SOMEHOW one sparky little Spaniard managed to make even the SPFL Championship title race seem like something of a sideshow at Cappielow on Saturday.
Much of the pre-amble had been dominated by one man, Nacho Novo, and his high-profile efforts to re-launch a football career in this country following a three-year absence. It almost seemed like a detail afterwards that Hamilton Academical had surrendered points to Dundee at the top of the table.
That few of the Lanarkshire league leaders seemed overly distraught about that fact was probably born of the knowledge that things could quite easily have been even worse for them. Although the visitors chided themselves for allowing converted central defender Michal Habai the space to head in a second-half cross from countryman Tomas Peciar, which cancelled out Anthony Andreu's close range opener, the home side struck the woodwork twice - one a sweet 20-yard angled drive from Novo - and had another cleared off the line in an enterprising first half hour.
Kevin Cuthbert, the former Morton player tending goal for the visitors, was impressed with what he saw on the 34-year-old Spaniard's debut, but was content enough to leave with a point ahead of fresh challenges - notably against Raith and Falkirk - in upcoming weeks.
"We knew they were going to come our firing," said Cuthbert. "They had a big, high-profile signing - maybe a bigger crowd as well - and they were going to go for it right from the start. We knew we were going to be under pressure and would have to weather the storm. So we are just disappointed that having done that and gone 1-0 up in the game that we didn't actually see it out. But fair play to Morton, they were fighting for their lives, and we didn't get a chance to play any football. There were probably about three passes in the game.
"It would have been good to have got a win, particularly with Raith not playing and Dundee winning, but this is a difficult venue and it always will be. It doesn't matter where you are in the league or where they are. We will just take the point and get on with it."
For Allan Moore's side, who remain bottom, this was a point and a performance in the right direction, but most pleasing of all was the fact the Spaniard got 90 minutes under his belt without feeling any ill effects. The Cappielow side face St Johnstone at the end of the month in a bid to reach the League Cup semi-finals.
"I think he [Novo] will be a success here," added the goalkeeper. "He has a point to prove and will probably score goals. He was unlucky with the shot which hit the junction of post and bar - you don't get anything for hitting the woodwork in this game but it was a fair effort - and obviously his experience will help them. Because in terms of where they are in the league, they need to get results. He will run the channels and work hard so I think he is a great signing."
Hamilton goalscorer Andreu, who finished smartly after Scott Taggart had cleared Mickael Antoine-Curier's header off the line following a short corner, bemoaned the fact his side hadn't been more creative. "It was a war," the Frenchman said. "We just didn't play at all. But it is a point and we move on. I played in midfield and I think I saw the ball twice. But Morton are better than their position says and this was a tough game."
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