St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright hailed his side’s defensive effort in their 3-0 victory over Inverness.
Goals from Liam Craig, Murray Davidson and Danny Swanson earned Saints their first victory in five matches.
It was a second success on home soil in their last four attempts as they bounced back from a 4-2 hammering from Ross County last time out.
Wright said: “It was much better and what pleased me about it was the clean sheet.
“Throughout the game we had to defend a lot of balls into the box, which we dealt with.
“I thought our two centre-halves were magnificent.
“I’m pleased, it was a solid performance. A clean sheet and three goals is a good way to bounce back from the last disappointment we had at home.”
Davidson returned after five weeks out with an ankle injury and, aside from his goal, was instrumental in the win.
Wright added: “Murray hasn’t played one minute, even in the under-20s, but we know he is one of the fittest lads here and he’s one of the only ones we could throw back in like that.
“We thought we needed what he gives us with his physical presence and he can be pleased with how he came back today.”
Inverness boss Richie Foran reckoned his side turned in their worst display of the season as a fourth consecutive defeat saw them drop to the foot of the Premiership table.
But the Caley Thistle chief, who questioned the first of the two bookings that saw skipper Gary Warren sent off in the second half, insisted he knew what was needed to turn things around.
He said: “We have gone from our best performance last week [against Dundee], although we were beaten, to our worst performance of the season.
“Talk about being inconsistent. That is us all over. It sums us up.
“I can see where it is going wrong.
“We probably have too many attack-minded players. We probably need more defensive-minded players.
“I know what I need to change and it will happen.
“I am not going to be too harsh on the players. They are great for me day-in and day-out, but you get paid to perform on a Saturday and they didn’t perform today.
“We are trying to motivate them and they are talking the talk but not walking the walk.”
