GUS MacPherson hailed Morton super subs Aidan Nesbitt and Robbie Muirhead after they helped knock out East Fife to set up a Scottish Cup fourth-round encounter with Motherwell.

With Ton trailing in Methil following Kevin Smith’s opener, MacPherson chose to roll the dice and the decision paid off.

Playmaker Nesbitt set up striker Muirhead for the winning goal in extra time after Sean McGinty had levelled from the penalty spot. 

Ton now look forward to the last 16 tie at Fir Park over the weekend of April 17-18 and will face a trip to either Stranraer, Queen of the South or Hibs if they can pull off a shock against the Steelmen. 

MacPherson told the Tele: “I’m really pleased with how we reacted after going a goal behind, albeit we had to make changes as well.

“You want players that you bring on off the bench to come on and have an impact and I’m delighted for Robbie Muirhead.

“Robbie is a very good striker, he’s got qualities like that and he comes onto his stronger side to finish it off.

“A slight deflection has helped him but he merited the goal with the performance he’s put in.

“He’s had to be patient and bide his time and he’s had his chance to give the club the opportunity to progress to the next round of the cup and he’s taken it.

“I think that we started the game poorly and in any game your decision-making is important, and for whatever reason our decision-making was poor.

“We sorted that though and in the last 20 minutes of the first half we controlled the game and looked far more comfortable.

Morton to face Motherwell in Scottish Cup fourth round

“Then another moment of sloppiness costs us early on in the second half and that puts even more pressure on us.

“We were pushing and pushing, trying to get and equaliser which ultimately came right at the death after we’d missed a complete sitter.

"We actually missed three gilt-edged opportunities before that so you actually question whether it’s going to be your day or not but, to be fair to the players, they kept on getting the ball in the box with decent deliveries and eventually we’ve gone and got a goal.”

MacPherson says he was disappointed Ton couldn’t finish the tie in 90 minutes as they progressed after extra time for the second round running following last month’s penalty shoot-out win over Dunfermline.

He said: “We could’ve done without extra-time, if I’m being honest.

“That’s two cup games now where we’ve had to go the distance and we could’ve done without it but it is what it is.

“We’re through to the next round and that’s all I care about at this point.”