Inverness CT 4-0 St Mirren

Inverness dished out a 4-0 hammering to St Mirren to book their place in the Scottish Cup fifth round. Goals from Gary Warren, Greg Tansey, Danny Williams and Graeme Shinnie were enough for Inverness to clinch the replay, but they should have put far more past the Buddies than they did. The result does nothing to ease the pressure on visiting boss Tommy Craig, who has come under heavy fire from his own fans in recent weeks because of the Saints dismal performances. Inverness made two changes from the side that drew the initial game 1-1. Ryan Christie and Nick Ross came out of the starting 11, with Tansey and Marley Watkins, who were suspended for the first game, came in. St Mirren recalled club captain Jim Goodwin, who had also been suspended, for James Marwood. Both sides had half-chances straight at the goalkeeper - Kenny McLean hitting a long-range free-kick straight at Dean Brill before Danny Williams fired straight at Mark Ridgers. Caley Thistle made the most of the game's first clear-cut opportunity 20 minutes in. Tansey swung a corner in from the left-hand side and Warren met it with a firm header, leaving Ridgers with no chance. It didn't take long for the hosts to double their advantage and the beleaguered Saints were punished again. The recalled Goodwin fouled Watkins in the box and Tansey stepped up to fire Inverness two goals to the good. Looking very much like a team on the ropes, the Buddies were lucky not to be three down inside half an hour. Watkins rolled through Williams, who, when faced with Ridgers, shot straight at the goalkeeper. The Caley Jags wasted an even better chance three minutes later after further good work by Watkins. The Welshman got to the byline and stood the ball up to the back post for James Vincent, who from two yards out, headed straight at Ridgers. Completing the one-way traffic that had been the first half, Inverness were denied half-hearted penalty appeal when Goodwin looked to have blocked Watkins' header from close range. Fortunately for the skipper, Calum Murray only waved for a corner. The second half did not bring any change of luck for the visitors, with the closest they came to scoring closing down Dean Brill on a couple of occasions. Thompson did have a chance to get an effort on target, however he headed substitute Adam Drury's header over the bar. Inverness, who had several opportunities in the first half for a third goal, could have done so on the hour as Williams headed a corner into the path of Josh Meekings, who swivelled and fired a shot wide. The third goal came on 67 minutes in a great counter-attacking move. Watkins broke away on the left and picked out Billy Mckay in the middle, who hit the bar from close-range. Luckily for Inverness, Williams was on hand to drive home the rebound first time. Still struggling to get a shot and target, the Saints were indebted to the woodwork for keeping the score at three when Warren thumped a header off the bar, then turned the rebound over. Substitutes Aaron Doran and Ross could have added to the lead, Ross seeing an effort ruled out for offside while Doran whistled an effort past the post. Shinnie was played through on goal in stoppage time and kept his cool to slot round Ridgers for the comfortable fourth.