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Butcher takes heart from Caley Thistle spirit Inverness manager Terry Butcher claims there is a "Blitz" spirit at the club as the Highlanders go in search of a top-six place this weekend.

Caley Thistle twice upset the odds against Hearts last weekend - firstly to get the game on after torrential rain in northern Scotland and then to claim a 1-0 win over the Edinburgh side despite numerous changes being forced upon Butcher by injuries.

They go into the game against St Mirren at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium lying 10th in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League but just two points behind Dundee United in sixth, and have been boosted by the arrival of striker Sam Winnall on loan from Wolves for the rest of the season.

Butcher is impressed by the growing strength of the squad, and the general sense of unity around the club.

"It was a club win (over Hearts) more than anything else because everybody chipped in to get the game on and it was wonderful to see," the former England defender said.

Making a surprising analogy, Butcher added: "I never lived through the Blitz but I imagine it would be like that - everyone mucked in and if there was a job to do, they did it. Right from the word `go' everyone had a fantastic attitude and over the 90 minutes we thoroughly deserved it." Butcher could keep faith with a winning line-up.

Caley Thistle lined up with an unaccustomed back four of Steve Williams, Josh Meekings, David Proctor and Kenny Gillet against Hearts but emerged 1-0 winners to stand two points adrift of a top-six place.

Butcher's injury problems have eased slightly with Aaron Doran back in training after a shoulder injury, while the club have brought in striker Sam Winnall on loan from Wolves until the end of the season.

Defender Roman Golobart (ankle) and midfielder Andrew Shinnie (foot) remain sidelined.

St Mirren boss Danny Lennon bemoaned the loss of star midfielder Kenny McLean, who was ruled out for six weeks on Thursday after breaking his collarbone.

The Scotland Under-21 cap, named Clydesdale Bank Premier League young player of the month for October, 2011, sustained the injury at training and was immediately taken to hospital where an X-ray confirmed his fears.

Ahead of the trip to Inverness, Lennon admitted the blow of losing the highly-rated 20-year-old to Press Association Sport.

"It is very disappointing," he said. "Kenny has been doing terrifically well for us and he will be a sad loss over the period he misses.

Inverness CT vs St Mirren

Last modified 17:37 28/01/12

All square at Caley Inverness new-boy Claude Gnakpa went closest to scoring in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against St Mirren but was unable to prevent the match finishing in the Highland Capital's first goalless draw for nearly three years.

The Frenchman, who only signed for Caley Thistle on Friday, entered the fray with 25 minutes to go and almost bagged the winner with a low shot which smacked the inside of the post.

St Mirren's Steven Thompson was the visitors' most threatening influence as both teams continued to chase a coveted top-six berth.

It was the first 0-0 draw at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium since Celtic travelled north in February 2009 - and the first scoreless game Inverness have been involved in since January last year.

The stalemate extended Caley Thistle's unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

It also left Inverness and St Mirren still locked in a five-team mid-table pile-up in the chase for the top six.

Winger Gnakpa and loan man Sam Winnall - who signed on Thursday - were named on the bench, while injured loan defender Steve Williams was replaced by Ross Tokely in the only change to the side which beat Hearts 1-0 last week.

St Mirren made one switch from to the team who lost 2-0 at home to Celtic last time out, with captain Steve Thomson in for Kenny McLean.

Inverness started brightly as they aimed to leapfrog St Mirren in the table with Shane Sutherland shooting wide early on.

But the early pressure failed to produce anything significant and the visitors almost made them pay when Thompson's low shot was blocked by keeper Ryan Esson.

Jonny Hayes - who has been linked with a move to Celtic - showed his attacking intent by setting up Greg Tansey, who ballooned his shot over the bar.

Esson was equal to Thompson's flicked header when he connected with Graham Carey's cross and moments later Paul McGowan shot wide.

Carey's angled shot from 30 yards flashed past the post after taking a deflection on the half-hour mark.

Hayes continued to be Inverness' only real livewire, the Irishman weaving past challengers in midfield before dragging a shot wide.

Carey shot over from around 20 yards and Thomson forced another save from Esson with a powerful header as St Mirren created the lion's share of the chances.

Kenny Gillet squandered the hosts' best opportunity of the half when he fired wide after Nick Ross' shot was blocked.

Gregory Tade was at the centre of the action after the break.

The Frenchman broke forward and sent a dangerous cross through a crowded penalty area before failing to connect with a Richie Foran cross that was palmed away by Craig Samson.

The 25-year-old then missed from four yards when he stretched to meet a Hayes cross only to guide the ball inches wide.

St Mirren weathered the storm for Carey to send a 30-yard free-kick just wide.

Impressive interplay between Tade and Foran opened up a chance for the Irishman but his shot from outside the box cleared the stand.

Marc McAusland's header was comfortably saved by Esson after Carey's set-up.

Gnakpa - who has signed a short-term deal until the end of the season after leaving Walsall - replaced Sutherland after 64 minutes.

McGowan missed a gilt-edged chance after a lay-off from Thompson with Esson easily gathering his lacklustre shot.

Tokely's header from a Hayes free-kick was straight down the throat of Samson as Inverness freshened up their attack by replacing Tade with Winnall.

Gnakpa almost made an immediate impact when his low angled effort thundered back off the inside of the post after he was found in space by Ross.

Twenty-year-old Ross then sent a golden chance over the bar when he pounced on Hayes' near-post cross.

Gnakpa directed a header wide with five minutes to go after meeting a Gillet long ball.