Caley Thistle produced a stunning display to defeat Morton 5-0 at Caledonian Stadium.
Inverness were clinical against Ton, with James Keatings netting twice and Jordan White, Coll Donaldson and Nikolay Todorov also on the scoresheet.
Inverness made just one change to the side which drew 0-0 with title hopefuls Dundee the previous weekend, with Miles Storey dropping out to be replaced by Jordan White.
It was a fast-paced start to the game, with Morton’s Nicky Cadden first to threaten with an acute strike which was blocked by Mark Ridgers, before the former Livingston winger sent another effort wide moments later.
Inverness looked to impose their own threat in an open encounter, with Aaron Doran seeing an effort blocked by Stephen Welsh, while Coll Donaldson nodded wide from a Tom Walsh free kick.
Cadden sent another effort narrowly over on 39 minutes, however it was the Highlanders who grabbed a timely lead just two minutes before the break. Doran angled a strike which on-loan Aberdeen goalkeeper Danny Rogers got down to parry, but only into the path of Keatings who turned the ball home from close-range.
It was a major boost for Caley Jags ahead of the second half and it got even better when Keatings doubled their advantage less than a minute after the interval. The attacker latched on to Jamie McCart’s long ball, before powering a low strike across Rogers and into the far corner.
Inverness were denied a third on 52 minutes as Rogers did well to tip Walsh’s first-time effort wide of the post, however the home side had to be alert to deny Morton a goal back on 57 minutes, with McCart doing well to hack Brian McLean’s goalbound effort off the line.
Inverness grabbed a third goal on 67 minutes, with White played through by James Vincent’s delightful threaded pass, with the forward tucking past the onrushing Rogers.
Morton spurned a glorious opportunity to pull a goal back on 70 minutes when they were awarded a spot kick, when referee Alan Newlands penalised David Carson for blocking Bob McHugh’s effort with his hand. Cadden was unable to beat Ridgers with his chipped effort however, with the goalkeeper making a fine save.
Inverness further punished the visitors with two goals in the space of three minutes. Donaldson made it four on 77 minutes when he rose to nod Keatings’ corner past Rogers, before substitute Todorov rounded off the scoring when he latched on to Carson’s pass to calmly slot past the goalkeeper to secure a thoroughly compelling triumph.
