Caley Thistle have excelled in cup competitions in recent seasons and they looked eager for further success as they swept Livingston aside this evening.
The 2014 League Cup finalists went one better by winning the Scottish Cup in May and claiming that first piece of major silverware seems to have given them a taste for more as they progressed into the quarter-finals at the expense of the Championship’s bottom side at the Tony Macaroni Arena last night.
Miles Storey and Danny Devine gave Inverness a two-goal lead at the break which was slightly harsh on a Livingston side that had offered plenty during the opening 45 minutes.
The Championship men continued to probe for a goal in the second period but a well-organised Caley Thistle defence stood up to the challenge to secure their safe passage to the next round.
Caley Thistle manager John Hughes, who had a short stint in charge of Livingston three years ago, opted to stick with the same starting XI that came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice at the weekend.
Congolese midfielder Andrea Mutombo had to be content with a place on the bench after returning from suspension, while Iain Vigurs and Tobi Sho-Silva again missed out because of injury.
Mark Burchill’s Livingston have endured an extremely disappointing start to the new campaign with only one point from their opening seven matches.
The Lions made three changes from the team beaten 1-0 by Hibernian with Jordyn Sheerin, Jordan White and Darren Cole stepping in for Hugo Faria, Liam Buchanan and former Aberdeen under-20 captain Kieran Gibbons.
It was a disappointing turnout from the home support with the Tony Macaroni Arena far from fully booked.
The visitors settled into their rhythm easily and created the first opening with Livi goalkeeper Darren Jamieson called upon to thwart on-loan Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie before making an impressive stop to deny Miles Storey breaking the deadlock.
But the on-loan Swindon Town attacker had the ball in the back of the net soon after.
The Englishman displayed great awareness to pounce on Morgyn Neill’s slack back-pass before rounding Jamieson and rolling the ball into the unguarded goal with 12 minutes on the clock.
Livingston finally came to life after going behind and went close to restoring parity when Jackson Longridge picked out Jordan White with an excellent cross but Carl Tremarco made a crucial block to avert the danger.
The home pressure continued with Sheerin firing just over the crossbar with a powerful effort before White’s goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Ross Draper.
Worrying moments for the small band of Caley Thistle supporters who had made the journey with a second goal required to dampen Livi’s enthusiasm.
The Caley Jags almost got the crucial second when Danny Williams tried his luck with a well-struck volley from an acute angle that was tipped over by Jamieson.
Owain Fon Williams came to Caley Thistle’s rescue seven minutes from the break when the Welshman made a superb save to keep out Gary Glen’s downward header.
Hughes’s side had been living dangerously but they found the second goal they craved two minutes before the break when Devine rose highest to head home a Greg Tansey free kick.
If Inverness thought the game was over they were sadly mistaken as Livi made a determined start to the second half.
David Raven was inches away from heading past his own goalkeeper from a Ross Millen free kick before former Dundee defender Declan Gallagher volleyed just wide with Fon Williams well beaten.
With Livingston pushing more players forward in a bid to reduce the deficit, Inverness almost snatched a third on the counter-attack with Tansey curling just past the post.
Storey passed up a gilt-edged chance soon after when his weak drive was palmed away by Jamieson as Livi fought to stay in the tie.
Inverness had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Alan Muir when Williams was brought down in the area by Gallagher’s sliding challenge.
Motombo and Dani Lopez were introduced in the closing stages and the substitutes almost combined for a third goal for Inverness but the Spaniard’s effort slid wide from close range.
Motombo went even closer as the clock ticked down, twisting past two Livi defenders before smashing the ball off the post.
Still, a pleasing night’s work for the Caley Jags who take their place in Monday’s quarter-final draw.