Inverness CT 3-0 Arbroath: Hosts end 11-match winless run

Reece McAlear netted Inverness Caledonian Thistle's second

Inverness Caledonian Thistle won for the first time in three months as Arbroath missed the chance to return to the top of the Scottish Championship.

Shane Sutherland headed Inverness in front from Aaron Doran's corner and Reece McAlear rolled in their second.

Michael McKenna hit the post for Arbroath before the break and visiting manager Dick Campbell was later sent to the stand.

Billy Mckay's shot evaded keeper Derek Gaston to complete the hosts' win.

Caley Thistle's winless league run had stretched to 11 games, which included five defeats, and victory keeps them just inside the promotion play-off places with a one-point advantage over fifth-placed Raith Rovers.

Arbroath, who lose in the division for only the fourth time this season, had slipped to second after Kilmarnock won on Friday and the Gayfield side remain two points off the leaders.

Inverness CT manager Billy Dodds: "We knew it was an important game. We knew Arbroath were fighting to go top and they scrap for everything.

"We've been rewarded for the last couple of weeks' hard work. I'm delighted for the defence. Absolutely rock solid. We took our chances. Hopefully that's the base we can work from to go and get in the promotion play-offs."

Arbroath goalkeeping coach Rab Douglas: "It definitely didn't happen today. All credit to Inverness. Disappointing for us. We probably weren't at the races. We were just off it.

"We're delighted to be in the mix, Arbroath are part-time as everybody knows. We'll have two home games [against Ayr United and Arbroath] and see how results go. We'll just keep going."