The Easter Road side came from two goals down to take a 3-2 lead in extra-time and appeared to be cruising through to the third round.

However, a controversial penalty awarded against Dean Shiels, which Paatelainen claimed video evidence showed clearly it had hit the Irishman on his side, allowed Morton back into the tie.

And the home side were furious that Chris Hogg was penalised for the free-kick which led to Ryan Harding bundling in a sensational winner three minutes from the end of extra-time.

To make matters worse Paatelainen claimed Brines was wrong not to force Aussie Erik Paartalu to go off at that point following treatment, after he had jumped into Hogg in what the Hibs manager described as an "assault".

He said: "I'm very, very disappointed for the players because they put in an absolutely huge effort out there. What a comeback it was from them and that's the spirit we want.

"We are 3-2 up and the referee gave a penalty against us when it hit Dean Shiels in his ribs. He has a red mark on his side.

"I've watched it on video many times and it's never a penalty, it does not hit his arm, and they score. That's my judgement on the situation.

"For their fourth goal I felt it was an assault on Chris Hogg, a clear foul to us. Paartalu never looks at the ball, he looks at Chris Hogg and Chris Hogg looks at the ball.

"It should be a free-kick to us, so clearly, and the referee is in a great position to see that but he gives a free-kick to them.

"Their physio came on to attend to their player like ours did to see to Chris Hogg, but Chris Hogg went off and their player did not. We are a man short as a result.

"I'm deeply disappointed for the players.

"It was never a penalty, never in a million years, and I felt at the free-kick it was 100% a free-kick to us. I would even have booked the player because it was an assault."

Paatelainen was sent to the stand by Brines for apparently throwing a towel to the ground as he aired his grievances.

He added: "I didn't complain, of course I said it should be our free-kick. There were no strong words used at all.

"I was so disappointed when they scored because I knew that their player should have been off and it should have been our free-kick. I took a towel which I sat on and threw it on the floor, nothing else.

"I have not sworn or done anything else other than thrown my towel on the floor because I was so disgusted at the decisions and obviously the goal in the end."

Morton manager Davie Irons shrugged aside the controversy to hail his players.

He said: "All credit to the boys, I thought they were immense. I'm delighted for the boys.

"We've not had the best of starts to the season but hopefully we can take a lot of confidence from scoring four goals against an SPL side and coming from behind."