Caley Thistle cruised into the last-16 of the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup with a 3-1 victory over fellow Championship side Morton.
Inverness were thoroughly deserving of their victory, which came courtesy of goals from Nikolay Todorov, Aaron Doran and Miles Storey, with John Sutton pulling back a late consolation for the visitors.
Caley Jags, who won the competition in 2018, will now go into Tuesday’s fourth round draw.
Inverness were up against Morton for the second time in eight days, with manager John Robertson opting to hand the reins to coaches Scott Kellacher and Barry Wilson.
The Highlanders made eight changes from the side which triumped 5-0 in the Championship encounter, with teenagers Cameron Harper and Roddy MacGregor were among those handed starts.
Inverness started brightly, with Charlie Trafford seeing an effort deflected wide by Jack Baird after 16 minutes.
The home side took a much-deserved lead on 25 minutes however, with Todorov taking aim with a curling strike from the edge of the box which swerved high past Sam Ramsbottom and into the top left corner.
Inverness came close again on the half hour mark when Sean Welsh saw his header palmed away by Ramsbottom after getting on the end of Miles Storey’s delivery.
The Highlanders were not to be denied a second just a minute later however, with Doran beating Brian McLean to the ball before slotting through the legs of Ramsbottom.
Morton had posed precious little goal threat, with their only meaningful first half attempt coming on 41 minutes when Robbie Muirhead beat Coll Donaldson for pace before seeing his drilled low shot comfortably gathered by Cammy Mackay.
Inverness remained on top at the start of the second half, with Storey drilling wide after being teed up by MacGregor.
The third goal arrived on 57 minutes however, with Storey latching on to Welsh’s diagonal ball before threading a low strike from a tight angle which once again trickled through Ramsbottom’s legs.
Inverness had the chance to make it four on 75 minutes when Trafford was hauled down by McLean, however Todorov was denied his second by Ramsbottom’s save low to his right.
The visitors pulled a goal back three minutes later, with Sutton turning home Muirhead’s low cross from the left.
There was to be no way back for the Ton however, with MacGregor denied his first Caley Jags goal by an excellent save from Ramsbottom.
