Inverness CT 3-0 Hibernian

2Slick

A first-half goal blitz from Inverness Caledonian Thistle saw the Highlanders thump Hibernian and move within two points of the top six.

A cool Craig Dargo finish following a defensive blunder opened the scoring before Roy McBain's lifted shot from a Ross Tokely cross made it 2-0.

Hibs barely had time to dust themselves down when Barry Wilson looped a volley over Andrew McNeill before the break.

It was no more than Inverness deserved following an accomplished display.

Interview: Inverness manager Charlie Christie
Interview: Hibernian manager John Collins

Life without Mark Brown began for Caley Thistle with Michael Fraser the beneficiary in goal - his third appearance of the season.

And it was one of two Inverness changes, with Dargo being preferred to Graham Bayne up front.

Hibs showed four changes from the side that knocked Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup, with Ivan Sproule, Steven Fletcher and Lewis Stevenson dropping to the bench and Dean Shiels left out.

The visitors brought back David Murphy, former skipper Kevin Thomson, midweek hero Abdessalam Benjelloun and youngster Ross Campbell.

The hosts started well and sounded a warning to the Hibs defence early on when a Wilson shot could only be parried by Andrew McNeill in the Hibs goal.

Fortunately for the Edinburgh side, no Inverness player was on hand to take advantage, although the reinstated Dargo would from a Hibs defensive disaster minutes later.

Chris Hogg's careless clearance was intercepted by Dennis Wyness, who found Dargo, and he had the simple task of slotting home his ninth goal of the season, despite the despairing dive of McNeill.

Far from sitting on their lead, Inverness had another opportunity as Dargo volleyed just over.

The Hibernian task doubled in difficulty as 10 minutes after they took the lead, the Highlanders scored again.

This time, Tokely drove down the right and his flighted ball into the middle was met by McBain, whose delightful finish sailed into the top corner.

McBain slams Inverness into a two goal lead
Roy McBain converts Ross Tokely's cross to make it two

Hibs were rocking and they found themselves three down just before half time - and it was thanks to a terrific dipping volley from Wilson.

From the right of the penalty area, he looped his shot over McNeill and the home side went in three up at the break.

John Collins decided to go for the jugular after half-time, making all three of his substitutions, with Sproule, Fletcher and Stevenson called on to try to rescue it for the Hibees.

The second half was an anti-climax, with the damage having been done in the first 45 minutes.

But In the 63rd minute, substitute Fletcher clipped a free-kick just past the post, the most telling fact being that, with the ball drifting off target, Caley Thistle keeper Fraser was still yet to make a save.

At the other end, Wyness came close to scoring a fourth goal for Inverness, only to be denied by a well-timed block from Hogg, who went some way to atoning for his earlier faux pas.

Inverness looked more likely to add to their tally, despite the Hibs changes, but were dealt a blow when Dargo was forced to go off with a dislocated shoulder, which was the down side in an excellent Inverness display.

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Dods, Munro, Hastings, Wilson (Paatelainen 81), McBain, Duncan (Black 78), Rankin, Dargo (Bayne 70), Wyness. Subs not used: Smith, McCaffrey, Soane, McAllister.

Goals: Dargo 20, McBain 30, Wilson 42.

Hibernian: McNeil, Whittaker, Jones, Hogg, Murphy, Scott Brown, Stewart, Thomson (Fletcher 45), Beuzelin (Stevenson 45), Benjelloun, Campbell (Sproule 45). Subs not used: Simon Brown, Glass, Martis, McCann.

Booked: Hogg, Jones, Brown.

Referee: W Collum

Att: 4,577