Ayr were picked apart during a 13 minute collapse in the Highlands as their makeshift defence was put to the sword by Inverness.Caley took full advantage of an early injury to George Stanger, which forced Ayr into a massive reshuffle at the back and left them brutally exposed as the hosts powered to the points.Stanger's injury - which came just ten minutes in - left Ayr at sixes and sevens and they ultimately could not cope as Duncan Ferguson's reborn Caley Jags eased to the victory.Lee Bullen had made three changes to the side which blew a two goal lead against Queen's Park last week as Nick McAllister, Jay Senga and Mark McKenzie all came in for starts.But Ayr suffered a huge blow with the game just ten minutes old when key centre half Stanger had to be withdrawn suffering what looked to be a dislocated shoulder.

With him went much of their gameplan as Finn Ecrepont came on as an emergency right back, while McAllister switched to centre half.

It left Ayr sporting a hugely unfamiliar look at the back and after a quiet opening half hour, they were picked apart at will.David Wotherspoon turned home at the backpost as they hit the front after piercing the makeshift Ayr rearguard, before Wotherspoon doubled up when ghosting in behind Ecrepont to fire beneath Robbie Mutch.

Ayr were remarkably three behind on the stroke of half time when Paddy Reading conceded a spot kick in the last act of the opening 45 minutes, which Billy McKay stepped up to ram home.Ayr switched to a back three at the break as they tried anything they could to stem the tide but Mckay almost made it four - only to be denied by a smart save from Mutch.

Ayr United unravel in the Highlands as Inverness put makeshift defence to the sword

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