Reaction

Another three valuable points gathered in a game which Morton would have been lifted by the bringing in of their new manager Kenny Shiels, the game was played in dreadful conditions and was a credit to both teams and their supporters who braved the conditions. Not a game in which was conclusive to silky football but both teams battled against the wind and driving rain. Michael Doyle’s cross struck the cross bar but the ball would not come down for Andy Kirk, Kirk then had an effort ruled offside before he eventually got on the scoresheet three minutes before half-time after Kevin Cawley’s initial shot had been paried by Caraux. Morton had lots of possession but never posed a ny threat in front of goal, indeed Scott Bain never had a save to make in the game. Paul Hartley introduced substitutes Eddie Ferns and Declan McManus and both helped extend “The Wasps” lead, first Eddie Ferns broke clear but pulled his shot wide and then six minutes from the end he sped down the wing and crossed for Declan McManus to score his first goal for the club since coming on loan from Aberdeen. In the closing two minutes Paul Hartley introduced 17 year old Ryan Gemmell to give him a well earned first team debut.

paul hartley after morton victory

It was a game played in difficult conditions, but in terms of the players attitude and work ethic, I thought they were tremendous, it was another clean sheet for us, we have sort of based ourselves on that this year. We knew it would be a tough game for us today, with the new manager coming in, which would give their players a lift, but we showed a good mental side about us today, in a game we scored two good goals. We are doing ok, we are nearly half way through the season and we have a good points tally but we need to keep it going, we have a tough run of games coming up, there is no doubt we are punching above our weight but the players deserve where they are, because of their performances and the way they go about their business. Good for Declan to get a goal, he has been working hard during a frustrating time so it was pleasing to see him get his goal, it was a good finish, I thought both substitutions made a good impact on the game when they came on, in terms of trying to get us up the park and get in behind their defence. It was difficult in the second half playing with a wind directly in our faces but the players concentration levels were really high, our keeper didn’t have a lot to do but we defended our box pretty well. We are looking forward to each game just now, next Saturday it will be Dundee,we do not fear them, they will bring a big crowd, it is a game the players are really looking forward to, we always tend to do better against the bigger clubs in our league. I introduced young Ryan Gemmell before the end of the game, he is only 16, what we have seen of him this year, potentially he is going to be another great prospect, he has a real opportunity, he has a tremendous footballing brain, he is another one of the youths we are trying to blood and I thought today was the time to give him a start.