Inverness CT 0-1 Rangers

But Darcheville latched on to Brahim Hemdani’s pass with the clock ticking down to give the visitors a vital win from 12 yards.

Tying would have seen Gers’ lead over Celtic at the top of the SPL cut from four points to two over the weekend.

But Darcheville’s late strike preserves the larger advantage and extends the Light Blues’ league run to nine wins and a draw in 10 games.

Smith stuck with the same starting XI which ground out a 2-1 win over Gretna at Fir Park on Wednesday night.

That meant Lee McCulloch was denied a return to action, despite getting back to full fitness after a calf injury, as he was ill. Kevin Thomson also missed out.

Darcheville, meanwhile, had to settle for a place on the bench despite setting up Cousin’s midweek winner in Motherwell.

Rangers made a low-key start in the bright Inverness sunshine, with chances few and far between.

But they were still closest to scoring in the opening exchanges when home keeper Michael Fraser tipped Adam’s cross away from the lurking Stevie Naismith.

At the other end, Marius Niculae blazed well over the crossbar after some decent build-up play by Caley Jags.

Cousin did the same when he caught sight of goal and should have done better when he tried to curl home from 18 yards.

Allan McGregor was soon called into action, saving well from Markus Paatelainen then gathering a Don Cowie effort which was trickling wide anyway.

Back came Gers, with Cousin forcing a good stop by Fraser and Ferguson almost firing in after good work by Chris Burke on the left.

Steven Whittaker also went close, with Fraser palming his firm strike away for as corner after Naismith’s lay off shortly before half time.

Smith threw Darcheville on for Naismith at the halfway point in a bid to lift the tempo and he almost made an immediate impact.

Cousin’s hard work on the left allowed him to cross for his fellow striker, whose attempt to turn the ball in was stifled somewhat by Tokely.

Darcheville’s invention allowed him to set up Burke soon after but the winger screwed well wide when he pulled the trigger.

Rangers were creating more up front and getting closer to netting, with Darcheville’s stinging effort from Adam’s through ball going inches too high.

Adam then had a go himself, hitting McGregor’s long punt upfield on the half-volley but also seeing it clear the upright.

For all their forays upfield, the Light Blues still couldn’t find a way through and Niculae reminded them of that when McGregor had to save his 30-yard drive.

Adam finally got the ball in the net with 19 minutes remaining but his joy was short-lived as referee Richmond refused to let the goal stand.

That only riled Rangers but when Adam, their most threatening player late on, rattled the bar it seemed it wasn’t to be their day.

Darcheville soon intervened, however, to spark hysteria among the 2,500 travelling fans and keep the title challenge on track with a well-taken winner.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Cuellar, Papac, Hemdani, Ferguson, Adam, Burke, Cousin (Novo 74), Naismith (Darcheville 46).

Subs not used: Smith, Broadfoot, Boyd, Lennon, McMillan.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Fraser, Tokely, Proctor, Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, McBain, Paatelainen (Wilson 69), Niculae.

Subs not used: Malkowski, Bayne, Wyness, Vigurs, Gillespie, Duff.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.