Finnigan's double helped Falkirk record a convincing win

Scottish Premier League bottom club Falkirk hammered Inverness to cut the gap on their opponents to one point.

Jackie McNamara's mis-hit shot was diverted into the net by Carl Finnigan on 37 minutes and Mark Stewart fired a second 20 minutes into the second half.

Inverness goalkeeper Ryan Esson was sent off for a foul on Finnigan and Scott Arfield converted the resultant penalty on 82 minutes.

Finnigan grabbed his second in injury time after being set-up by Neil McCann.

The home side enjoyed the majority of possession in the early stages but struggled to carve out scoring chances, Stewart firing over from the edge of the area after 17 minutes.

After weathering the storm, Inverness missed an excellent chance to take the lead when Rooney rounded goalkeeper Dani Mallo but was beaten by the angle as the shot went off target.

Falkirk went back on the offensive and went in front when McNamara failed to make a proper connection with a shot, but Finnigan reacted quickly in the six-yard box to put the ball past Esson.

The Inverness players were unhappy with the award of the goal, believing Finnigan to have been in an offside position.

Dougie Imrie (left) and Patrick Cregg challenge for the ball

Mallo saved a free-kick effort from Dougie Imrie before Finnigan saw a tame effort saved by Esson.

Inverness were more enterprising in the second half but came up against a stubborn Falkirk defence marshalled by former Scotland internationals McNamara and Steven Pressley.

Mallo almost presented the Highlanders with a chance to level when he spilled Richie Foran's shot into the path of Rooney, but Tam Scobbie did enough to avert the danger.

Stewart increased Falkirk's lead when he latched on to Michael Higdon's flick-on from a long ball and slammed the ball past Esson.

Imrie volleyed over from close range for the visitors before the injured Pressley had to be replaced by Gerard Aafjes.

Finnigan won a penalty for his side following a challenge by Esson, who was promptly shown a red card by referee Calum Murray.

Pavels Mihadjuks was withdrawn as keeper Michael Fraser was introduced from the Inverness bench and Arfield was successful from the spot.

McCann remained onside to set up Finnigan for a near-post finish in the closing stages.

The win boosts Falkirk's superior goal difference over Inverness, who have played a game more than their victors.

Falkirk manager John Hughes:
"I'm delighted for the boys. Our performance showed that there is a real spirit amongst them.

"They stood up today and really did me proud. We were very hard-working in midfield and the strikers got their goals.

"We looked solid, we won our tackles and they were all working very hard for each other.

"Every one of them to a man gave me everything that they had and we got four goals, so that's pleasing.

"Nothing will get decided on today's performance, I think it will be after the splits into two.

"I felt the supporters got right behind us so we're pleased about that and I'm pleased to keep a clean sheet."

Inverness manager Terry Butcher:
"I can have no complaints about the result because Falkirk deserved to win the game. You've got to hold your hands up and just say it was a very bad day at the office for us.

"We asked the linesman about the first goal. I think Finnigan was in an offside position when the ball was transferred across to the other side.

"But it was one of those ones when he wasn't active and he's then recovered his run and tapped it in.

"We went down to 10 men. I'll have to have a look at that and see if that's worth an appeal. Ryan Esson is adamant that it wasn't a sending off offence.

"It's about how we bounce back now. The players never got to the levels that they had been showing before and we'll have a look at why and make sure that we get back to those levels.

"We have four home games left and, if we can win those four, that'll take us to 40 points, which should see us safe. We've still got it within our own hands."

Falkirk: Dani Mallo, McNamara, Scobbie, Pressley (Aafjes 83), Bullen, Cregg, O'Brien, Arfield, Finnigan, Stewart (McCann 79), Higdon (McBride 68).
Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Holden, Riera, Moffat.

Goals: Finnigan 37, Stewart 65, Arfield 82 pen, Finnigan 90.

Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Djebi-Zadi, Mihadjuks (Fraser 81), Munro, Proctor, Black, Duncan (Barrowman 74), Imrie, Rooney (Morais 78), Foran.
Subs Not Used: Hastings, Duff, Vigurs, Kerr.

Sent Off: Esson (81). Booked: Foran.

Att: 5,523

Ref: C Murray

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Falkirk's Mark Stewart 9.00 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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