MORTON'S last victory began with a huddle.

This one, however, ended in a cuddle. Given the torturous seven or so weeks which have passed between the two events, the affectionate nature of Allan Moore's post-match love-in was understandable as he sought comfort and, more unusually, celebration in the arms of strangers.

The Morton manager has suffered greatly since his team stoutly dealt with all a spluttering Celtic could chuck at them in the Scottish League Cup back in September. Less than 24 hours later, he learned of the sudden death of his brother, Steven, while on a family holiday.

Yet as much as the warmth garnered from hugging a frozen press pack on the touchline of a wintry Cappielow will have undoubtedly been a highlight for Moore, the play of his team for much of the game against Dumbarton, and the goals which it delivered, will have given him the biggest glow from what could have been a bleak afternoon. Five defeats and one draw were noted on the convictions sheet prior to Saturday, a criminal run which left Morton five points adrift at the foot of the SPFL Championship table. But the three points wrestled from this meeting may have at last delivered the get-out-of-jail-free card Moore has been waiting on as his team slowly crawl within two points of Cowdenbeath.

"It's a big relief," admitted Moore,. "Since what happened in my personal life I've not had any great results. I said a wee prayer in the toilet beforehand, and I don't normally do that.

"We've got a wee bit up on the dressing room wall from Sir Alex Ferguson's book and it says, 'when you're in a bad run you must change the way you play. You have to get it into the strikers quicker, you have got to get it into the wide areas and you must slip the balls into the channels'. That's what we tried to do today.

"If God keeps giving us three points, I'll have a prayer every week."

While this performance may not have been up to Manchester United standard, it was nevertheless purposeful. Morton focused on exploiting Dumbarton's defensive frailties on a dreich day, with Mark McLaughlin sclaffing Morton's best first-half chance wide in the opening seconds, while Nacho Novo scudded the post with a right-foot torpedo from 25 yards not long after.

Despite the Spaniard replicating his feat in the second half, McLaughlin would not fluff his lines for a second occasion, this time stooping low to steer Dougie Imrie's free-kick into the bottom corner of the net to breathe life, and belief, once more into Morton's play on the hour.

"It was more of a falling header rather than a diving one," admitted McLaughlin, whose goal was followed up by Tomas Peciar taking advantage of some calamitous Dumbarton defending on 88 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.