Calum Gallagher says Airdrie did well to keep their heads while Inverness were breathing down their necks, as the 10 men held on for a 2-1 Championship win.
Gabby McGill forced defender Cameron Harper to score an own-goal opener after just 33 seconds, following good play by Lewis McGregor, and Gallagher pounced on dithering Danny Devine to smash in the second in 32 minutes.
That seemingly had Airdrie home and dry by the interval, but captain Adam Frizzell received a second yellow and his marching orders five minutes into the second half, and Nathan Shaw pulled a goal back for Inverness with 20 minutes left, providing a nervy finish.
But Airdrie held on to go fourth in the Championship, a point behind joint-second Dundee United and Raith Rovers, while Inverness are three adrift at the bottom, with three league defeats on the bounce.