Inverness lose David Raven for visit of Motherwell

Inverness defender David Raven will miss Saturday’s crunch visit of Motherwell after manager Terry Butcher decided against appealing his red card.

The right-back was sent off by referee Craig Thomson after 12 minutes for a last-man foul on Rowan Vine in the weekend’s narrow loss at St Johnstone. And Caley Thistle’s resistance was eventually broken in the second half when Steven MacLean nodded in to re-ignite Saints’ own European aspirations.

At the time, Butcher thought Raven’s dismissal was “very, very harsh” but the former England captain concedes, having reviewed the incident, that Thomson called it right.

Butcher said: “Having reviewed all the TV footage available, I have come to the conclusion that the club will not appeal David Raven’s red card against St Johnstone on Saturday.

“I have looked closely at the incident and now believe that the referee, Craig Thomson, was 100 per cent correct in making his decision.”

Butcher will now be without Raven for the weekend in what has become a hugely important match in their bid to wrap up the third Europa League place.

Inverness remain in the driving seat in third place, one and two points ahead of St Johnstone and Highland rivals Ross County respectively.