Caley bounce back from defeat to leave Brechin winless in league

INVERNESS CT

BRECHIN

4

Mckay 7; Baird 9; Bell 52; Oakley 87

0

Caley Thistle brushed aside Brechin with the minimum of fuss to move up a place to seventh in the Championship table.

The Highlanders responded in the best possible way to Saturday’s beating by St Mirren on a night when bottom-placed Brechin failed to hit the target.

Darren Dods’ side has now gone all 14 games without a Championship win this season, with only a Scottish Cup victory over Buckie Thistle to their name.

Early goals by Brad Mckay and John Baird set the tone, before Connor Bell and George Oakley netted in the second half after home manager John Robertson made two changes from the team which lost to the Saints. Skipper Gary Warren dropped to the bench, allowing Mckay to team up again with Coll Donaldson in the heart of defence.

With Iain Vigurs suspended after Saturday’s red card, midfielder Charlie Trafford earned a rare start.

Caley went ahead after seven minutes when Liam Polworth’s corner fell into the path of Mckay six yards out and the defender slammed a shot high into the net.

Two minutes later, John Baird doubled the lead. Brechin keeper Graeme Smith looked set to deal with a Carl Tremarco cross, but defender Euan Smith headed it from his team-mate’s grasp. Baird finished with ease from 12 yards.

The second half saw little change. Jake Mulraney had a tremendous strike turned for a corner by Smith after 51 minutes, a minute before the third goal. The headed finish was clinical from Bell as he stooped to meet a Polworth corner.

Brechin’s Connor Mclennan did hit the post and soon after forced his team’s first corner of the match.

Polworth blew a decent chance after 81 minutes then, nine minutes from time, substitute George Oakley raced through on the right to deftly beat Smith and make it four.