By Colin Moffat

Morais enjoyed an impressive debut for the Highland side

Filipe Morais marked an impressive Inverness debut with two goals in the Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle.

The Portuguese midfielder let fly with a long-range effort on 28 minutes and it took a huge deflection on its way past goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffy.

Early in the second half, Iain Vigurs smashed home a sweet strike from just inside the penalty area.

And Morais grabbed his second on 56 minutes when he scuttled through to poke a shot beyond Tuffy.

With Inverness struggling at the foot of the Scottish Premier League, this match was tipped to provide an upset, but Craig Brewster's side turned in a polished performance to earn a comfortable victory.

With the lively Morais at the heart of everything, the home team made a strong start and Roy McBain saw his powerful rising strike tipped away by Tuffy.

Morais, who arrived in the Highlands from Hibernian this week, then sent in a teasing delivery with Andrew Barrowman inches away from connecting.

A defensive lapse allowed Barrowman to slide an angled shot under the advancing Tuffy, but the ball rolled narrowly wide of the post.

Thistle responded with a low strike from Liam Buchanan that was gathered comfortably by Michael Fraser.

Gary Harkins was the visitors' most impressive player and the busy midfielder fizzed a shot from distance inches wide of the target.

Morais made the breakthrough when he was given time to set his sights from 30 yards and the ball took a wicked deflection off the outstretched leg of Marc Twaddle on its way into the corner of the net.

The home side doubled their advantage almost straight from the kick off in the second half, with Don Cowie feeding Vigurs with a neat pass.

The midfielder sped into the penalty box and lashed a powerful angled strike past Tuffy.

Partick Thistle substitute Scott Chaplain found room to squeeze a shot on target, but Fraser got down smartly to push the ball away.

From the resulting corner, Chaplain was presented with another sight of goal, but his effort from 10 yards was charged down by a cluster of home defenders.

Simon Donnelly had the ball in the net for the Jags soon after, but the former Celtic star had strayed offside.

Following the flurry of attacks from the First Division side, Inverness added another goal to knock the stuffing out of the visitors.

Barrowman headed on for Morais to chase on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder was claiming his second of the day, although defender Simon Storey's sliding challenge may have helped the ball into his own net.

Inverness manager Craig Brewster:
"It was pleasing to get three goals and we got them at crucial times.

"Filipe Morais gave us a spark with his pace and his quality on the ball. He certainly lifted the crowd and he lifted the team.

"I'm under same pressure as every other manager to win games of football - it's nice to put a smile on faces for the weekend.

"Today's was positive look forward to the game at Hamilton next week."

Partick Thistle assistant manager Gerry Britton:
"Caley mastered the conditions better than we did. They are a strong, physical side and they got the ball forward early to play off scraps.

"There were two deflected goals, so they got that bit of luck. I don't think there was three goals between the sides.

"Certain aspects of our game were fine, but we're disappointed with the final ball in final third.

"We didn't create enough chances to get back into the game."

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Mihadjuks, Munro, Djebi-Zadi (Hastings 45), Morais (Rooney 81), Duncan (Gathuessi 73), McBain, Vigurs, Cowie, Barrowman. Subs Not Used: Esson, Wood.

Goals: Morais 28, Vigurs 46, Morais 56.

Partick Thistle: Jonathan Tuffey, Archibald, Harkins, Storey, John Robertson (Roberts 25), Paton, McKinlay (Doohlan 75), Rowson, Twaddle, Donnelly, Buchanan (Chaplain 46). Subs Not Used: Hinchcliffe, Michael Robertson.

Att: 1,803

Ref: E Smith

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Filipe Morais 8.38 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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