Hibernian 2-0 Inverness CT

Hibs scored twice in the opening five minutes of their SPL encounter with Inverness Caledonian Thistle to secure a comfortable victory at Easter Road.

A fine Colin Nish shot opened the scoring with just three minutes played after Merouane Zemmama sent him clear.

Steven Fletcher's low drive from the middle of the penalty area doubled the tally just two minutes later.

Inverness have now failed to secure a win from their last six games, while Hibs retain fifth place in the league.

Hibs were boosted by the return of influential midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin, while Inverness manager Craig Brewster made two changes.

Ian Black was recalled to the starting 11 and Romanian international Marius Niculae was also handed start.

In the opening minutes, Inverness striker Graham Bayne sent in a right-footed shot from 20 yards out on the left, but Yves Ma-Kalambay managed to tip the ball round the post.

Hibs replied quickly at the other end and set out their stall for the day when Nish picked up a pass from Zemmama and fired in a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area to give the home side the lead with barely three minutes elapsed.

Moments later, Hibs' tally was doubled when Fletcher's low drive left Michael Fraser standing still for the second time in two minutes after some good work by Beuzelin.

With 16 minutes played, Ian Black attempted to pull a shell-shocked Caley Thistle back into the match with a long-range effort, but Ma-Kalambay comfortably held the miss-hit shot.

Shortly after the 30-minute mark, Don Cowie drilled in a powerful left-footed effort from left side of penalty area, but Ma-Kalambay blocked and the ball drifted out for a corner.

Dean Shiels passed up a golden opportunity to extend Hibernian's lead in the 36th minute when he broke free in the centre of the Caley Thistle penalty area, but contrived to strike his shot straight at Fraser.

Following the restart, Inverness continued to push for an opening, and Niculae came close with a right-footed shot from distance in the 49th minute, but Chris Hogg got in the way and the opportunity was denied.

Moments later, Cowie followed up Niculae's effort with a long-distance effort of his own but Abderaouf Zarabi was on hand to provide an obstacle to the Hibs goal.

After the hour mark Filipe Morais missed an opportunity to extend the home side's lead with a close-range shot, but Inverness' Philip McGuire blocked at the tally remained at two.

Hibernian continued to enjoy the share of posession, but the chances for both sides dried up in the final 15 minutes and Mixu Paatelainen's side seemed content to rest on their lead.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Ross Tokely sent in a cross for Bayne, but the former Ross County man's header was blocked by Hibs captain Rob Jones.

Inverness had shouts for a penalty rejected by Kenny Clark, when Jones appeared to push substitute Markus Paatelainen in the back.

As the match neared a conclusion, Tokley again had an opportunity to salvage a consolation, but couldn't capitalise on a loose ball in the penalty area with Bayne waiting in the wings.