IF football is all about timing, then Morton’s current malaise could hardly have come at a worse moment.
With the end of the Ladbrokes Championship campaign approaching, the Greenock outfit should be garnering momentum for the play-offs and building towards their big shot at a return to the top flight.
Instead, they find themselves on a run of six matches without a win, augmented by yesterday’s 2-0 defeat against struggling Raith Rovers.
Jim Duffy, hailed as a dark horse for manager of the year recently, cannot buy a win, while goals are proving similarly elusive.
Morton have scored twice in those previous six outings, and the Greenock boss watched his side strike the woodwork three times in Fife, while Craig Barr and Ross Matthews were conversely clinical for the hosts.
“The form has definitely dipped considerably in the past month,” said Duffy. “We need to calm everybody down and get some belief back into the players. If we can do that then hopefully the results turn.
“We hit the woodwork post times and, when you aren’t at your best, you tend to find these things go against you.
“We are searching for confidence and there is a bit of anxiety in the players, they are rushing things and that can happen.”
Morton almost claimed the lead with just five minutes on the clock, with a towering header by Ricki Lamie kissing the outside of Pavol Penksa’s post and bouncing to safety.
That was as good as the early action got as an underwhelming first half meandered along. Until the half-hour mark, that is, when Barr was blissfully untroubled by defenders as he darted to the near post, clinically heading a Chris Johnston corner beyond Derek Gaston.
With the bit between their teeth, on-loan Rangers youngster Ryan Hardie then stung the palms of Gaston with a left-footed drive.
Just as in the first period, Morton struck the post five minutes after the restart. This time Jamie McDonagh darted down the right before delivering a low cross for Kudus Oyenuga, who saw his sliding effort denied by the upright.
They paid the price for that profligacy. The outstanding Barr started the move for their second goal of the afternoon, finding Jason Thomson whose slick delivery was perfect for Matthews. The young midfielder made no mistake in slotting home his second goal of the season from 10 yards.
Morton’s fortunes in front of goal were summed up when substitute Jon Scullion hit the inside of the post with a curling effort.
“We know the consequences of relegation and I feel like that has been a shadow over them,” said Raith boss John Hughes. “But all credit to the players, that’s an important three points.”
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