Livingston were dumped out of the Scottish Cup at the last-16 stage after they were brushed aside 3-0 by Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Lions produced an abject performance as they looked to book a first quarter-final date since 2005 but were outplayed by the Highlanders.

A dull first-half that barely featured a chance between the two sides gave way for a clinical Caley display following the break with Billy McKay opening the scoring on 52 minutes as he pounced on a long ball to blast home.

A Sean Welsh header 10 minutes later that bounced in off the far post doubled the Inverness lead with McKay rubbing salt into the Livi wounds in the closing stages with a powerful drive to wrap up the scoring.

Livingston boss David Martindale elected to make two changes to the starting line-up with Ayo Obileye replacing Morgan Boyes, who missed out due to a sickness bug, while Sean Kelly made way for Jason Holt in midfield.

The gaffer was forced into an early reshuffle as strike Bruce Anderson hobbled off after just 13 minutes with an apparent muscle injury. He was replaced by Cristian Montano, with Joel Nouble taking on the central attacking role for the hosts.

Neither side was able to get much of a foothold in the scrappy opening exchanges with Mark Ridgers tipping a curling Steven Bradley free-kick wide with the game’s only real chance in the opening 20 minutes.

It was the Championship side who asked the most questions as they flung crosses into the box but the Livi defence stood firm. They did create the best chances though. Nathan Shaw was unable to get the ball from under his feet inside the area after being teed up by a delightful McKay pass with the veteran striker then moments later unable to get on the end of Daniel MacKay’s fizzed ball across the face of goal.

The 34-year-old wouldn’t pass up the next opportunity as he blasted Thistle into a 52nd minute lead. He latched onto a long Jay Henderson ball over the top of the Lions backline before smashing beyond Shamal George.

Livi brought on Andrew Shinnie and Dylan Bahamboula in a bid to get back into the tie but just four minutes after their introduction the hosts’ task was made all the more difficult as Welsh nodded a Shaw cross beyond George and in off the post.

The Premiership side’s response was limited to a half chances as Kurtis Guthrie and Nouble both saw headers offer no threat to Mark Ridgers while a jittery backline always looked to have the potential of conceding again – which it duly did 10 minutes from time as McKay doubled his tally with a smart finish to kill the game off.

Match Report: Callum Carson (Daily Record)

Livingston: George, Fitzwater, Devlin ©️ ▊, Obileye, Penrice (Bahamboula 58), St.Kelly, Bradley (Guthrie 45), Pittman (Shinnie 58 ▊), Nouble, Holt, Anderson (Montano 13)
Subs not used: Omeonga, Hamilton, Sn.Kelly, Longridge, de Lucas

Inverness CT: Ridgers, Harper, Carson ▊, Devine, Duffy, Allardice, Welsh ©️ ▊, Henderson (Delaney 82), Mackay (Boyd 88), B McKay ▊ (Doran Cogan 88), Shaw (Hyde 85)
Subs not used: Deas, Strachan, Mackay
Goals: McKay (51 & 80), Welsh (62)

Referee: Don Robertson
HT: 0-0
Att: 1,285

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