Davie Irons blasted his troops for wastefulness after a disastrous trip to the Highlands.

The Morton manager felt his side passed up too many scoring chances in a match they should have won.

Stung by the ALBA Cup exit, Irons stressed: "You can't expect to win games if you are not going to take the chances you create.

"As soon as that happens, it puts pressure on your back line.

"We scored a good goal but had three or four good opportunities, and they were big misses for us.

"It was a decent and open game and we got on the front foot and broke at pace but, ultimately, we had a mad five-minute spell where we conceded two goals.

"So it was disappointing from our point of view." Ross County battled back from a goal down to clinch a place in the quarter finals - in what the home camp felt was a deserved victory.

Stevie Masterton broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute but goals from Garry Wood and substitute Paul Lawson in the space of two minutes saw County through to the next round.

Morton had the first chance of the game in the second minute when Stewart Graecen got on the end of a Stevie Masterton free-kick but he headed over from six yards.

In a similar move a couple of minutes later, Graecen was allowed another free header but this time he didn't get enough power on it and the ball was cleared.

Garry Wood had a half chance as Daniel Moore picked him out inside the Morton box but he over ran the ball and the chance was lost.

In a breakaway move Paul Di Giacomo weaved his way past a ruck of players and Morton keeper Bryn Halliwell needed a second touch to hold the County forward's shot.

In a flurry of activity in the Morton box Halliwell spilt a low shot from Scott Boyd and Stuart Kettlewell failed to turn in the rebound.

In the next attack Moore put in an inch- perfect cross and Wood headed against the crossbar.

The visitors had a great chance to open the scoring in the 38th minute when Brittain gave the ball away and Jim McAlister fed Brian Graham but Michael McGovern made an excellent point-blank save from the centre forward.

It was end to end stuff and Watt nodded an Alex Keddie knock down over the bar from close range three minutes from the break.

County started the second half better but it was Morton who had the first chance, but he shot wide of the far post.

County had an even better chance in the 57th minute when Wood rolled the ball into the path of Di Giacomo but he scuffed his show wide of target.

But it was Morton who took the lead when Masterton picked up a loose balloutside the box, took a couple of strides and fired a low shot in the far corner of the net.

But County got back on level terms five minutes later when a Brittain cross was knocked back by Michael Gardyne and fellow substitute Paul Lawson drilled the ball into the net from 30 yards.

The home side took the lead a couple of minutes later when Wood bundled the ball over the line following a deep cross from Di Giacomo.

Ross County - McGovern; Boyd; Morrison; Vigurs; Keddie; Watt; Kettlewell (Lawson 56); Wood (Stewart 83); Di Giacomo; Brittain; Moore (Gardyne 56).Subs - Malin; Stewart; Girvan.

Morton - Bryn Halliwell; McGuffie (McGregor 73); Walker; Harding; Graecen; Masterton; Jenkins; MacFarlane (Weatherson 79); Graham; Russell (Finlayson 73); McAlister. Subs - McWilliams; Wake.

Referee - J McKendrick.

Crowd - 588.