Goals from James Vincent, Aaron Doran and Billy McKay led Inverness Caledonian Thistle to a 3-0 thrashing of St Mirren in their opening Scottish Premiership game at the Caledonian Stadium.

St Mirren took the game to their opponents in the opening stages with new summer signing Gary Harkins testing Inverness goalkeeper Dean Brill twice early on.

Inverness responded and Graeme Shinnie should have scored but failed to convert a decent chance. Doran then wasted another effort having been played in by Vincent.

It was St Mirren who came closest in the first half when Jim Goodwin curled a free kick over the wall and into a post.

Thistle were fastest out of the traps after half time and managed to take the lead just minutes after the restart when Vincent converted from the penalty spot following a handball offence from David van Zanten.

Their lead was then doubled when a mistake at the back left Doran with an easy finish.

McKay made it three when he flicked home a Doran cross before Van Zanten was sent off following a second booking for a foul on Ross Draper.