Morton manager Dougie Imrie insists the better team lost as Motherwell ran out 2-1 winners in the Scottish Cup fourth round at Fir Park yesterday.
After the sides couldn't be separated in 90 minutes, with neither side forcing many dramatic saves, Robbie Muirhead put the Greenock side ahead with a fine finish on the stroke of half-time in extra-time.
Michael Ledger's push on sub Ross Tierney saw Kevin Van Veen blast in a penalty equaliser, and when Tierney's shot was blocked on the line, Liam Donnelly sent the ball ripping into the top left corner in the final minute of the second half.
Hamilton Accies legend Imrie says his side deserved better from the game.
He said: "I’m gutted. I thought for the 120 minutes we were the better team by miles.
"They had spells in the game but I thought to a man we were miles ahead of them.
"Two decisions that ultimately cost us the game I’m bitterly disappointed with, but we move on.”
Imrie, from Lanark, says one of those decisions was the penalty awarded by referee Nick Walsh, with Michael Ledger judged to have pushed Ross Tierney in the box.
He said: "I’ll need to see it back; at the time I thought it was soft, but in your box you’ve got to keep your hands down.
"Referees have got a job to do, and Nick [Walsh] has called it the way he saw it, but for me I thought it was soft.
"We’ve still got 20 minutes still to go when that goal goes in. Motherwell are a good team, they’re not sitting fourth in the Premiership for nothing. They’ve done well this season, but I’m just bitterly disappointed with the way we lost it.
"I’m gutted for my players, I thought they were immense today.”
Morton were on a three-game unbeaten run in the Championship since Imrie took the reins, and says his players have been brilliant since he came in.
He said: "I’ve been given heart from the performances since day one. Since I’ve come in they’ve been absolutely excellent, but I think the better team never went through today.
"Motherwell are a good team and it was a test for us, but I thought we stood up to that, to a man, and if I can get that every week off them we’ll be fine.”
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
