With a starting line-up that showed five changes from Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Hearts, including a welcome return for Russell Duncan after four weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Inverness struggled to find any cohesion against their Division One opponents.

Morton might be finding life difficult in the league, but their cup form has been immaculate and they went into this game looking to claim the scalp of another SPL side having dispatched of Hibs in the previous round.

In a first half that was largely disappointing, the hosts were marginally the better team and went ahead on 34 minutes, Jim McAlister bundling the ball home from Brian Wake's cross.

From a Caley Thistle viewpoint, it was a bad goal to concede and manager Craig Brewster wasted no time changing it around at the interval with the experienced Barry Wilson replacing the ineffectual Rory McAllister.

It was Morton, however, who appeared the more likelier to score as McAlister and then Steve Masterton both went close for the Greenock side.

These opportunities went begging though, and Inverness punished Morton 11 minutes from time as Richard Hastings managed to get his head on the end of a rare quality ball into the box, the delivery coming from fellow full back Ross Tokely.

This ensured extra-time and despite both sides showing signs of fatigue, it was Caley Thistle who eventually settled the tie before penalties were required, Imrie volley home on 111 minutes to send his side into the last eight of the competition.

MORTON - Cuthbert; Walker, Shimmin, Paartalu, Smith, McGuffie (Finlayson, 83), Masterton (Jenkins, 76), Harding, McAlister, Wake, Russell (Weatherson, 86). Subs unused: McManus, McWilliams. Booked: Paartalu.

CALEY THISTLE – Esson; Tokely, Munro, Cowie (Vigurs, 70), Hastings, Duncan, Duff, Black (Rooney, 90), Imrie, Wood, McAllister (Wilson, 45). Subs unused: Djebi-Zadi, Fraser. Booked: Tokely, Wood.

Attendance: 2023.

Referee: M. McCurry.

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