Billy McKay’s drought-ending double helped Caley Thistle back to the top of the Premiership with a 4-2 victory against Hamilton Accies at Caledonian Stadium.
McKay had gone 1070 minutes without netting for the Caley Jags, with his last goal ironically coming against Accies on the opening day of the season.
However his brace, and goals from Gary Warren and James Vincent saw John Hughes’ side hit the Lanarkshire side for four, with Anthony Andreu netting twice for Alex Neil’s men.
Inverness attacker McKay returned to the side having been benched for the 1-0 defeat against Celtic last week, taking the place of defender Carl Tremarco.
Both sides struggled to settle into any sort of attacking rhythm, the Caley Jags created the best early chance when Greg Tansey stroked just wide following McKay’s cut-back.
However it was the visitors who took the lead in spectacular fashion on 16 minutes, when Anthony Andreu powered home a 35-yard free-kick off Dean Brill’s left-hand post.
Inverness responded well to the early set-back though, and nine minutes later they forced the equaliser.
Marley Watkins squared the ball into the middle for McKay, who took a sublime first touch before slotting past the onrushing Michael McGovern.
The hosts created chances to go ahead before the break, with McKay’s low shot drifting inches past before Ross Draper headed straight at McGovern from Tansey’s corner.
However it was another corner by Tansey on 59 minutes that led to Inverness going ahead for the first time in the game, with the Englishman’s outswinger met by Gary Warren’s bullet header past McGovern.
The points looked safe on 68 minutes when McKay, having gone so long without a goal, fittingly added his second by reacting quickest to Watkins’ shot being saved by the former Ross County keeper.
However just four minutes later Accies pulled another goal back, when Andreu squeezed the ball under the body of Brill, who connected strongly with the attempt but failed to keep it out.
Inverness restored their two-goal advantage on 77 minutes, when James Vincent was put through by Watkins’ flick-on, and he tucked comfortably under McGovern.