Match ends, Inverness CT 2, Stirling Albion 0.
Inverness CTInverness Caledonian Thistle2StirlingStirling Albion0
Inverness Caledonian Thistle set up a fifth round visit to Motherwell with a routine Scottish Cup replay win over Stirling Albion.
Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo sent the trophy holders on their way with a powerful shot from distance on 28 minutes.
On the hour, a strong run from Ross Draper was finished off by Iain Vigurs on the edge of the penalty area.
The League Two part-timers worked hard but failed to trouble home goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams.
It was far form a classic encounter but a case of job done for the hosts following a 0-0 draw at Forthbank 10 days ago.
The visitors showed early intent, with Steven Doris attempting to outpace the defence only for Danny Williams to haul him down on the edge of the box.
Doris' free kick sailed over but that did suggest Stuart McLaren's side fancied themselves as capable of threatening.
Inverness enjoyed a lot of possession and after earning a number of corners, Liam Polworth found space but leaned back as his shot sailed over.
It was all a bit pedestrian until Mbuyi-Mutombo took the initiative and grabbed his first goal for the club in style.
Up until that point, the visiting defence had looked very organised but they backed off as Mbuyi-Mutombo cut inside and looked a little surprised as he thundered a drive just inside the post.
It was a moment of inspiration that the home side badly required.
Danny Devine nearly touched home from close range as the home side continued to enjoy substantial possession but did not look like adding to their tally too often.
You wondered if Stirling might get one opportunity and they did create a bit of a scare; substitute Mark Lamont fired over before Ross Forsyth screamed for a penalty when his shot was blocked in the box by Devine but play was rightly waived on.
The threat of an upset was quickly extinguished by another fine finish when Vigurs stepped onto Draper's cut back and side-footed a terrific effort into the corner to put the outcome beyond doubt.
A late injury to recent signing striker Alex Fisher was perhaps the main cause for concern in an otherwise comfortable evening for the cup holders.
Inverness CT manager John Hughes: "We're sending Alex to hospital to get an x-ray, so fingers crossed. He's come down and twisted it [his ankle].
"That's just the luck we've had this year with injuries. He's a good lad with plenty of running in him and we need him back.
"Stirling Albion were organised and resolute and there were a few scary moments early on when they broke on us.
"It's a clean sheet and I think it's the first time this season we've won both halves of a football match, so we'll take the positives and I'm delighted to be in the hat for the next round."
Line-ups
Inverness CT
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 25Fon Williams
- 2Raven
- 5Warren
- 14Devine
- 19WilliamsBooked at 3mins
- 16Tansey
- 20PolworthSubstituted forFisherat 76'minutes
- 8DraperBooked at 69minsSubstituted forForanat 83'minutes
- 27VigursBooked at 71mins
- 28Mbuyi-MutomboSubstituted forRobertsat 83'minutesBooked at 88mins
- 39Storey
Substitutes
- 1Esson
- 9Foran
- 11Roberts
- 15Wedderburn
- 18Fisher
- 34Brown
- 37Sutherland
Stirling
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Smith
- 2Mazel
- 4McGeachie
- 5SmithBooked at 50minsSubstituted forBeattieat 76'minutes
- 3ForsythBooked at 79mins
- 7JohnstonSubstituted forCunninghamat 70'minutes
- 8ComrieSubstituted forLamontat 51'minutes
- 6Robertson
- 11Dickson
- 10Smith
- 9Doris
Substitutes
- 12Hamilton
- 14Lamont
- 15Verlaque
- 16Cunningham
- 17Binnie
- 18Kouider-Aissa
- 19Beattie
- Referee:
- Mat Northcroft
- Attendance:
- 1,231
Match Stats
Home TeamInverness CTAway TeamStirling
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away0
- Corners
- Home7
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Inverness CT 2, Stirling Albion 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Darren L. Smith (Stirling Albion) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is just a bit too high.
Post update
Corner, Stirling Albion. Conceded by Gary Warren.
Post update
Foul by Greg Tansey (Inverness CT).
Post update
Steven Doris (Stirling Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Jordan Roberts (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Roberts (Inverness CT).
Post update
Mark Lamont (Stirling Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Devine (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Ross Forsyth.
Post update
Corner, Stirling Albion. Conceded by Richie Foran.
Post update
Corner, Stirling Albion. Conceded by Gary Warren.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Richie Foran replaces Ross Draper.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Jordan Roberts replaces Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo.
Post update
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Chris Smith.
Post update
Attempt saved. Miles Storey (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Foul by David Raven (Inverness CT).
Post update
Darren L. Smith (Stirling Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Willie Robertson.
