MORTON moved another point closer to first division survival with a battling performance against Scottish Cup shock-troops County.

James Grady's men applauded the Highlanders on to the Cappielow pitch in the wake of their stunning win over Celtic.

But there was little respect for the Hampden heroes after that as Ton battled all the way for a deserved share of the spoils.

Grady said: "I don't think we played particularly well tonight and it became a dogged display. After going in front you hope it will settle you and we'll get the ball down and play but we never did that.

"That is probably testament to Ross County because they are a very good team.

"They can change formations very quickly within a game and you've got to react to it. It becomes a game of chess basically. To be fair, the boys did enough for the most part to get the point." Morton caught their visitors cold with an opening goal after just six minutes.

Carlo Monti's neat through-ball found David Witteveen running behind the visiting defence and Michael McGovern raced from his line to make a challenge. But the keeper only succeeded in bringing the Austrian striker to the ground, and referee Frank McDermott pointed to the spot.

McGovern escaped punishment but Alex Keddie was booked for his protests before Monti sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

It was a shock to the system for the cup finalists, who found the blue-and-white hoops a tougher nut to crack than the green-and-white ones they had run rings round on Saturday.

Indeed the Ton might have doubled their lead in 14 minutes when Erik Paartalu's long throw-in found Peter Weatherson, who shot narrowly wide from 12 yards.

County were struggling to make any impression and Morton threatened again when Witteveen found space to latch on to Ryan McGuffie's headed pass. But the striker's shot lacked the power to trouble McGovern.

The Staggies took until the half-hour to conjure a shot on target, when Martin Scott sent in a superb 30-yard volley, but Colin Stewart tipped it over the bar.

Morton were just as unlucky when Monti picked up a careless cross-field pass by Scott Boyd and sent a fierce left-foot shot inches wide with McGovern beaten.

But County showed their class with an equaliser before the break, when Keddie played the ball into the path of Michael Gardyne, who produced an explosive finish from 14 yards.

After the break Witteveen sent a snapshot which flashing wide before the big Austrian sent Monti through.

But the midfielder lifted his shot over McGovern only to see it roll tantalisingly wide.

Gardyne was closer than Monti to notching a brace when his left-foot shot hit both posts before being grabbed by Stewart, with County players convinced the ball had crossed the line.

The home keeper then denied Scott with a diving save, but a win would have flattered County.

The draw takes Morton five points clear of second-bottom Ayr and it might have been even better if Monti had tucked away that second half-chance.

But Grady added: "When Carlo went one-on-one with the keeper you expect him to finish it because he is a composed finisher.

"But I don't think we did enough to win the game anyway and a point was fair enough." County boss Derek Adams said: "We should have had a goal with Michael's second strike so it's disappointing from that point of view.

"But in the end we're happy with a point because it's not an easy place to come."