IF ever a Tennent's Scottish Cup tie was finely poised for an upset, then this third round clash was the most likely to produce a giant-killing act.

And, after coming from a goal behind to beat Kilmar-nock 3-1, Morton provided a display that sent away the Cappielow hordes warmed by throwback memories of glory cup runs from the past.

The performance posted notice that this young Ton side may well be good enough to bring top-flight football back to Greenock.

However, as Cappielow boss Jim McInally today took stock of a fourth round draw that sees his side travel to face Motherwell at Fir Park, Macca threw down the gauntlet to his boys to prove the Killie KO was no flash in the pan.

McInally said: "It is a good draw albeit against another SPL side away from home and we are obviously underdogs again. But what the boys must do is prove the Kilmarnock win was no fluke. They have to show they are capable of performing at the level they gave me once again against SPL opposition and that is a big ask."

But Macca was also keen to savour his side's third round shocker of the Ayrshire side.

He said: "We did it the hard way, but after we equalised I thought our hunger and determination to keep going for the goals was tremendous.

"It was a great performance from everyone in the team."

With both sides committed to playing the ball on the deck, it was Morton who had the better of the early exchanges.

Killie, however, should have gone ahead after a high quality exchange of passes between Stevie Naismith and Colin Nish saw the latter's low drive only partially stopped by Paul Mathers and the ball had to be belted off the line by the covering Ryan Harding.

But, in 33 minutes, with play ebbing and flowing from one end to another, Chris Templeman's back-post header from Jamie Stevenson's deep cross almost put the Ton in front.

Within two minutes of the restart, Killie finally showed their class when Garry Hay crossed for Colin Nish to hook home from six yards out.

Then, in 57 minutes, Stevenson's free-kick found Templeman deep in the Killie box and the big striker's header bounced inches wide with Smith stranded.

Three minutes later Templeman's persistence finally paid off when his 20-yard strike deflected off Frazer Wright and past the helpless Smith to shake the Cappielow stands to their foundations.

But there was even better to come from the big man in 68 minutes when his acrobatic volley beat Smith, despite the Killie No.1 getting a decent hand to the ball as Morton deservedly surged in front.

And it was game over when Jim McAllister jinked his way through the retreating Ayrshire rearguard and picked out Paul McGowan, the on-loan Celt, who buried from five yards.

Rugby Park chief Jim Jefferies had no doubt his side let themselves down.

He fired: "Maybe the boys are starting to believe their own publicity and think they have cracked it.

"But I have told them in no uncertain terms that they are not pulling their weight. Unless there is an improvement we will end up undoing all of our early season good work.

"Now we need to go all the way in the League Cup to soften the financial blow."

Morton: Mathers, Weatherson, MacGregor, Harding, Greacen, Keenan (Finlayson 49), Millar, Stevenson (Walker 76), Templeman, McGowan (Russell 84), McAlister. Subs not used: Graham, McGurn.

Kilmarnock: Smith, Fowler, Hay, Greer, Ford, Naismith, Nish, Wales, Invincible (Murray 72), Johnston, Wright. Subs not used: Dodds, Leven, Adams, Combe.

Att: 6,649.

Referee: Mike McCurry.