TON BOSS LEFT HOPPING MAD
David Hopkin reckons ref Steven Kirkland denied Morton a deserved win after chalking off two goals.
But it wouldn’t have been enough to land a last-16 place anyway as his side and Partick Thistle both exited the cup.
Morton had the ball in the net twice early in the second half but Markus Fjortoft was ruled offside when Ross Maciver netted and then penalised for a push when he flicked on for
Sean McGinty.
They also missed a hatful of other chances and the gritty Jags took the extra point in a meaningless shoot-out with young keeper Kieran Wright saving two penalties after an excellent overall display.
Hopkin said: “I don’t know why the two goals were chalked off.
“Ross put the ball in the net but the whistle blew and we won a header for the second one but he disallowed it.
“It’s difficult to take but we’ve come through a tough week and we’ll now regroup.”
Hopkin was disappointed his side bowed out of the tournament after claiming they deserved more.
The Cappielow gaffer said: “I feel we should have finished top of the group
Stuart Kettlewel l hopes clinching top spot in their Betfred Cup group can give Ross County’s Premiership campaign a shot in the arm.
The Staggies were rarely under threatened in an easy win against League Two Binos.
Oli Shaw, Ross Stewart and Regan Charles- Cook grabbed the goals and Kettlewell said: “It was a really professional performance. To score seven this week is encouraging and breeds confidence.
“There has been a good spread in the goals and with that there’s confidence to be taken into the league.”
County’s first decent move produced the opening goal after 20 minutes. Iain Vigurs picked
Partick win 4-2 on pens given the way we played against St Mirren and Partick so that’s disappointing.”
Jags boss Ian McCall heaped praise on spot-kick hero Wright.
The on-loan Rangers keeper impressed in the 90 minutes then stole the show in the shoot-out.
McCall said: “I’m delighted for Kieran. He’s a good young keeper and we’re happy to have him. He made some good saves.”
Despite also exiting the cup, McCall reckons his side are on track for their main goal of promotion from League One this term.
The Firhill gaffer said: “That’s technically three home wins out of four and the other game we drew after conceding a late goal.
“I was really happy - we moved the ball around well in the first half and were the better team.
“But they put us under pressure for half an hour in the second half.” out Stewart and he knocked a header down for the waiting Shaw to score from 18 yards.
Just before the break Shaw fired high and wild before hobbling off injured.
But County shrugged off the loss and doubled their lead five minutes after the break.
Stewart was clipped by Jordan McGregor and stuck the penalty past Cameron Binnie.
Josh Reid struck the post from 12 yards but it was all over after 71 minutes when Charles-Cook cut along the 18-yard line and curled a left-foot shot into the far left corner of the net.
Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz said: “I’m proud of the boys. We just lacked that wee bit of extra belief there in the final third.”