St Johnstone 2 - 0 Inverness CT: Impressive Saints continue to climb as McInnes heads for Bristol City talks

ST JOHNSTONE manager Derek McInnes reflected on the progress the club has made during his time in charge after a 2-0 win over Inverness that could prove to be his farewell.

McInnes is poised to hold talks with Bristol City today over their managerial vacancy after St Johnstone gave him permission to speak to the npower Championship side, who currently sit two points adrift at the foot of the table. The former Rangers and West Brom midfielder took over from Owen Coyle four years ago, and quickly led the club to Challenge Cup success and then promotion to the SPL in his first full season.

Saints have comfortably maintained their top-flight status for two years and Saturday’s win, which moved them one point behind Celtic, provided further evidence that they can mount a strong top-six challenge.

Cillian Sheridan and Francisco Sandaza combined brilliantly in the 13th minute for the Spaniard to net his seventh goal of the season following an elaborate one-two.

Saints defended stoutly, with Frazer Wright superb on his return from injury, and they continued to threaten despite losing Sheridan to injury.

His replacement, Marcus Haber, hit the post after a sweeping move in first-half injury-time, and Dave Mackay doubled the lead, firing home in the 65th minute after the visitors failed to clear a Jody Morris cross. Substitute Murray Davidson came off the bench for his first appearance since suffering a knee injury in August and the midfielder helped keep Saints up the park for much of the closing stages.

McInnes was reluctant to speak about leaving McDiarmid Park but knows he will depart with the club in healthy shape should he finalise a deal with Bristol City.

McInnes said: “We’ve been here before with speculation and obviously this is a stage further on in that they have managed to agree something and given me permission to speak. I was also given permission to speak to Brentford but I felt that wasn’t quite right.

“Since we came in a few seasons ago when we were fourth bottom of the First Division, everything is now better about the club. The playing staff is better, the training facilities are better, everything is better. We have taken the club on and I’m excited about the squad of players we have. With a bit of belief, I think we can do very well this season. We have had some good results in the first quarter and I think there is more to come. I’m delighted with the players’ efforts and I think it’s testament to a lot of people that I’m being linked with other jobs.”

McInnes stressed that no final decision had been taken by the Ashton Gate club. “The first decision was the chairman’s to allow me to go and the next decision, if anything is to be done, will be Bristol’s,” he said.

Meanwhile, Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher was perplexed by his side’s toothless performance following their win over St Mirren. “The same team played very well against St Mirren two weeks ago but today they played like 11 strangers that we had picked up on the way down the A9,” he said.