When your chairman steps on to the pitch to introduce your new star signing, and then manages to get the fellow's name wrong, you probably know that you are in for an unsettling afternoon.

Which is pretty much how things turned out for Morton fans whose afternoon began with the shock news that their club had signed a bloke called Alan McMenamin rather than the former Ross County striker Colin of that ilk. For while the hapless official corrected himself quickly enough, they witnessed many more fluffed lines before the game was done.

Their only consolation was the one sublime moment, after 53 minutes, when, after a sliced clearance by Raith centre-back Simon Mensing had done nothing more than return the ball into the box, Michael Tidser accepted a flick-on from Martin Hardie 20 yards out, steadied himself momentarily, and then fired a fierce shot, low and hard, past David McGurn's outstretched right hand.

Given the stack of chances Raith had at the other end of the pitch, it was a perverse and cruel outcome for the Fifers, and even Morton manager Allan Moore had the decency to look sheepish about the way things had turned out.

"I think we stole that," was Moore's admirably honest assessment. "I said to Grant [Murray, the Raith manager] after the game that they had been the better team. But we got the goal and we defended resolutely. We've got another three points and it's another game down.

"It was another grind-out. But the good thing for us is that we are grinding them out. We weren't too pleased with the way we played. Our home form hasn't been the best. I don't know if we're uptight, but I think our fans will be happy at the end of the season if we manage to win all our home games."

A quarter-century has passed since Morton last experienced top-flight football, during which time Greenock seems to have changed from a major industrial centre to a modest settlement on the outskirts of an Arnold Clark dealership.

Moore was probably overstating Raith's superiority, but Murray's frustration was still clear when he reflected on the game as a whole. He said: "You have to take your opportunities when you come to places like this. You know you are in for a hard game when you play the league leaders. We limited Morton to very few chances, but the lads have to realise it's the time of the year when you've got to win games."

Morton went into the game with Peter MacDonald operating alone up front and with Hardie tucked in behind the midfield. Moore explained that the formation had worked in recent games, so it was hugely to his credit that he acted decisively when he realised it wasn't working. At half-time, he kept David Graham in the dressing room and sent McMenamin on for his debut. Almost immediately, the 4-4-2 shape allowed them to apply consistent pressure.

It was also a massive benefit that Mark McLaughlin was such a commanding figure in the heart of the Morton defence, although the most significant piece of defensive work was provided by Kevin Rutkiewicz, who got a foot to a sizzling shot from Pat Clarke and somehow managed to turn it over the bar.

Raith also had a peach of a chance 12 minutes form the end when the ball broke to Brian Graham, who was standing near the penalty spot and had only the goalkeeper to beat. As Moore would acknowledge, a draw would have been a decent result, but the rain had been pouring down for 15 minutes by that point, Graham lost his footing on the greasy pitch and promptly wafted the ball high over the bar.