McManus out to crack his curse of Cappielow
DECLAN McMANUS will always treasure his time at Morton after lapping up his first taste of silverware. However, the Dunfermline marksman is determined to finally end the Cappielow hoodoo that has followed him ever since leaving.
The 26-year-old spent the 2014/15 campaign on loan at Cappielow from Aberdeen and admits it was a formative campaign, with McManus thriving under Jim Duffy and notching 23 goals.
Morton romped to the title and McManus walked away with the PFA Scotland League One player of the year award for his performances. It ensures all of his subsequent trips to face Morton are that little bit more special.
He said: “We ended up winning the league and I was PFA player of the year so I have really fond memories.
“It was my first trophy as a player and winning a title for the first time was something special that I will always remember.
“We had a really good squad, a top dressing room and I am still in touch with many of the boys who were there.”
“It was an eye-opening season. I was at Aberdeen at the time and had a loan spell at Alloa before that had not worked. I struggled a bit at Alloa because we were a team that was on the back foot, defending for most parts.
“The time at Morton was completely different. I had a great manager in Jim Duffy and a good team at that level.
We were on the attack for most of the game, it suited me and I managed to get into the swing of things. It was just a great season for me personally and for the team.”
While McManus may have a soft spot for Morton, his results against the Greenock outfit have been frustrating.
McManus has returned to Cappielow six times as an opposition player with three different clubs – Raith Rovers, Dunfermline and Ross County – and lost them all.
He continued: “It is never an easy game. I haven’t won there since!
“Morton teams make it tough; they are always hard to beat and it will not be any different on Friday.
“They are the only team that has beaten us in the league this season and that’s extra incentive to go there and take points off them – like they did to us.”
McManus confesses to a sense of relief that Dunfermline and the rest of the Championship are simply allowed to play, revealing he learned of the suspension to football below the second tier after training earlier this week.
However, McManus has a huge amount of sympathy for many of his friends who have been affected.
He added: “It is good for us that we are able to keep doing what we love.
“There are so many boys that I know in League One and League Two and, although I know a lot of them are part time and have other jobs, football is what we love to do.
“For it to be is halted for them is really tough – and we are the lucky ones to be able to go about our everyday business.”
Meanwhile, Morton boss Anton McElhone has urged Robbie Muirhead to continue his development after the former Dundee United and Hearts man extended his contract until the end of the current campaign.
The 24-year-old, who once played for Dunfermline, has made 10 appearances for the club this term.
And McElhone said: “Robbie is a valued member of the squad and his recent performances have been excellent for us.
“The challenge for him now is to continue that progress.”