MORTON 2 Tidser (60), McHugh (77) ROSS COUNTY 1 Cowie (58)
A late Bob McHugh goal ensured Morton came from behind to secure all three points against Championship favourites Ross County. With the game approaching the final 10 minutes, substitute Denny Johnstone knocked the ball down to McHugh, who fired an unstoppable half-volley high beyond Scott Fox. The result delighted home boss Ray McKinnon, who said: “We had to match them because they’re a very good side with great strength in depth, a big side who are title favourites. “We are not the biggest, but we knew that we’d have to compete and, to be fair to the players, they matched them all over the park in terms of the physical side of the game. “I’m delighted with the three points and the players deserve a lot of credit for that.” County began the day top of the table and took a deserved lead on 58 minutes through Don Cowie. Iain Vigurs, majestic throughout, played a glorious pass in behind the Morton defence and former Scotland internationalist Cowie raced clear to toe-poke the ball beyond Ryan Scully. But their lead only lasted a couple of minutes as Michael Tidser scored a brilliant equaliser, collecting the ball 30 yards from goal before unleashing a venomous left-footed strike that arrowed past the despairing County keeper. While the points stayed in Greenock, the visitors will travel back to the Highlands ruing numerous missed opportunities with Ross Draper the main culprit. The experienced midfielder should have opened the scoring on 15 minutes. Tony Dingwall whipped in a glorious cross from the right to Draper only a few yards out, but his diving header clipped the bar. Draper was guilty of squandering another guilt-edged chance just after the break when he failed to connect properly with Sean Kelly’s brilliant free-kick. McKinnon added: “It was a very hard-fought game against a very good team, but we just take it game by game.” Ross County jointmanager Steven Ferguson expressed frustration with his side’s inability to preserve their lead, saying: “Once we take the lead we shouldn’t be getting sucker-punched and conceding an equaliser straight away.”