St Johnstone 4 Inverness C.T. 0: How Premiership status was treasured in Perth

Premiership salvation is not something which can be dressed with ribbons or placed on display in that newly bolstered trophy cabinet at McDiarmid Park. It will nevertheless be every bit as treasured as recent cup successes by St Johnstone.

Callum Davidson’s side negotiated a tricky start to score twice in six minutes early in the second half and then completed the job in emphatic fashion with two late goals.

Two cup heroes were instrumental in this stunning turnaround after a goalless opening half. Stevie May got things underway moments after coming on at half-time while Shaun Rooney replicated Callum Hendry’s cheeky chipped finish a couple of minutes earlier to put some real gloss on the scoreline. St Johnstone finally came good when it mattered.

Manager Callum Davidson stuck two fingers up at his critics in the process. A half-time substitution was instrumental in their change of fortunes.

Perhaps May should consider changing his number to 23 in recognition of the date after he graced another big occasion a minute after half-time. He was on hand to sweep in the loose ball after Melker Hallberg’s header had been saved on the line by Mark Ridgers. May had only just come on for Glenn Middleton. There is life yet in a striker who many feared might be gradually fading from the McDiarmid Park scene.

The goal soothed the Saints. Davidson used his eve-of-match press conference to complain about recent decisions going against his side. He cannot argue that they enjoyed some luck here. Cammy MacPherson’s long-range effort deflected off Inverness skipper Sean Welsh and left Ridgers wrong-footed after 52 minutes. St Johnstone were determined to avoid their fate in the first leg on Friday night and let another two-goal lead slip.