Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4-0 St Mirren

Inverness Caledonian Thistle set up a Scottish Cup fifth round date with Partick Thistle after brushing St Mirren aside in this replay.

The sides drew 1-1 in Paisley but Caley dominated in the Highlands with Gary Warren nodding home the opener.

Greg Tansey made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Jim Goodwin downed the excellent Marley Watkins.

Danny Williams added a third after the break and Graeme Shinnie made it 4-0 late on.

Inverness went into the game defending an unbeaten home record this season and before long they were bossing possession against a Saints outfit who looked every bit a team sitting second bottom of the Premiership.

John Hughes's charges hit the front through Warren's excellent near-post header from Tansey's delivery, but the visitors afforded the Caley man far too much space in the area.

Gary Warren nods Inverness Caledonian Thistle into the lead against St Mirren in the Highlands

Goodwin was back in the Buddies line-up following a three-match ban and, having given away the corner that led to the opener, his night got even worse as Caley doubled their lead minutes later.

The Irishman slipped after dithering on the ball in his own box and then downed Watkins to concede a penalty that Tansey fired home, sending Ridgers the wrong way.

With the visitors unable to contain their hosts now, Williams should have made it 3-0 after Watkins sent him clear, but his shot was easily saved by Ridgers.

St Mirren's goalkeeper then made another save from a James Vincent header but the Caley midfielder should have given the glove man no chance with what was a simple chance, following more fine play from Watkins.

The Paisley side made a better start to the second half and threatened to get back into the game, but their final ball was found wanting all too often.

Greg Tansey makes no mistake from the penalty spot to send Inverness into a 2-0 lead

And Inverness put the game to bed with a great break upfield.

Watkins ran from his own half and played a perfect pass infield for Billy McKay who blasted a shot off the bar, and when Sean Kelly fluffed his chance to clear it Williams was there to finish.

Warren then rattled the bar with an effort as the hosts looked like piling the pain on Tommy Craig's side.

Substitute Aaron Doran almost made it four with a dig from distance that dipped just over the bar.

Shinnie, however, did add even more gloss to the scoreline when the Buddies back line parted, allowing the full-back to help himself to a goal.