In some ways this was similar to Sunday. Esmael Goncalves opened the scoring, Caley Thistle equalised right at the end of the first half then Thompson got the winner with his 14th of the season and seventh goal in as many games. But in so many other ways it was different. The visitors bossed the second half and our goal was totally against the run of play. Perhaps that was to be expected after the physical and mental effort that went into the win over Celtic. The performance didn't matter, the result did. We won - our first over Caley Thistle since Boxing Day 2010 – and that's all that counts.
Results elsewhere mean we're still 11th, but we're just nine points off second! Dundee lost so we are now 14 points clear of them with twice as many as their tally so relegation hopefully shouldn't be an issue. Hopefully we can build on this result and keep racking up points - although we must have one of the highest totals for an 11th placed SPL side at this stage of the season for some time.
After Sunday's exertions it wouldn't have been a huge surprise to see whole scale changes to the Saints side. Instead there was just one as Kenny McLean returned from injury and went straight back into the team. John McGinn, who had been outstanding at Hampden, was rather unfortunate to be the man dropped to the bench. Caley Thistle had the prolific Billy McKay in attack with Andrew Shinnie offering support from midfield and Danny Devine handed a debut in defence.
We all marvel at Graham Carey's set-piece taking ability when he doesn't blooter it into the stands but Caley Thistle seem to have their own player who likes having a go from a silly distance. Step forward Owain Tudur Jones, who must have been about 40 yards out when he decided to chance his arm with a free-kick. It was a good hit too, Craig Samson palming it over the bar as it threatened to dip over. He then made an easier save from McKay's header before we had a chance, Gary Teale pulling the ball back for Thompson only for a visiting defender to block his shot. Conor Newton's attempt to rattle home the loose ball was comfortably kept out by Antonio Reguero before he was properly called into action when McLean's shot stung his palms, Marc McAusland just failing to head home the resultant corner. He got rather more on a good delivery from Graham Carey but once again the ball went agonisingly wide.
McKay had another header easily saved by Samson before we had the opener. While we wouldn't have minded too much if Goncalves didn't score again after his goal on Sunday he made sure it wasn't an issue midway through the half, taking a delightful lobbed pass from McGowan down on is chest and then firing past Reguero to mark his home debut with a goal. The Caley Thistle defenders had appealed for offside but there was never any doubt he was on, having been a good couple of yards behind the backline before McGowan played his excellent pass. For god sake don't sell him before the end of tomorrow!
We were looking a real threat in attack with Teale and Goncalves causing the visiting defence a few problems, while Caley Thistle also looked more than capable of finding an equaliser. The Saints support were incensed when their new hero forced his way past Graeme Shinnie and then took a tumble, the officials deciding Goncalves hadn't been fouled in or out of the box. Thompson then shot straight at Reguero when he met Carey's cross. Caley Thistle also had a penalty appeal a minute before half-time when Foran hit the deck after a challenge from Newton and incredibly this time it was given. It looked even more dubious than ours but McKay wasn't complaining, atoning somewhat for his howlers on Saturday by sending Samson the wrong way from the spot to level things up at the break.
Half-time saw a change as Lee Mair came on for McAusland and while we started brightly, Caley Thistle almost scored when Andrew Shinnie was given too much space but his shot went over via the head of a Saints defender. Whether through tiredness, poor play or just being up against a better side we were in danger of being over run at the back, too many passes going astray and Aaron Doran having great joy down our right. Samson wasn't tested much by a Josh Meekings header but we looked to be in trouble as Andrew Shinnie got through, thankfully the linesman's flag going up for offside.
A change was needed but whether putting Lewis Guy on for Goncalves was the right one is debatable. The forward was tiring but we really needed to tighten things up, which perhaps explains why McGinn replaced McLean with 20 minutes left. We were still struggling and got lucky when McKay danced away from a Mair challenge and pulled the ball back for Foran, whose shot seemed destined for the top corner before Samson pulled off a terrific stop. The ball looked to have gone out of play before McKay had got to it, Samson making this point to the linesman as he ran to gather things up after his save. We did manage a shot thanks to some nice play and we looked to have unlocked the defence as McGinn and Newton combined to release Carey. It was crying out to be drilled across goal for Thompson or Guy but instead he opted to shoot and put it over.
How many times have I written in match reports that we're on top, creating chances and then concede? Well, tonight it was our turn for some smash and grab. With 10 minutes to go Newton fired in a ball from the right and Thompson somehow got to it before the Caley Thistle defence. His header was far from powerful but Reguero was rather slow to react and the ball found the net with the help of the post. Deserved? Absolutely not - but it was something to cling on to.
And that's what we managed - almost extending our lead when Reguero beat away an effort from Newton. As Caley Thistle made subs in a bid to get back into things Foran's header was saved by Samson but that was close as they got. A rather fortuitous victory, sure, but one that we desperately needed. All the signs are that our players will focus properly on the league ahead of their big day out - and that can only be a good thing.
Follow Mirren Mad on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mirrenmad
Follow Mirren Mad on Twitter @mirren_mad or http://www.twitter.com/mirren_mad