DAVID Hopkin believes Inverness Caley Thistle’s cruel late winner should not have stood as Morton suffered their first league defeat of 2020 last night.

Nikolay Todorov’s 92nd-minute header stole all three points after Ton had battled back twice to put themselves on level terms through goals from Aidan Nesbitt and Reece Lyon.

The Ton manager insists that Caley’s goal to make it 3-2 looked offside and says he was proud of his side’s performance.

He told the Tele: “We were looking for that bit of desire to stop that one ball coming into the box, and then it’s up in the air a bit, but I thought that Todorov looked as if he was in an offside position.

“But I’m proud of the effort we put in.

“I thought we started the first half looking a wee bit leggy and we conceded a poor goal due to the decision-making of the players. We had our ‘keeper [Danny Rogers] who’s injured and is struggling to kick a ball and then he has to take a goal kick, which goes short and to the opposition, which ultimately goes to the back post and they score from a free header.

“We had a few chats with the players at half-time and then we came out and score a great goal to equalise.

“We then shot ourselves in the foot to concede such a poor goal to go behind again from a free header from six yards.

“We did well to equalise again but then conceded so late, where we’re looking to stop the ball coming into the box.

“I’m proud of the effort and fight they put in. We came to one of the teams who are looking to get into the Premier League and we made it difficult for them and matched them for the entire game.”