McGraw talking Morton up via play-offs

MORTON legend Allan McGraw was the last Cappielow boss to lead the team to the top flight.

That was 30 years ago and he reckons Jim Duffy can still do it with the current Ton team despite the 4-1 derby defeat to St Mirren on Tuesday night.

McGraw steered the Greenock club to Premier promotion in 1986-87 by a single point from Jim Leishman’s Dunfermline.

He recalled: “It was a great season and we played some really good football. I saw Morton lose in midweek to St Mirren but I know they can bounce back and the manger Jim Duffy has done a fantastic job.

“It would be great if they could go up in the play-offs.

“I was quite impressed with St Mirren the other night and they deserved the win. I think they will stay up now.”

Asked about Ton’s title win back in 1987, McGraw said: “I didn’t realise it was that long ago – 30 years, where does the time go? I still remember Dumbarton were a real threat that season and we beat them in a crucial game during the run-in.

“In the end we just pipped Dunfermline by a point but they had lost five of their last eight games and were in a slump at the wrong time.

“This season has been tough with Hibs and Dundee United in the league but Morton have done well against them and I saw them draw last week with Hibs which was another good game.

“Duffy really deserves a lot of credit for this season and how he has transformed the team. He lost five or six really good first-team players from last season but recruited well in the summer and the transfer window.

“I would fancy their chances in the play-offs and what an achievement it would be to go back to the top tier 30 years on from the last time.”