that had Tremarco in on goal only for Michael O'Halloran to make a saving tackle.

The hosts looked set to benefit on a greater share of possession early in the second half as David Mackay clattered through Carl Tremarco for the red card.

But if anything, the Perth visitors gained more attacking threat as the game progressed culminating in the winning moment.

Substitute Craig surged into the home box with two minutes' added time played and was brought crashing by Danny Devine.

Craig then made no mistake with a confident spot-kick to move saints into the top half of the table. The game itself was worse than forgettable.

"It was a lack of concentration in the last couple of minutes," Inverness manager John Hughes said.

"I felt at 11 v 11 we were well on top and dominated, although I would have liked to create more chances.

"We weren't as good in the second half as we were in the first, but we were still probing.

"Losing the goal in the last minute is disappointing but playing against 10 men we have to test their goalkeeper more."

INVERNESS CT (4-2-3-1) - Fon Williams; Raven, Devine, Meekings, Tremarco; Tansey, Polworth (Sutherland 87); Vincent, Christie, Williams (Vigurs 70); Storey. Subs: Esson, Wedderburn, Horner.

Booking: Meekings 85, Devine 90

ST JOHNSTONE (4-4-2) - Mannus; Shaughnessy, Mackay, Anderson, Scobbie; O'Halloran (Kane 78), Davidson, Fisher, Lappin; Maclean (Craig 70), Cummins (Easton 53). Subs: Clark, Sutton, Caddis, Kane, Craig, Thomson.

Booked: Lappin 66

Red card: Mackay 46

Referee: Don Robertson.