On a freezing cold night in Inverness were too hot for Queens as goals from James Vincent, James Keatings and Miles Storey were enough for the highlanders to ensure they took all three points. Queens did pull one back through Callum Semple while the score was at 2-0, but it wasn`t enough to snatch anything from the game.

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Alan Johnston made one enforced changed to this team that has drew their last two fixtures, with Scott Mercer returning for the injured Kevin Holt. Mercer was forced to deputise at LB with Ledger retaining his place at RB, while Lewis Kidd continued on the right wing.

Firstly, a huge thank you goes out to the 40 odd brave souls that took on the near 500-mile round trip to cheer on the Doonhamers. Your support was exceptional as always and is hugely appreciated by everyone at the club.

The 41

It was the hosts who started the game on top in the blustery conditions, with James Keatings shooting from range on more than one occasion, although he wasn?t able to test Ross Stewart.

After a poor opening 10, Queens began dictating play against the second-placed opposition. The midfield trio of Darren Lyon, Iain Wilson and Dan Pybus were keeping the ball nicely, but Queens weren?t able to penetrate the Caley Thistle back-line, which included Nikolay Todorov at centre-half.

The visitor?s best chance of the opening quarter fell to Wilson who arguably should have put Queens ahead. After a long corner, Dobbie teed up the Kilmarnock loanee just 18-yards out, but his shot flew miles over the bar.

Despite Queens being the better side, after exactly half an hour it was the hosts who took the lead. And it was a familiar story for the Doonhamers as James Vincent got in front of his man at Caley?s first corner, glancing a powerful header past the helpless Stewart.

Vincent opens the scoring

Chances remained at a premium at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, although AJ did introduce Deimantas Petravicius after only 38 minutes, replacing Lewis Kidd, to try and spark Queens into life in the final third.

Miles Storey was causing Queens problems with his down the right channel all half but he couldn?t test Stewart who was fairly quiet in the opening 45, the goal apart.

HT: ICT 1-0 QoS

After a closely contested first-half which Queens were unlucky to be down in, AJ chose to tweak the formation for the second period. The South reverted to a 3-4-3 formation with Darren Lyon at RWB, with Michael Ledger dropping into the RCB.

The tactical change almost worked instantly for the away side, with Dobbie glancing a header from Mercer?s cross agonisingly wide of the post in what was Queens? best effort of the opening hour.

Petravicius comes close with a glancing header

However, after 57 minutes, Inverness added to their lead courtesy of a James Keatings free kick. After a foul some 30 yards from goal, the playmaker took everyone by surprise by having a shot. His low curling effort nestled into the corner of the goal to double Caley?s advantage. While the weather played a part in the goal, it was a brilliant finish from the Caley man.

Skipper Stephen Dobbie was brought off after just over an hour, handing over the armband to Scott Mercer, with Michael Paton coming on.

Not long after, Queens were given a lifeline thanks to Callum Semple. After a period on top, a Queens corner was headed up and away before blowing back into the area for the fans favourite to head home. It was no more than what Queens deserved having plugged away at defensively strong opposition.

Semple scores

Unfortunately, the optimism only lasted seven minutes, with Miles Storey restoring Caley?s two goal lead. A scrappy bit of play in Queens? half fell to the feet of Storey, who simply had to tap past the rushing Stewart from 12-yards.

It was a fairly unlucky goal to concede, but nonetheless it sealed the three points for the hosts.

The final 10 minutes saw Queens play with a front three of Jack Hamilton, who earlier replaced Pybus, Gary Oliver and Deimantas Petravicius.

Despite being on top for large spells in the second-half, Queens were unable to snatch anything from the game.

FT: ICT 3-1 QoS

A poor result for Queens in the highlands, but there was plenty of fight shown throughout. Queens remain ninth in the Championship thanks to Dunfermline holding Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The games continue to come thick and fast for Queens, who take on Ayr United at Palmerston on Friday evening. The kick-off is at 7.05PM and is live on BBC Scotland.