Caley closing in on European spot

Inverness are just one win away from playing European football next season following their 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Dundee United on Tuesday night.John Hughes' side need to beat Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday to seal continental qualification for the first time in their history.A goal from Edward Ofere and a wonder-strike from Danny Williams cancelled out Robbie Muirhead's opener, giving Inverness a seven-point cushion over United and St Johnstone with nine points to play for.Caley Thistle made two changes from the side that drew with St Johnstone on Saturday as David Raven was suspended and Aaron Doran dropped to the bench, with Danny Devine and Ross Draper coming in.The visitors were unchanged from the side that beat Aberdeen, with Muirhead and Nadir Ciftci continuing in attack.James Vincent saw a shot blocked inside the first minute for Caley, who played Josh Meekings at right-back with Devine in the centre.Devine was at fault for the opening goal as his back pass to Ryan Esson got caught in surface water. Esson slid in to clear from Ciftci but Muirhead had an open goal to shoot into from 40 yards, which he found with aplomb.United continued to pressure Inverness and a floated cross from Muirhead kissed the crossbar before the home side could scramble clear.The visitors were adapting to the conditions far quicker than Caley Thistle and squeezed them at the back. A Muirhead free-kick wrapped low around the wall which Esson did well to parry away from his far post.Opportunities were proving hard to fashion for Inverness, with Gary Warren seeing a header blocked and Greg Tansey whistling an effort over, but no one was testing Radoslaw Cierzniak.Muirhead was looking lively for the visitors and Ciftci, as expected, proved a nuisance. The Turkish forward skipped past Devine nine minutes before the break and was only denied a shot at goal by Draper's superb block.Inverness finally got themselves back into the game after 40 minutes as Ofere got his fifth goal for the club. Williams slotted in Marley Watkins and he unselfishly squared to the Nigerian striker, who had an open goal to finish into.The goal sparked the hosts into life and Williams rattled in a goal fit to win any game. Graeme Shinnie's cross was headed away from Vincent to Williams, who chested and volleyed an unstoppable strike past Cierzniak.In the same vein in which they finished the first half, Caley Thistle started out on top again in the second. Meekings made another spectacular charge forward before Watkins drilled a cross to Ofere, who failed to turn in at the back post.Watkins had two chances himself to add to the lead, both set up by Williams, as he glanced a header wide and failed to beat the offside trap when played in.Going behind had killed off United, who were struggling to create anything and had their hands full with Watkins and Williams.Substitute Henri Anier saw a late effort blocked by Warren but ultimately, United were second best and will now face a huge clash with St Johnstone at the weekend.