ROSS FORBES insists Morton are not content to pat themselves on the back at simply reaching the Premiership play-offs.

And the midfielder believes there is enough energy, talent and determination left in Jim Duffy’s small squad to defy the odds once more.

A 2-1 defeat at home to Dundee United on Tuesday night leaves the Cappielow club going to Tannadice needing to win to have any chance of keeping their season going beyond tonight’s quarter-final second leg.

It has been a long old season for Morton who have stunned many by surging to a fourth-placed finish in the Ladbrokes Championship table. And Forbes, who previously played in the top flight for Motherwell has not given up hope.

"Morton were proud to get in the play-offs first and foremost,” he said. "We don't just want to make the play-offs and that is it.

"Every player in this dressing room wants to better themselves and by winning the play-offs and getting into the Premiership you can do that.

"It is a hard ask by that is why we are here. We will be giving it everything as this could be our last game of the season. It might not be and we hope that it isn't .

"We have got to give one final push and see where it takes us. The squad has been really together over the course of the season.

"We are a tight knit-bunch and the manager and his assistant have us well drilled "They don't let up on us for even a day in training and it is constant.

"We work hard for each other and that is why we have got some great results this season.

"It has been a really enjoyable campaign. It is great when you are at the top end of the league and making the play-offs has been brilliant.”

It was a fine line between victory and defeat on Tuesday that saw Morton come up short.

A dominant first half period saw United on the back foot and trailing to a Thomas O’Ware goal at half-time. In truth it easily could have been two or three.

Despite running out of puff in the second half, Forbes takes inspiration and hope from that first 45.

“The first half showed how good we can play,” said the midfielder. "Dundee United changed their shape in the second half and kind of got to grips with the game.

"They scored two fantastic goals and there is nothing you can do about that.

"The first goal is rifled into the top corner and we could possibly get tighter to the player and the second is a long range strike. We got in their faces in the first half and we have taken the lead, hit the crossbar and could maybe had had a penalty.

"These are things that go for you or against you.

"There is no away goals rule in the play-offs so that is definitely a good thing from our point of view.

"We are still in the tie and if we can go to Tannadice and get the first goal then we are right back in it. If we can bet back level in the tie then we don't know how they are going to react or how the crowd will react.”