Ross County knocked off top of Championship with defeat at Greenock

Greenock Morton 2 Ross County 1

Scorers - Morton: Tidser (60) McHugh (78) County: Cowie (58)

ROSS County dropped off top spot in the Scottish Championship as Bob McHugh's strike proved to be the difference to give Greenock Morton all three points at Cappielow.

The Staggies created the first chance of the game after 15 minutes when Tony Dingwall's cross from the right wing found the head of Ross Draper's whose diving nod beat goalkeeper Ryan Scully but clipped the top of the crossbar.

County continued to cause problems in the air again as Josh Mullin's corner was met by Callum Morris and his header from eight yards flashed wide of the post.

Morton claimed for a penalty after Ross Maclean went down from a challenge from Morris after he charged in from the left wing but the referee waved play on.

Ross County had a great chance early in the second half when Sean Kelly's free kick was found by Draper in the six yard box whose low shot was cleared off the line by Jack Iredale.

But the Staggies took the lead when Don Cowie beat the offside trap to run on to Iain Vigurs' long ball and the veteran midfielder kept his cool to fire the ball into the bottom left corner from 18 yards.

But the lead lasted only two minutes when Michael Tidser launched a spectacular effort from 25 yards straight into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1.

Morton then took the lead 12 minutes from time when Chris Millar's cross from the right wing found McHugh all alone on the left side of the 18 yard box and he thundered a powerful shot past Scott Fox into the bottom right corner.

County could have equalised in the closing stages when Michael Gardyne's cross from the right wing was inches from finding the boot of Brian Graham who just failed to connect from two yards out.