Grady: No excuses

JAMES Grady refused to use a week of managerial turmoil as excuse for Saturday's trouncing in Inverness.

The new Cappielow manager, awarded the post until the end of the season, turned his fire on his players' slackness after the 4-1 beating.

There had been uncertainty for the playing staff in the days running up to the game as Allan Moore's move broke down in a dispute with Stirling Albion over compensation.

But, on the eve of the game, Grady and his assistant Allan McManus had been appointed until the end of the season.

However, injuries continue to plague Morton, but Grady was simply in no mood to let those who did play off the hook.

The new player-manager stressed: "There were those who maybe felt Inverness's home form would help us today, but I knew they'd be on a high after hammering Ayr.

"We have to take a right good look at ourselves. Too many of our players didn't perform today, it's as simple as that.

"Defensively, the goals we gave away were very cheap and I'd absolve only Stewart Greacen and our goalkeeper.

"When you give away goals as cheaply as we did in the first half, you have a mountain to climb to get back into the game. Similar to last week, we got back into it at 2-1 and then gave another cheap one away. You go in at half-time and try to get the boys up for the second half. It was all good chat in the dressing room but you've got to then translate that onto the pitch.

"To go out and give away the penalty so early meant the game was basically dead. Caley Thistle took their foot off the gas a bit, allowing us to come back into it, but the cold fact is we've taken a 4-1 beating.

"A lot of the lads out there would usually be chapping on my door looking for a game if we had a full squad. So it should have been up to them today to go out there and make sure they stake their claim. Not too many of them did that." Grady feels players should be able to shut out the sort of behind-the-scenes uncertainty that has been affecting the club.

He said: "Yes, there has been uncertainty, possibly more so this week. But again, you take that out of the equation because you're a football player.

"You can't control what the papers write or what happens in boardrooms.

"You've got to focus on your job which is to prepare and play on a Saturday and do your best for the football club." New gaffer James Grady was nevertheless not prepared to look for excuses.

He said: "We tried to take the focus off it as much as possible this week. We've got to take our medicine. Caley Thistle did well but they didn't really have to work too hard for the win." The 4-1 win was Caley Thistle's first home victory in seven months and also brought Terry Butcher's first back-to-back league wins since taking charge in January.

Only fleetingly was the Highlanders' superiority in doubt as Grady was given food for thought.

Mistakes were creeping into Caley Thistle's play early on and, 15 minutes in, Grant Munro's slack pass led to Erik Paartalu lashing just over from 20 yards.

But Butcher's men were ahead after 19 minutes - and in quite some style.

Stuart Golabek's long ball from deep left was brilliantly knocked down by Dougie Imrie and Rooney struck with an instinctive right foot hook into the corner of the net from a range of 16 yards.

Nauris Bulvitis stabbed home on the rebound for the second but Caley's frailties surfaced again after 34 minutes.

Erik Paartalu was able to skip past Munro and Bulvitis with some ease before slipping the ball past Ryan Esson.

But the two-goal advantage was restored three minutes before the break after Richie Foran threaded Rooney into space and his fellow countryman placed a low shot into the keeper's left-hand corner.

Rooney's hat-trick was completed from the spot in 51 minutes after Dougie Imrie was tugged back by David MacGregor.

For Morton, the task now is to regroup.

With most of their missing players out for some time with injuries, the immediate prospects are none too encouraging for the new men in charge. It will be down to hard work until the injuries start to clear.

INVERNESS CT (4-2-3-1): Esson 7; Tokely 7, Bulvitis 6, Munro 6, Golabek 7; Proctor 7, Duncan 7; Foran 7 (Hayes 63 4), Sanchez 8, Imrie 7 (Cox 80 3); Rooney 9 (Barrowman 86 2).

Bookings: Foran 42, Duncan 84.

Subs not used -Stratford, Allison.

MORTON (4-4-2): Stewart 7; Finlayson 5, Greacen 7, McManus 6, MacGregor 5; McGuffie 5, Paartalu 6, Monti 5, McAlister 6; Wake 5 (Kane 66 3), Weatherson 6 (Grady 80 3).

Bookings: Paartalu 27, McManus 69.

Subs not used - Harding, Gordon, McWilliams.

Referee: Calum Murray 7.

Attendance: 3,021.