Inverness caretaker manager Charlie Christie did his long-term job prospects no harm with a clinical 4-1 demolition of struggling Falkirk at Westfield.

Christie, holding the fort after Craig Brewster's move to Dundee United, picked up a third straight win in charge after the Bairns slipped to their sixth league defeat in a row and still find themselves winless in the SPL at home.

Christie is set to be interviewed for the full-time managerial role next week and may well have shot to the top of director of football Graeme Bennett's wish-list.

Veteran winger Barry Wilson rolled back the years with an outstanding display to net the opener and have a hand in further goals from Dennis Wyness, Craig Dargo and Ross Tokely.

Craig Ireland had initially levelled for the Bairns on 10 minutes, but defensive errors and a distinct lack of confidence caught them dear as they slipped to their biggest home defeat of the season.

Trinidadian Densil Theobald was unable to make his debut after failing to gain international clearance, but Falkirk made a promising start with Russell Latapy flashing a long-range shot over.

However, they were shocked on two minutes when Inverness netted from just their first attack. In-form Dargo picked the ball up in midfield and fed the ball to Wilson on the right.

Kenny Milne was slow to close the winger down and Wilson was allowed to cut inside on his left foot to sweep a 14-yard shot across Allan Ferguson.

The unmarked Alan Gow should have equalised two minutes later after Latapy picked him out at the back post but Mark Brown saved brilliantly with his legs.

As the game raged from end to end, Dargo missed a glorious chance for 2-0 when he shot straight at Ferguson from point-blank range after Wilson's cut-back.

Then, to cap an astonishing opening 10 minutes, the Bairns levelled thanks to Craig Ireland's first goal of the season. Gow's free-kick was not dealt with by the away defence and Ireland rose to nod home.

Daniel McBreen turned and saw a low shot turned round the post by the brilliant Brown, before another Falkirk defensive error saw Inverness strike again in the 18th minute.

Vitor Lima failed to dispossess Wilson and with the Bairns rearguard back-tracking, the winger played in Wyness who tucked the ball past Ferguson.

Latapy soon brought out the best in Brown again when his swerving long-range free-kick was palmed away.

With the home fans growing restless, Hughes' side gifted Inverness a third eight minutes before half-time.

Again Milne was culpable on the right as Ross Tokely flicked a pass over his head for the rampaging Wilson. The impressive 33-year-old darted to the by-line where his cross was adjudged to have hit Tiago's hand.

Dargo comfortably slotted the penalty for his 10th goal of the season.

The Bairns needed a quick counter to start the second half, but it was Inverness who came close to adding another after Dargo outpaced Tiago and hit a searing left-footed shot from 18 yards that he was unlucky to see strike the bar.

Falkirk were now in disarray and Dargo and Black should have scored with gilt-edged chances.

But the fourth duly arrived on 56 minutes to cue a stream of home fans to head for the exits as Wilson's vicious inswinging corner was flicked home by Tokley at the front post.

Hughes threw on all three substitutes - including an impressive debut for Liam Craig - but Bairns fans drifted away long before the final whistle with their team unable to grab a consolation.

Teams

Falkirk Ferguson, Lawrie, Milne, Rodrigues,Ireland (Moutinho 64), Lima (Cregg 69), Steven Thomson,O'Donnell (Craig 62), Latapy, McBreen, Gow.

Subs Not Used: Glennon, Ross, Barr, McPherson.

Booked: Cregg.

Goals: Ireland 11.

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely (Proctor 79), McBain, Dods, Munro,

Black (Golabek 66), Hastings, Duncan, Wilson (Hart 85), Dargo, Wyness.

Subs Not Used: Fraser, McCaffrey, Fox, McAllister.

Booked: Munro, Black.

Goals: Wilson 3, Wyness 18, Dargo 38 pen, Tokely 56.

Att: 4,772

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).