St. Johnstone are through to the fifth round of the cup despite the best attempts of their floodlights.
Saints started off the game on the front foot with Drey Wright picking the ball up on the half way line and tested out the Morton left hand side with a driving run that left them bewildered. His cut back found Stevie May, who had his shot blocked, but the ball broke to Callum Booth and his right footed strike found the top right corner from 25 yards out.
A perfect start for the premiership outfit, with them being 1-0 up after only four minutes. It could have been an even better start only a couple of minutes later, when David Wotherspoon's relentless pressure forced Morton goalkeeper Danny Rodgers into a mistake, as his attempted clearance ricocheted off the Canadian, but bounced the wrong side of the post for Tommy Wright.
It looked like the game would be dominated by the Perth side, but Morton battled their way back into it. Stephen Welsh, Jim McAlister, Robbie Muirhead and Reghan Tumilty combined down the right hand side with the latter cutting it back for Luca Colville who wasted a great chance by firing over the bar.
The visitors had another chance when Nicky Cadden cut inside onto his right foot and hit a low shot that was spilled by Zander Clark, right into the path of Tumilty who could not control the ball as it rolled out for a goal kick.
As Nick Walsh blew his whistle for half time, the game would be put in doubt. As darkness fell over McDiarmid Park, the floodlights were still thinking it was the winter break, after a 20 minute delay there was signs of life with the players reemerging onto the pitch.
The second half finally got underway when the floodlights sparked into life, although the same couldn't be said for Saints. Morton controlled the start of the second half. With Tumilty, Kyle Jacobs and Muirhead all taking turns at testing Clark in the Saints goal. None of their efforts proved to be challenging.
Saints took control of tie against the run of play when Murray Davidson headed home Drey Wright's out-swinging corner, in the 57th minute.
Tommy Wright's men then took control of the game looking to kill it off, Ali McCann won the ball back on the edge of the Morton box, played the ball out to Drey Wright whose low cross found Stevie May and he forced Rodgers into a great reaction save.
Saints continued to force the issue, with Anthony Ralston sending a long ball over the top, finding May who was clean through and killed off the tie with a lovely chip over the diving Rodgers, looking like the Stevie May of old in the process.
The performance wasn't the best and the score was flattering on them, but Saints won't care as they are through to the next round to face Ayr United at Somerset Park on the 8/9 February.
St Johnstone: Zander Clark; Anthony Ralston (Wallace Duffy 77'), Jason Kerr, Liam Gordon, Callum Booth; Drey Wright, Ali McCann, Murray Davidson, David Wotherspoon (Scott Tanser 82'); Chris Kane, Stevie May (Callum Hendry 82').
Scorers: Callum Booth 4', Murray Davidson 57', Stevie May 74'
Morton: Danny Rodgers; Stephen Welsh (John Sutton 66'), Jack Baird, Brian McLean; Reghan Tumilty, Kyle Jacobs, Jim McAlister, Nicky Cadden, Lewis Strapp; Luca Colville (Chris Millar 72'), Robbie Muirhead (Reece Lyon 80').
MOTM: Callum Booth
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