MORTON boss Dougie Imrie has admitted his squad is lacking experience after having only 12 players to choose from for their Premier Sports Cup opener against Falkirk.

Injuries and suspensions meant Ton had only one substitute on the bench and six academy graduates in the starting line-up, as they lost their first game of the season on penalties following a goalless draw against the League One outfit.

The Morton manager was full of praise how his young side handled the Group D clash against a more experienced Falkirk team on Saturday.

Imrie admits the dearth of seasoned players is not ideal - but he says the club want to move forward by giving more youth players a chance.

He told the Tele: "Obviously it is difficult.

"We had seven academy players, six started and one on the bench.

"The squad was lacking experience, but that is the way the club kind of want to go this season, with a lot more youth.

"We have a squad of 18 outfield players and eight of them are academy kids.

"The experience was lacking, but it gives an opportunity for them to go and try and push on in their careers.

"Derek Anderson, who is head of that department, must be really proud with the number of players he is pushing through."

The Ton missed out on the chance to claim the extra bonus point on offer having lost 5-4 on penalties after the stalemate with John McGlynn's men.

Imrie was proud of his young side's performance under difficult circumstances.

He said: "I thought everybody to a man was outstanding considering the circumstances.

"We were asking two kids really in Lewis Strapp and Carlo Pignatiello to go and play centre-back, it is not their ideal position.

"Young Alexander King at 17 playing at left-back was outstanding. Darren Hynes did okay on the other side.

"Michael Garrity and Lewis McGrattan did well on the wings, again two young kids who are trying to make their way in the game."

Imrie will be without Jai Quitongo for the trip to Clyde after he was shown a straight red card in the first half before Falkirk's Liam Henderson was also dismissed after the interval.

The Morton boss believes the two sendings off played a big part on how the game panned out but he says the scoreline was a fair outcome.

The 38-year-old said: "The two red cards changed the game.

"I don’t think it is a sending off for either but it is what it is.

"We have just got to try and move on but it is another player for us who is going to be missing through suspension.

"Things are obviously tight at the moment with players availability, but hopefully we'll have one or two back for next week at Clyde.

"Overall, I think a draw was a fair result. Considering Falkirk had a couple of half chances and we had a couple. They hit the bar and we hit the bar, so I think it was a fair result.

"Penalties can go either way, Brian Schwake was unlucky with the ball spinning back into the net and Jaze Kabia has tried to be clever going down the middle and the 'keeper reads it."

The Morton manager says he doesn't expect any more new signings ahead of their second Group D match against Clyde on Saturday - but he hopes to welcome back Jack Baird and Grant Gillespie from suspension.

Imrie added: "At the moment I don’t think there will be anybody coming in.

"For the Clyde game next week at New Douglas Park, Jack and Grant will come back into contention to start.

"Then a couple of injuries will hopefully be cleared up by then as well, so we should have a lot more bodies available for selection come next week."