St Mirren 2-1 Inverness CT

Miranda made a flying start to his St Mirren career

St Mirren held on in driving rain for their first points of the season after Franco Miranda got his St Mirren career off to a flying start.

Inverness had created a number of chances before the young Argentinian struck 19 minutes into his debut.

Mark Corcoran doubled Saints' lead after 55 minutes before Don Cowie sparked an Inverness fightback.

John Rankin's snap-shot fizzed inches wide with 10 minutes to go as Saints hung on desperately for the win.

Interview: St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson

Interview: Inverness assistant manager Donald Park

Miranda made his St Mirren debut after his protracted move from Swedish side Helsingborgs.

But former Inverness striker Craig Dargo has still to make his first start for the Buddies - a knee injury prevented him from facing his old teammates.

Both sides tried to play passing football despite the incessant rain, and Inverness had more of a cutting edge in the opening stages.

Rankin had an excellent chance to give the visitors the lead inside the first five minutes when a Richard Hastings cross fell for him inside the box but Gary Mason blocked his effort.

Rankin then set up Cowie 20 yards out but he sliced his snap-shot just wide.

However, Saints took the lead against the run of play with their first shot at goal in the 19th minute through debutant Miranda.

Hugh Murray's crossfield ball was missed by Ross Tokely and Miranda chested it down and fired a right-footed shot inside Michael Fraser's near post.

Inverness' Romanian striker Marius Niculae almost responded with a long-range effort that Smith saved well and at the other end Corcoran forced a save from Fraser when he cut in from the right.

Smith pulled off a superb save in the 30th minute.

Niculae chested a long ball down for Bayne whose powerful strike from 20 yards was parried wide by the Saints goalkeeper to maintain St Mirren's slender lead.

Both sides played decent football in difficult conditions

Caley Thistle continued to look threatening on the break but couldn't make the breakthrough, with the lively Niculae sending a difficult volley high over the bar.

And Inverness were punished for their slack finishing when Mark Corcoran grabbed his first goal of the season on 55 minutes.

Kean chased a lost cause down the right flank and set up Corcoran in the box for an easy tap in.

But three minutes later Caley Thistle gave themselves a lifeline when Niculae delivered a precision cross for Cowie to slide the ball home from close range.

Caley Thistle had their tails up and pressed for an equaliser.

St Mirren should have secured the win with just over 20 minutes to go.

Murray set up Kean in the visitors box but the striker missed the target with a downward header when it looked easier to score.

Rankin's left-footed strike after 80 minutes fizzed inches past the post as Saints held on desperately.

In the dying minutes, Kean once again spurned a glorious opportunity to wrap up the win.

He rounded Fraser in the Inverness box but hesitated when all he had to do was walk the ball into the empty net and the chance was gone.

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St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, McCay, Potter, Haining, Mason, Murray, Brittain (Reid 63), Miranda (Mehmet 63), Corcoran, Kean (Burke 90). Subs Not Used: Howard, Brady, Barron, McGinn.

Booked: Potter.

Goals: Miranda 19, Corcoran 55.

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Hastings (Wilson 70), Munro, McCaffrey, Black (Wyness 82), Duncan, Cowie, Rankin, Niculae, Bayne. Subs Not Used: Ridgers, McBain, McAllister, Sutherland, McDonald.

Goals: Cowie 58.

Att: 3,309Ref: W Collum (Scotland).