Caley Thistle delivered an abject performance as they went down 3-0 at Arbroath.
Scott Stewart and Bobby Linn scored either side of half-time as the Highland capital club lurched towards back-to-back defeats.
The Caley Jags showed little sign of getting back into the game in the second half before Omar Kader tucked away a third with five minutes to go.
Inverness made four changes from the 3-0 defeat against Dundee United, with Brad McKay, Tom Walsh, Miles Storey and Nikolay Todorov replacing Shaun Rooney, Aaron Doran, Mitch Curry and Jordan White.
Caley Jags defender Coll Donaldson, with one goal to his name this season, had two opportunities to add to that tally inside the opening 10 minutes. The first, from a James Keatings corner, was blocked on the line and he headed another over from Walsh’s free-kick.
Arbroath came into the game three points behind Inverness and threatened an opener through Stewart, who was allowed to meander into the Caley Thistle penalty area. Mark Ridgers was on hand to block with his feet at the near post.
Stewart was the man to deliver the opening goal, though, on 28 minutes. A flowing passing move, involving Liam Donnelly and Bobby Linn, teed Stewart up on the far side of the area and he arrowed back across Ridgers into the far corner.
A poor first half was yielding little for John Robertson’s side, who were tame going forward. An error from Ricky Little, misjudging a hopeful punt by McKay, allowed Storey in but Derek Gaston was out quickly to claim.
Arbroath went 2-0 in front in the second half and Inverness could have little complaints. McKay was penalised by referee John Beaton for clambering all over Colin Hamilton in the box, with Linn beating Ridgers from the spot.
The disgruntled travelling support had little to cheer as the visitors continued to flounder, with only Donnelly’s hesitation on the edge of the box preventing a third goal.
The Red Lichties came close to a third again on the counter-attack, with substitute Steven Doris firing across goal and wide.
Fellow replacement Kader did cap off a memorable performance for the hosts with a third, finishing well from Michael McKenna’s cut-back to cement a deserved three points.
