Craig Brewster secured his first win as player-manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle as two first-half goals ended Motherwell's seven-game winning streak.

Richie Hart's 17th-minute strike and a Graham Bayne tap-in three minutes before the break earned the visitors their fourth Bank of Scotland Premier League win and provide a real boost to their hopes of survival in the top flight.

David Clarkson gave Terry Butcher's side hope with a 65th-minute strike following an error from former Motherwell keeper Mark Brown.

But the young striker compounded Motherwell's misery when he was dismissed for two bookable offences within a minute in the closing stages.

After Motherwell had made the early running, the visitors got a grip on the game after 11 minutes and Hart volleyed just over with a fierce strike from the edge of the box.

But Hart did not have to wait long to find the net though.

Six minutes later, a cross from the right was diverted into his path by Well left-back Marc Fitzpatrick and Hart made no mistake with a fine finish.

The visitors could have extended their lead on 23 when a breakaway move handed Roy McBain an excellent opportunity just 10 yards from goal, but he could only scoop the ball over bar.

Inverness were now enjoying themselves with Juanjo - agitating both the crowd and the home defence with his quick feet - behind the move which saw Bayne hook just wide of goal from another right-wing cross.

Moments later, the Spaniard teed up Hart in acres of space for another sweet strike which whistled just over.

Just after the half-hour mark, Richie Foran wasted the Steelmen's best chance of the half when he headed badly wide after an astute header back across goal from Jim Paterson.

But, three minutes before the break, the visitors doubled their lead when a mix-up between centre-half Stephen Craigan and keeper Gordon Marshall presented a gift to Bayne and he lashed the ball into an empty net from six yards out.

Butcher tried to shake things up when he brought Phil O'Donnell off and sent on Paul Quinn on 62 and, three minutes later, his side gave themselves a lifeline through Clarkson.

The young striker swooped on a mistake by former Well keeper Mark Brown - who could only parry Foran's low drive - to tap in for his fourth goal of the season.

Caley player-boss Brewster replaced goalscorer Bayne with winger Barry Wilson with 15 minutes remaining as he tried to hang on for a precious victory.

His hopes of doing that were boosted when Clarkson was dismissed for two yellow cards in the space of 60 seconds.

The striker was first booked by referee Kevin Toner for diving in the 80th minute when challenged by Brown and was then given a second card for dissent as he argued his case vehemently with the official.

Motherwell, despite being down to 10 men, piled on pressure at the end with even keeper Gordon Marshall joining the fray for their last corner.

But Caley hung on to secure three vital points which move them further away from the bottom of the table and a big step towards SPL survival.

Teams:

Motherwell: Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Leitch, Foran, O'Donnell (Paul Quinn 61), Clarkson, Partridge, McBride, Paterson, Fitzpatrick.

Subs Not Used: Burns, Corr, Cowan, Wright, Fagan, Keogh.

Sent Off: Clarkson (81).

Booked: Clarkson.

Goals: Clarkson 65.

Inverness CT: Brown, Tokely, Golabek, Dods, McBain (Hastings 90), Bayne (Wilson 74), Hart, Juanjo, Duncan, Munro, Keogh.

Subs Not Used: McCaffrey, Proctor, Prunty, Fraser, Fox.

Booked: McBain, Tokely, Wilson.

Goals: Hart 17, Bayne 42.

Att: 4,267

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).