Gretna 0-4 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Gretna’s relegation fears increased as Inverness Caley Thistle eased to victory at Fir Park.

Two goals in each half condemned the Black and Whites to a crushing defeat against their fellow strugglers and they now find themselves further adrift at the bottom of the table.

Davie Irons’ defensive problems were increased ahead of the game with the late withdrawal of Chris Innes due to a foot injury.

Flu victim Davie Cowan was drafted back into the side, while Tony Caig, Ryan McGuffie, Steven Hogg and Mickaël Buscher made their first league starts of the season.

But they faced an uphill battle after conceding a penalty after only two minutes.

David Cowan was penalised for a push on Ross Tokely when the Gretna defence only partially cleared a Grant Munro long throw into the box.

And Dennis Wyness sent debut keeper Tony Caig the wrong way to put the visitors into an early lead.

Gretna looked nervous in possession and they struggled to find their rhythm. Fabian Yantorno created the only attempt in the first-half with a dipping free-kick from 35 yards that landed on the roof of the net.

Inverness on the other hand, moved the ball confidently and Marius Niculae broke from the halfway line before driving a low shot just wide of the far post from 25 yards.

Danny Grainger then came to Gretna’s rescue with a goal line clearance from a Niculae shot after Don Cowie capitalised on a mix-up between Gavin Skelton and Tony Caig.

But on 31 minutes he turned from hero to villain as Caley Thistle doubled their lead. After conceding a needless free-kick on the edge of the box, Don Cowie curled the ball round the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner.

On the stroke of half-time, Inverness almost went further in front but Roy McBain’s shot fizzed across the face of the goal and just wide.

Gretna introduced Davie Graham at the interval as they looked to pose more of an attacking threat, and following a neat exchange between Mickaël Buscher and Fabian Yantorno, they had the ball in the net - only for the offside flag to be raised.

Perhaps the turning point of the game came on 55 minutes as the home side had a great chance to reduce the deficit.

Yantorno found himself one-on-one with Michael Fraser after a defence-splitting pass from skipper Paul Murray but he shot wide of the target.

Gavin Skelton then forced a good save from the Caley Thistle keeper with a long-range effort as Gretna grew in confidence.

But any hopes of a comeback were extinguished on 73 minutes when substitute Barry Wilson added a third. The midfielder combined with both Phil McGuire and Grant Munro before stroking the ball into the far corner from 12 yards.

And two minutes later Rod McBain completed a disastrous afternoon for Gretna when he unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards that smashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

Gretna: Caig, Cowan (Graham 46), McGuffie, Horwood, Grainger, Jenkins, Murray, Hogg (Grady 66), Skelton, Yantorno, Buscher (McMenamin 79). Subs not used: Fleming, Paartalu, McGill, Deverdics.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Fraser, Tokely, McBain, Munro, McGuire (Proctor 79), Hastings, Black (Wilson 60), Cowie, Duncan, Wyness, Niculae (Bayne 72).  Subs not used: Malkowski, McDonald, Kerr, Vigurs.

Star Man: Gavin Skelton
Yet another committed and hard working performance from the ever consistent midfielder. He battled tirelessly throughout the game and never stopped until the final whistle. Unfortunately however, there weren’t enough of those performances on the day.

Attendance: 1,096
Referee: Michael McCurry