Inverness Caley Thistle end winless run as they record biggest victory of the season as they thrash Cove Rangers
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Scottish Championship
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6
Cove Rangers 1
Scorers - Inverness: Mckay (32, 44 pen, 63) Devine (39) McClelland (48 own goal) Ross (51 own goal) Cove: Sanders (21)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle ended a run of eight league matches without a win as they defeated Cove Rangers at the Caledonian Stadium.
It was the first time Inverness had won in the Championship since October 15 as they recorded victory for the first time in nine matches and ease the pressure on head coach Billy Dodds.
Inverness did not get off to a good start when Jack Sanders gave Cove Rangers the lead midway through the first half when he beat the defence to nod home from six yards.
But Billy Mckay levelled just after the half hour mark with a diving header from a free kick.
Danny Devine then gave Inverness the lead six minutes before half time when he fired a half volley past McKenzie as Welsh's free kick proved problematic in the box.
Inverness were then awarded a penalty before half time which Mckay converted to give them a 3-1 lead at half time.
Cove then gave Inverness two own goals early in the second half through Kyle McClelland and Scott Ross to kill off the match.
Mckay then completed his hat trick on the hour mark to give Inverness their biggest win of the season.
Inverness made four changes to the team that lost 5-1 at Partick Thistle.
Mark Ridgers was back in the Inverness Caledonian Thistle starting line-up for a Championship match for the first time since October replacing Cammy Mackay.
Daniel Devine and Aaron Doran were also brought back to the starting line up with Jay Henderson making his debut since arriving back at St Mirren.
Wallace Duffy was suspended after being sent off in the 5-1 defeat to Partick Thistle.
Steven Boyd was dropped to the bench and Ryan Barrett is out of the squad.
Inverness almost got off to a dream start when with only 48 seconds on the clock, Billy Mckay hit the right post with a thunderous strike.
But Cove had the better of the opening quarter and came close to equalising.
Leighton McIntosh connected with a Louis Longstaff cross from the right wing and fired over the bar from six yards.
Inverness missed a golden chance to take the lead as Lewis Hyde won the ball and sent through Aaron Doran, whose shot was saved by Stuart McKenzie. The rebound fell to Billy Mckay but he hit the ball wide of the left post from eight yards out.
But Cove Rangers took the lead midway through the first half when Sanders was the first to a corner kick and headed past Ridgers to give them the lead.
But Inverness equalised after the hour mark after Daniel Mackay was fouled at the edge of the box by Scott Ross.
Sean Welsh's free-kick was nodded home by Billy Mckay with a diving header who put the ball past Stuart Mackenzie.
Inverness were then gifted two own goals early in the second half.
Daniel Mackay charged into the box and Kyle McClelland put the cross into his own net from close range to make it 4-1.
Minutes later, Stuart Mackenzie punched Sean Welsh's free kick away but it bounced off Scott Ross and flies into the net.
Inverness made it six on the hour mark when a superb cross from Jay Henderson into the box found Aaron Doran.
His header hits the right post but Mckay is first to the rebound to tap home.
Inverness: Ridgers, Welsh, Devine, Carson, Mckay (Cairns 80), Doran (Nicolson 80), Ram (Strachan 84), Hyde, MacKay (Boyd 75), Henderson (Thompson 80), Delaney.
Substitutes: Mackay, Oakley.
Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Scully, Ross, McDonagh Masson (33), Yule, Megginson, Mcintosh, Longstaff, Sanders, Fyvie, Reynolds (45).
Substitutes: Gourlay, Towler, Vigurs, Leitch, Dunne.
Referee: Craig Napier.
Attendance 2052.
