THERE are some footballers who, given an inch, would happily take the proverbial mile.

Never let it be said Inverness Caledonian Thistle's squad rank among them.

They have been described as a team who could manage themselves and, only a couple of weeks ago, eschewed the offer of three or four extra days off after Terry Butcher's departure.

There was no obvious euphoria or triumphalism following Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup victory over Morton that keeps the Highlanders involved on three domestic fronts.

A substation failure had blown the floodlights shortly after the half-time whistle, blacking out an area of Inverness and delaying the restart for 40 minutes, but could not prevent the home side's fifth victory in a row.

"It almost seemed like we played for three or four hours given the break," said central midfielder Ross Draper. "It was a strange game. We didn't play well in the first half, although that has happened to us before against lower-division teams. We struggled against Dundee at their place, but managed to get a result. It is maybe a bit of a mentality thing to get over. We took a rollicking at half-time and it turned out all right."

The 25-year-old from Wolverhampton added: "It was a case of getting the job done - and that's what we did. Morton deserve a lot of credit, but we were a bit sloppy at times in our passing and some of the basics."

Inverness did create a good clutch of first-half chances, with Billy McKay and Aaron Doran both going close, but as Morton soaked up the pressure, there was an unusual slackness in some of the build-up play.

The breakthrough came when Draper was caught in the box by the flailing leg of Craig Reid, with Nick Ross tucking away the opener from the spot.

Referee Don Robertson told both blacked-out dressing rooms he was about to call off the game just two minutes before power was restored. Nacho Novo did score for the away team but was flagged offside and Morton never quite rediscovered their form following the delay.

Inverness extended their lead when Marley Watkins' cross on 71 minutes was met by a looping Billy McKay header; the striker adding his 13th of the campaign with a couple of minutes left, and Doran striking a fourth from the spot.

Scott Taggart was sent off for a last-man foul in the box on substitute Torbjorn Agdestein to complete a frustrating day for caretaker manager David Hopkin's side.

Whoever becomes Inverness manager will inherit a team second in the SPFL Premiership, through to the League Cup semi-final, and in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

"It is a good little job for somebody to come into," Draper said. "It is a great changing room and we're still in three competitions, so it is a case of just carrying on the good work. It was important we all stuck together at a potentially difficult time. It's a credit to the coaches and the rest of the lads that we have kept a winning run going."

By contrast there was frustration on the face of Morton's Dougie Imrie, after a fruitless return to his old stamping ground.

"I'm bitterly disappointed because I thought the first half was fairly even," said the 30-year-old attacker. "I'm not sure about the penalty they got. I'd need to see it again, but it was very soft, I thought. The breakage in the lights didn't help. Forty five minutes is a long time to wait about. We didn't really get going again and then Nacho Novo scores a goal and the linesman rules it offside. Nacho is adamant it was clearly onside, but it was hard to see from where I was.

"You have to credit Inverness. They are a fabulous team, with great players. But I don't think it is a 4-0 game, and we're disappointed with those last two goals in particular."

Far from Imrie feeling the defeat should count against Hopkin, he is positive about the mentality and style of play the former Leeds United and Scotland midfielder is instilling.

"We can take some positives from the game," Imrie added. "It was the new gaffer's first game and it is obviously going to take time for him to get his ideas across. But the way he wants to play is encouraging.

"It is the cup and you want to get as far as you can, but our bread and butter is the league and next week is massive for us. I certainly hope this one doesn't count against the gaffer because the result didn't reflect the overall balance of the game.

"We came up to try and win the game, but it wasn't to be. But I have huge respect for Inverness as a team. They are not sitting second in the SPL for nothing."