Match ends, Hibernian 0, Inverness CT 2.
HibernianHibernian0Inverness CTInverness Caledonian Thistle2
Inverness showed Terry Butcher what he will be missing should he switch to Hibernian as they eased to victory over his prospective charges.
With Butcher in the stand and expected to move to Hibs on Monday, Nick Ross gave Caley Thistle the lead after only 14 minutes from the penalty spot.
Hibs went further behind four minutes later when Billy McKay rounded keeper Ben Williams.
And Inverness eased to a win that means they move into second spot.
Hibs caretaker Jimmy Nicholl told BBC Scotland shortly before kick-off that, should Butcher be the new manager, this was an ideal opportunity for the home players to prove their worth.
But they failed to grab the opportunity with the kind of insipid display that led to Pat Fenlon's departure from Easter Road.
As a clinical and classy Caley Thistle leapfrogged Aberdeen in the Premiership table, Hibs were suffering their fourth defeat in a row and are now without a win from their last five games.
Inverness, with assistant manager Maurice Malpas in charge, had gone into the game unbeaten in five games against the Edinburgh side.
Caley Thistle, however, looked like they were determined not only to donate their manager but a goal to Hibs as three early back-passes put goalkeeper Dean Brill under pressure.
Hibs looked equally ill-at-ease with the unusual circumstances of having a manager with a foot in both camps in the stand and presented the visitors with the opening goal.
Striker Collins, who had replaced suspended midfielder Liam Craig in the starting line-up, gave the outstanding Graeme Shinnie a British Bulldogs shove in the back as the Inverness full-back broke into the penalty box.
Ben Williams has shown his prowess at saving penalties since joining Hibs, but this time the goalkeeper could only get the slightest of touches on Ross's spot kick.
Looking dazed, Hibs went further behind four minutes later when Shinnie, after another fine run and one-two, set up McKay and the in-form striker sped past Williams to score.
Hibs' defence was all at sea and Alan Maybury was close to an own goal when he slid in to intercept an Aaron Doran cross and directed it against the inside of a post.
Shinnie sent a powerful effort wide from 20 yards and Williams denied McKay a second goal when his heel diverted the striker's low drive wide.
Hibs defender Jordan Foster sent a header wide from a corner, but high balls into the box were all the home side had to offer with attacking ideas in short supply.
A chorus of boos having greeted his side at the half-time whistle, Nicholl hauled off Tom Taiwo and Ryan McGivern during the break and replaced them with Rowan Vine and Abdellah Zoubir.
Although that led to some extra pressure being exerted on the Caley Thistle defence, Hibs' revival soon petered out.
Inverness were content to threaten on the break and play out an efficient victory that will emphasise the rebuilding job Butcher faces should he make the switch to Leith.
Line-ups
Hibernian
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Williams
- 18Maybury
- 3McGivernSubstituted forVineat 45'minutes
- 20TaiwoSubstituted forZoubirat 45'minutes
- 23Forster
- 4Hanlon
- 8RobertsonBooked at 83mins
- 38Thomson
- 24Heffernan
- 14CollinsSubstituted forCummingsat 62'minutes
- 16StevensonBooked at 56mins
Substitutes
- 6McPake
- 9Vine
- 11Cairney
- 17Tudur-Jones
- 21Murdoch
- 27Zoubir
- 35Cummings
Inverness CT
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Brill
- 3Shinnie
- 18Tremarco
- 8Draper
- 5Warren
- 6Meekings
- 10Doran
- 15WatkinsSubstituted forPolworthat 90'minutes
- 7Mckay
- 9Foran
- 11Ross
Substitutes
- 1Esson
- 2Raven
- 14Devine
- 17Greenhalgh
- 20Polworth
- 21Pepper
- 23Agdestein
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 8,750
Match Stats
Home TeamHibernianAway TeamInverness CT
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home22
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hibernian 0, Inverness CT 2.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Thomson (Hibernian).
Post update
Nick Ross (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Liam Polworth replaces Marley Watkins because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Thomson (Hibernian).
Post update
Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Forster (Hibernian).
Post update
Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Scott Robertson (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Scott Robertson (Hibernian).
Post update
Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Rowan Vine (Hibernian).
Post update
Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Post update
Foul by Jason Cummings (Hibernian).
Post update
Gary Warren (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
Post update
Foul by Abdellah Zoubir (Hibernian).
Post update
Richie Foran (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
