Caley Thistle are up to second in the Championship after a 2-0 win over 10-man Alloa Athletic.
Two goals in quick succession at the end of the first period put the visitors in control, with a Scott Taggart own goal and another from Aaron Doran giving the Caley Jags a clear advantage.
Liam Dick’s red card in the second period ended the tie as a contest, as John Robertson’s side leapfrog Ayr United in the Championship table.
Inverness made one change from the side that beat Dundee, with James Keatings replacing Kevin McHattie.
Shaun Rooney’s early forays from right-back proved a useful outlet for the Caley Jags, with a teasing cross flashing across goal and narrowly evading Aaron Doran.
In a mirror-image of that chance, Alloa came closer to breaking the deadlock, with Kevin O’Hara peeling away to the right and picking out Alan Trouten at the back post. But on the slide, he failed to convert.
Missed connections was a developing theme for Inverness as Keatings this time delivered the cross, picking out Carl Tremarco at the back post who had evaded all amber and gold jerseys but could not guide his header on target.
Coll Donaldson was next to try his luck for the Caley Jags. Doran cut back on his right, crossed for Miles Storey and his header fell nicely for the defender, but he blazed high over.
All the pressure was coming from the visitors and this time Jamie MacDonald was required to intervene to keep the scores level. Doran clipped in Jordan White, who had the presence of mind to flick the ball back into Keatings’ path. He struck first time but MacDonald beat the ball away from his near post.
The first time Mark Ridgers was required came on 25 minutes with Iain Flannigan, who had fashioned space for himself on the edge of the box, forcing the Caley Thistle stopper to palm over.
A huge stroke of fortune played a part in the opener seven minutes before the break but it was little more than Caley Thistle’s dominance deserved.
David Carson’s long ball looked to pick out Tremarco running in behind but, reading the flight of the ball, MacDonald had come off his line ready to claim. Taggart was unaware of his goalkeeper’s movements and instead tried to direct his header backwards, succeeding only in finding his own net.
The advantage was doubled on the stroke of half-time through Doran, with White heading down Rooney’s cross into his path and with a crisp, left-footed strike, he found the top corner.
Alloa’s plight got worse just before the hour as Dick was dismissed for lunging widely at Keatings, with Greg Aitken quick to brandish the red card.
White himself came close to adding to the scoreline, beating MacDonald to Doran’s near-post corner but heading over the top.
They were given a small scare by Kevin O’Hara, who drove past Charlie Trafford and clipped the outside of the post with a speculative effort, but Inverness were comfortable in their pursuit of three points.
