Early Halloween nightmare at Morton as Caley Thistle unpicked in 4-0 defeat

Caley Thistle suffered a shock pre-Halloween horror show when a 4-0 defeat at Morton allowed their hosts to overtake them in third place on goal difference in the Championship,

Queen’s Park’s 2-2 draw against Dundee means, Ayr United, Morton, Queen’s and ICT are locked on 21 points in that order going into the weekend.

A Robbie Muirhead goal, from a rare Mark Ridgers’ misjudgement, and a Grant Gillespie follow-up from a saved penalty had Ton cruising inside 13 minutes.

An own goal from Caley Jags full-back David Carson just before the break made it 3-0.

Cameron Blues added a fourth in the second half after a slick move and rounded off a night to forget for the Highlanders.

Inverness were down to the bare bones with eight players crocked, the latest being defender Robbie Deas, who suffered a broken leg after scoring in last week’s 1-1 home draw with Raith Rovers.

ICT head coach Billy Dodds welcomed captain Sean Welsh back to his starting 11 for the first time since his knee operation and Wallace Duffy returned to the back-line, with Aaron Doran also handed a start.

The Greenock club bolstered their slim squad options on Wednesday when they brought in experienced former Celtic, Hibs and Livingston defender Efe Ambrose until the end of the season.

Ambrose, 34, who has 51 caps for Nigeria, was put straight into the starting 11, with Carlo Pignatiello dropping to the bench.

Morton took the honours in the first fixture this season, winning 1-0 at the Caledonian Stadium in August with a late Grant Gillespie penalty.

Caley Thistle, despite their growing casualty list, had won five of their last six games, so travelled with confidence.

Morton are also in fine form, winning three and drawing once in their latest four fixtures, including keeping three successive clean sheets.

With the rain tipping down from the start, ICT began well, but fell behind with a goal not helped by those conditions.

Muirhead burst towards the box, cut inside and saw his shot slip from Ridgers’ grasp and spin over the line, despite the keeper then pawing it on to the post.

Blues tucked it away from there, but the ball had already crossed the line, so Muirhead gets the credit.

The match worsened for the visitors on 12 minutes when Max Ram held back Ambrose in the box and referee Colin Steven pointed to the spot.

Gillespie’s penalty was saved by Ridgers, but he followed it up from a tight angle and slammed the ball home for a 2-0 advantage.

Inverness were a bag of nerves at the back and Muirhead was almost in again, then at the other end, Steven Boyd was off target as Caley Jags sought a response.

The rain rarely let up and Inverness were under the weather here, yet it took a timely challenge from Ambrose to prevent Billy Mckay halving the scoreline on 36 minutes.

Morton still had time for another goal and from another mistake. Muirhead swung in the corner and Carson headed the ball past Ridgers into the net, perhaps aiming to nod it to his goalkeeper.

There was an interval switch with Cammy MacKay going between the sticks, replacing Ridgers.

Caley Thistle pressed for an early second half response, but Morton were standing strong, more than happy to soak it up.

Substitute Nathan Shaw, who replaced Aaron Doran, was involved in a decent opening when he fed Mckay in, but the striker slashed his effort into the side-netting.

However, Blues got his name on the scoresheet on 73 minutes when sub Jaze Kabia exchanged passes before Blues slotted past MacKay.

It was a sore, sore night, but ICT will still end the weekend within striking distance of the summit.

Second-bottom Arbroath make the trip to Inverness next weekend, with Morton taking the trip to in-form Ayr United.

MORTON (4-2-3-1) – Schawke 6, Strapp 6, Baird 6, Blues 6, Muirhead 7, Quitongo 6 (Kabia 55), Ambrose 6, Crawford 6, McGrattan 7 (King 82), Gillespie 7 (Pignatiello 86), Grimshaw 6. Subs not used – Hynes, McGregor.

CALEY THISTLE (4-4-2) – Ridgers 4 (Cammy Mackay 46), Duffy 5, Harper 6, Welsh 6 (Hyde 80), Carson 5, Billy Mckay 6, Doran 6 (Shaw 66), Oakley 6, Ram 5, Delaney 6, Boyd 6. Subs not used – Samuels, Strachan, Calum MacKay.

Referee – Colin Steven.

Attendance – 1516.

Man of the match – Efe Ambrose.