Match ends, Inverness CT 3, Motherwell 1.
Inverness CTInverness Caledonian Thistle3MotherwellMotherwell1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle stayed second in the Premiership after overcoming a dogged Motherwell side.
Billy McKay deservedly put the home side in front, sliding home confidently after beating a high defensive line.
Henrik Ojamaa responded but John Hughes' side eventually retook the lead, Marley Watkins nodding in a superb Graeme Shinnie cross.
The points were secured when Josh Meekings met a deep corner at the back post and tapped home.
The Highlanders remain level on points with leaders Celtic, and are second in the division only on goal difference.
After a slow start, Inverness gradually took control and it was McKay, who opened the scoring with his third goal in two games.
Ryan Christie's perfectly-weighted ball gave McKay the opportunity to beat the offside trap and the Northern Ireland international stroked past the exposed Dan Twardzik.
Motherwell hit back almost immediately in what was their only really serious attack of the match.
John Sutton cut the ball back and Ojamaa seized on the loose ball to fire high into the net from close range.
John Hughes' side struggled to cut through a stuffy, tight Motherwell side but seemed undeterred and came close to edging in front as half-time approached.
Christie found Shinnie, who surged to the bye-line, and his cut-back found its way back to Christie, who curled a shot towards the far post only for Twardzik to deny him.
Early in the second half, Warren went close with a dink towards the far post before McKay stole in once more only to be forced wide before somehow blasting wide with the goal gaping.
Inverness would not be denied for long, though, and the effective Watkins delivered the second, heading into a delightful Shinnie cross.
Their perseverance was further rewarded when Meekings met Tansey's corner at the back post and tapped home gleefully.
Watkins hit the bar, then a post, as Inverness finished in dominant style to leave them still unbeaten at home in what's proving to be a very impressive season so far.
Line-ups
Inverness CT
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 12Brill
- 2Raven
- 6Meekings
- 5Warren
- 3Shinnie
- 22ChristieSubstituted forRossat 76'minutes
- 16Tansey
- 19Williams
- 4VincentSubstituted forDoranat 66'minutesBooked at 80mins
- 15WatkinsBooked at 83mins
- 7MckaySubstituted forSekajjaat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Esson
- 10Doran
- 11Ross
- 13Sekajja
- 14Devine
- 18Tremarco
- 20Polworth
Motherwell
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 12Twardzik
- 20Kerr
- 6McManus
- 15O'Brien
- 2ReidBooked at 49mins
- 7AinsworthSubstituted forLawat 58'minutes
- 5RamsdenSubstituted forErwinat 73'minutes
- 14Lasley
- 11VigursBooked at 81mins
- 24Ojamaa
- 9Sutton
Substitutes
- 17Francis-Angol
- 18Law
- 19Erwin
- 25Stewart
- 26Thomas
- 29Cadden
- 39MacLean
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 3,037
Match Stats
Home TeamInverness CTAway TeamMotherwell
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Inverness CT 3, Motherwell 1.
Post update
Foul by Aaron Doran (Inverness CT).
Post update
Iain Vigurs (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark O'Brien (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Iain Vigurs (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Greg Tansey (Inverness CT).
Post update
Henrik Ojamaa (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Post update
Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by John Sutton (Motherwell).
Post update
Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Fraser Kerr (Motherwell).
Post update
Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Ibra Sekajja replaces Billy McKay.
Booking
Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Marley Watkins (Inverness CT).
Post update
Craig Reid (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Marley Watkins (Inverness CT) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
Booking
Iain Vigurs (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card.
