On a day of debuts it was a winning start for new Livingston manager Allan Preston, but disappointment for Inverness in their first ever SPL fixture and a losing return to Almondvale for Caley boss and former Livi coach John Robertson.
You could tell the difference in class between the two sides, Livi we’re SPL quality, Caley simple weren’t. They may be famous for gubbing the manky crew twice, but if they keep these kind of performances up, they’ll be famously relegated this season.
The last time the clubs met in this stadium Livingston had won 4-3 in April 2001 and they again enjoyed a three-goal victory as strikes from Burton O'Brien, Craig Easton and captain Stuart Lovell handed Thistle an early SPL lesson.
Unlike the new boys Livi have had three years experience in the top-flight and it showed.
This all leaves the Lions at the top of the table (enfickenjoy it while you can) on goal difference although that may change next week when they travel to Ibrox.
The visitors at least looked undaunted at the start and took only three minutes to get in their first shot on goal in the SPL.
Striker Liam Keogh blasted that one way over the bar, and out of the stadium. The ball is reportedly just been spotted in Amsterdam, where is still travelling at speed.
Livingston player Barry Wilson wasted another half chance soon after.
Livingston finally settled a fine one touch passing move so Steven Boyack reached the by-line and sent in a cross which Easton directed on to the bar at full stretch.
Caley Thistle responded strongly with Wilson firing in a low right-foot free-kick which flashed just wide from 25 yards.
Perhaps the clearest opportunity fell to home full-back David McNamee who refused the chance of a close-range volley and then found the defence closing in after he had waited for the ball to drop.
O'Brien was equally indecisive for Livingston in the 33rd minute, but visiting midfielder Roy McBain then produced a much more positive piece of play as his super skill and low driven cross from the left split the home defence, but found no takers inside the six-yard box.
If that was unlucky then worse was to follow barely a minute before half-time when O'Brien's direct run and Boyack's clever return pass forced defender Stuart McCaffrey into a panicky header which looped over keeper Mark Brown and left O'Brien with a simple tap-in..
It could have been 2-0 early in the second half, but Mark Brown did brilliantly to push away a low first-time drive from last year's top scorer Derek Lilley.
Brown could do nothing about Livingston's second goal in the 57th minute as McNamee's cross was slammed home at the near post by Easton.
It was pure dead quality from the former Blackburn player, he got the ball on the touchline, and with his first touch, McNamee chipped the ball over the advancing Caley player before firing it over for Easton to rifle the ball into the roof of the net. A quality goal, and McNamee is showing his class once again.
Despite a double substitution by Inverness the home side stretched further clear nine minutes later when captain Stuart Lovell strode on to Jim Hamilton's pass, went past Brown and staggered on before scoring.
I mentioned to Lovell after the match that his strike could be up for goal of the season, his reply was “gidday mate”.
"Do I get a free ticket for writing this :-)"