Inverness caretaker boss Charlie Christie enjoyed his second win in three days as his side ground out a Tennent's Scottish Cup third-round replay win at 10-man Ayr United.

Craig Dargo's penalth and a late header from Dennis Wyness were enough for the visitros against a team reduced to 10 men in the first half when Mark McGeown was sent off for bringingdown Wyness.

Inverness started brightly and carved out the first opening in the second minute when full-back Richard Hastings broke down the left and sent in a low cross.

In-form striker Craig Dargo nipped in front of his marker but fired his shot high and wide from 12 yards

Ayr settled down and their fans were screaming for a penalty when Craig Conway tangled with Ross Tokely but the challenge was strong and fair.

Paul Hyslop opened up the Caley defence with a bursting run from right to left but his cross prompted an offside flag.

Dennis Wyness then had a 25-yard strike deflected wide for a Caley corner and moments later had a shot easily saved from a tight angle after a good run into the box by Barry Wilson.

Jags 'keeper Mark Brown also saved comfortably from Hyslop's back header following a free-kick into the box.

Ayr were content to sit deep against the Highland side but were breaking quickly given any opportunity.

Mark Casey then hit a 25-yard effort that deflected and spun off the Caley bar with Grant Munro producing a brilliant challenge to sweep the rebound off Vareille's feet.

Wilson tried his luck from long range at the other end but McGeown got down well to smother his low drive.

Wyness had the best chance of the game in the 34th minute when a tame ball into the box was inexplicably left by Ayr centre-half Jonathan Baillie but the striker pulled his shot wide from the left channel.

A minute later the on-loan Hearts man was offered an even better chance when Ayr left-back Dougie Ramsay miscontrolled a pass as the last man.

Wyness ran through on goal, took the ball round McGeown and was brought down by the 'keeper.

The referee pointed to the spot and showed McGeown the red card.

Vareille was sacrificed for substitute 'keeper Eric Phillips but his first task was to pick Dargo's powerful penalty out of the net.

The former Kilmarnock striker celebrated his 10th goal in 12 games in front of the Ayr fans and a missile appeared to be thrown past him.

Phillips then spilled a low drive from Black but Barry McLaughlin cleared Dargo's rebound off the line.

Black had a free header from the far-post corner but he missed the target.

Tokely incensed the home side with an uncompromising challenge which floored Ramsay but the referee gave nothing.

HT Ayr 0 Inverness 1

Ramsay did not emerge for the second half after his blunder and the heavy challenge from Tokely, with Chris Robertson coming on.

The visitors began the second half eager to put the game beyond their opponents and Wilson won a free-kick on the edge of the Ayr penalty area after another strong run.

The veteran winger's free-kick was deflected wide and Tokely's free header from six yards bounced wide.

But Raymond Logan had a golden chance to level after Brown could only palm a long free-kick into the box. However the Ayr skipper's weak effort, with Brown stranded, was cleared by Darren Dods.

Black volleyed over from the edge of the area after Wilson had burst forward on the right again and cut the ball back.

Ayr's spell of spirited resistance was nullified as Caley calmed the game down with some good possession play but a strong run from Robertson lifted the home fans, although his cross was cleared.

Hyslop then raced down the right with Robertson's first-time effort spinning harmlessly wide.

At the other end, Wilson shot just over from 25 yards after good build-up play.

Ayr were posing some problems for Caley but the away side doubled their lead in the 76th minute when Wyness headed home Roy McBain's left-wing cross from close range.

Dargo almost rubbed the Ayr fans' noses in it again moments later when he worked some space 25 yards out and chipped debutant Phillips, but the ball drifted wide.

Another good run from Robertson earned the Ayr sub a shooting chance but Caley doubled up on him to block.

Five youths ran on the pitch from the Ayr fans behind the goal with the stewards and police slow to act.

They went back into the terraces where they were chased by the authorities and the game resumed after a short delay.

That was the excitement over as, although Ayr continued to push forward, Caley held out against their part-time opponents.

FT Ayr 0 Inverness 2