Arbroath fell to another defeat on the road with two first half goals enough to see Inverness claim all three points and make it just one win in seven for the Gayfield side.
Calum Macleod followed up a free kick to open the scoring before Alfie Bavidge drilled in a second soon after, with Paul Allan denied a third after the break by an Aidan McAdams penalty save as Caley ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.
The Lichties were able to welcome back Thomas O’Brien from injury, while Scott Stewart returned to the bench after illness. Brody Paterson and Ryan Flynn joined O’Brien in the starting XI, with Scott Constable suspended, Sean Mackie unavailable and Charlie Dewar dropping to the bench.
It was the home side who threatened first when Michael McKenna lost the ball to Alfie Stewart, with the Aberdeen loanee sending a powerful strike flashing over the Arbroath crossbar.
His namesake Layton went even closer soon after as Caley Thistle began the match strongly, striking the outside of the post from a tight angle following a great pass in behind the defence.
McAdams hadn’t yet been troubled by any of the home side’s shots on goal but had to be alert just before the half hour mark to deny Liam Sole, with the winger’s powerful effort being tipped over the bar by the Lichties shot stopper.
Bavidge was next to try his luck, forcing McAdams into a low stop to his right, but unfortunately the home side’s pressure would soon tell, as they moved in front.
O’Brien was penalised for the second of two fouls in quick succession, gifting Inverness a free kick on the edge of the area which Alfie Stewart forced McAdams to parry to the waiting Macleod who had the simplest of tasks to put the ball into the net.
Goal number two came just four minutes later with Allan afforded too much space to pick out the waiting Bavidge in the middle and he stayed composed to stroke the ball beyond McAdams.
A quiet second half sprung to life just shy of the hour mark when Layton Stewart was tripped by Dewar in the area, with referee Sean Murdoch awarding Caley a penalty. They couldn’t add to their lead however, with Allan’s well struck spot kick kept out by a strong hand from McAdams.
Bavidge had two chances in the minutes after the spot-kick, first flicking a long ball over the bar before drilling a low shot towards goal that McAdams did well to get down to keep out.
Arbroath finally managed a shot on target in stoppage time when a good move sent McKenna in on goal. He saw his shot saved before Ross Munro scrambled to the loose ball with Scott Stewart looking set to pull one back.
That was as good as it got for the Lichties as another disappointing afternoon came to an end with defeat in the Highlands.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Munro; Macleod, Devine, Savage, Shinnie; Allan, Mackinnon (MacGregor, 76’); Sole (Duncan, 72’), A. Stewart, Bavidge (Boutin, 85’); L. Stewart (Osong, 72’)
Arbroath: McAdams; Watson, Beadling (Dewar, 45+1’), O’Brien, Paterson; Flynn, Reid; MacIntyre (Stewart, 68’), McKenna, Dow (Daly, 76’); Reilly (Winter, 76’)
Attendance: 2,351
