Butcher hails true grit as Caley climb

Inverness fared better in the heavy rain and strong winds, which led to a scrappy second half lit up by a superb 25-yard winner from Jonny Hayes in the 69th minute.

Some resolute defending protected Caley Thistle’s lead as they jumped above three teams to leave Aberdeen bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Butcher had warned his players after the previous weekend’s 2-1 defeat by Hearts that their futures were on the line if they did not stop conceding soft goals.

And they responded well despite the blow of seeing Steven Thompson cancel out Andrew Shinnie’s opener at the very end of a first half they largely dominated.

“It was a game, under the conditions as well, that we had to grit it out,” Butcher said.

“I was very critical last week of the players about doing enough to get over the line. Sometimes that’s not about passing and playing lovely football but about gritting it.”