Shinnie Smokes the Red Lichties

Inverness booked their place in the third round of the League Cup at the expense of second division Arbroath. Two Andrew Shinnie strikes was enough for the SPL side to ease them into the next stage of the competition wih a competent performance against Paul Sheerin's side.

Inverness put out out a near full strength side to ensure they progressed in the competition unlike one or two other SPL sides who were dumped out by lower league teams, notably Ross County going down 4-1 at home to Raith Rovers. They joined Dundee, Kilmarnock and Hibs in the trash can. Josh Meekings started ahead of David Raven and Tudur-Jones returned from suspension to replace the injured Nick Ross

It only took Inverness seven minutes to take the lead, Andrew Shinnie converting a Shane Sutherland cross to settle the visitors. This was just the start Inverness were looking for after the disastrous drubbing at the hands of Celtic last weekend.

Former County keeper Tony Bullock kept the score down with a series of excellent stops from the eager Inverness forwards as he foiled attempts from Shinnie, Sutherland, McKay and Doran, and just before half time another fantastic save from Shinnie prevented the visitors from going into the break two up. Sutherland shoots over as the first half came to a close with Inverness making all the pressing. Shanes effort bringing out the quote of the night from RossP.....Sutherland donates a ball to Montrose with a wild high volley. LoLs

Half Time 0-1 as the crowd swapped ends.

Graeme Shinnie skimmed the top of the bar as the second half gets under way and Owain Tudur-Jones tries to get in on the act but shoots wide, as does Doran a few minutes later.

Arbroath's top striker Darren Gribben could have squared the match as he broke forward but fired harmlessly over from the angle of the box.

1-0 is a precarious lead, but Inverness were still forcing the pace of the game and it was no surprise when Shinnie netted his second after another assist from Sutherland who had dispossessed Paul Sheerin before feeding the midfielder who lashed a shot off the underside of the bar and into the net.

Shinnie was unlucky not to score a hat-trick but was denied again by Bullock and Sutherland could not get the ball out from under his feet for what would have been a tap-in.

Arbroath kept plugging away and Esson saved a free kick from Doris with five minutes remaing, but the SPL side had done their homework and saw out the remainder of the game without conceding.

All said and done, this was a professional job carried out by Inverness after the disappointment against Celtic and they showed great character to bounce back and see off the potential banana skin at Gayfield.

The stats showed Inverness had 17 shots, 10 of those on target making Bullock work hard for his money, and a corner count of 8-0 to Inverness, so the stats back up the display that was a pretty convincing win for the visitors.

Arbroath:- Bullock, Baxter (Malcolm 64), Travis (Banjo 72), Keddie,Hamilton, Kerr, Currie, Sheerin, Doris, Holmes (Sibanda 30), Gribben. Subs not used: Morrison (GK), Mair.

Inverness CT:- Esson, Graeme Shinnie, Warren, Meekings, King (Raven 58), Tudur Jones, Draper, Andrew Shinnie, McKay (Pepper 81), Doran, Sutherland. Subs not used: Reguero, Morrison, Polworth.

Attendance: 672.

Referee: Stephen Finnie.