INVERNESS CT 0

MORTON 1 Gillespie (pen 85)

Billy Dodds insists referee Nick Walsh should have blown for a foul for Inverness, seconds before awarding Morton a penalty.

But the Caley Thistle manager is demanding more fighting spirit and less timidity from his team after a second successive defeat sent them down to eighth in the table.

Morton leapt to fourth after Grant Gillespie’s calm spot-kick winner, given when Wallace Duffy was adjudged to have handled the ball as he leapt to challenge an opponent.

Dodds stressed: “I can’t disagree with Nick Walsh, because their player headed it against our lad’s hand. He will say it was in an unnatural position. But Nick was going to give us a free-kick for a push on Wallace Duffy.

“Then he reversed and went back to give the penalty. I don’t have a grievance with Nick, but I don’t think the referee was at his best.”

Dodds, though, wasn’t hiding from his team’s failure to bounce back from last week’s 4-1 hammering by Partick.

He said: “I don’t question any of my players for attitude and application, but you can tell who your true leaders are.

“They have to realise this was a scrap today. A few looked as if they didn’t quite like it. In this league, you don’t win anything by being timid.”

A tight first half produced few clear cut chances, but five minutes before the break Morton went close.

A venomous Jaze Kabia strike was blocked high by startled home keeper Mark Ridgers, who then did well to tip Cameron Blues’ effort on the rebound over the bar, despite the follow-up being offside.

Livingston loanee Kabia also swept a fantastic ball across the penalty area from far left to pick out Jai Quitongo after 58 minutes.

The Ton attacker controlled and struck, but Ridgers’ reflex save was stunning.

Morton’s moment came with less than six minutes remaining.

Duffy was adjudged to have handled in the area as he leapt to challenge Jack Baird in the box.

Grant Gillespie stepped up and stroked his penalty down the middle with Ridgers leaping to his right.

Morton boss Imrie said: “On the reflection of the game, I felt we deserved it.

“The save from Mark Ridgers to deny Jai Quitongo was outstanding.

“I knew if we could keep pushing we’d get something, and we did.

“All over the pitch, we defended as a unit. It is a fantastic result.”