YOU WIN SOME.. LOSE SOME
Caley Thistle slip into play-offs
INVERNESS were plunged into the relegation play-offs despite grabbing the win that might have spared them that prospect.
It wasn’t enough that Duncan Ferguson’s men secured the joint highest points total – 42, tied with Airdrie in 2008/09 – for a side condemned to a showdown with League one hopefuls.
Ultimately, Ferguson’s men paid the price for a season of calamitous inconsistency, with only four home wins all season.
they needed to better Queen’s Park’s result against Airdrie at Hampden but the Diamonds fell flat and goals from Morgan Boyes, Cammy Harper and sean McAllister – wiping out a Kirk Broadfoot finish – just weren’t enough in the end.
the Highlanders now face Montrose away on tuesday, with the return leg back in Inverness on saturday. Ferguson said: “we took care of our business, that was the main thing. we were a wee bit nervy tonight, to be fair.
“we showed a lot of calm on a difficult night and we’ll need that in the play-offs.
“there wasn’t much in it. they started better than us. we kept going, kept persevering.”
By the 27th minute, news filtered through of the spiders’ opener against Airdrie but two minutes later the home side managed to take the lead.
Alex samuel leapt to win a header and the ball spun wide to defender Boyes on the right side of the box and he rocketed it into the roof of the net.
Morton responded four minutes before the break. Grant Gillespie’s headed attempt was knocked off the line by Billy Mckay but Broadfoot got the vital touch to force home. nine minutes after the break Alan Power brought down sean McAllister for a penalty and Harper coolly converted.
Morton’s Robbie Muirhead was red-carded soon after with a booking for diving then dissent earning him a second yellow.
Everton loanee McAllister swept in the third from 16 yards after a Mckay cutback.
Ross County loan striker samuel went off injured and it got worse for Caley with Queen’s Park’s second goal at Hampden and that led to a flat final few minutes in the Highlands.
Ferguson said samuel should be fine for tuesday though Luis Longstaff is now a concern.
Morton boss Dougie Imrie said: “It’s great to finish fifth – it’s actually a miracle! It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster this season.”