ROSS County inflicted the first defeat on caretaker managers James Grady and Allan McManus as Morton fell 0-1 at home on Saturday - but the performance again showed Ton are well on the way to turning the corner after a dreadful start to the campaign.

Despite Stewart Greacen having a header somewhat harshly disallowed, co-caretaker boss James Grady refused to shift the blame for the loss to the referee.

He said: "To me there didn't look to be too much wrong with it, but the referee said Brian Graham blocked the keeper.

"Referees can affect the game, but they don't have a say in the final outcome.

"I don't think that one decision cost us. We didn't play as well as we can do." It was a tight match, which always looked like one goal would decide it.

Considering the disallowed goal, David McGregor's glaring miss from 10 yards and the fact Ross County's winner came via a wicked deflection, Grady could have been forgiven for bemoaning his side's luck.

Instead, he insisted the players must maintain the level of effort and standard of play they set against Queen of the South last week.

Grady said: "Compared to last week at Dumfries and this week it was night and day.

"The boys have got to realise if you don't work as hard as we did at Palmerston then you don't win games.

"The bottom line is we didn't match them anywhere on the pitch apart from a 10-15-minute period at the start of the second half.

"Even although it's three points lost, we're not too downhearted with the defeat.

"We've got six points out of nine and the good part of it is they've told me in the dressing room they can play better - and we know that.

"In this league you have to work and match other teams for work ethic and hopefully your ability takes care of itself after that." Ton's bad luck may suggest they deserved a point but in truth an inspirational display from goalkeeper Colin Stewart had kept them in the match - and the fact he was named man of the match vindicates Grady's view the Ton players didn't do enough.

Stewart said: "People have said 'well done, you got man of the match', but I would have traded that in for getting a point.

"It's pleasing for myself, but we need to get results at the end of the day.

"Since James and Allan have come in there has been a new lease of life for a lot of players and for me personally. I wasn't given the opportunity to play under Davie Irons.

"I had a disappointing year last year through injuries and it's just great to be back playing.

"There were fallouts with the manager, but that's football.

"I was willing to move on but things kept getting brought back up. I find myself an honest person and I work hard.

"I hope performances like that will get noted. The place is really buzzing.

"The performances over the past few weeks have shown there is more to come from us.

"I felt the first goal was going to win it and unfortunately County got it with a deflected goal.

"We'll work hard during the week and come Dundee we'll be ready to go again."