Crawford rues lack of Pars cutting edge

Dunfermline closed to within four points of Championship leaders Hearts after a goalless draw at rainsoaked Cappielow last night.

But Pars boss Stevie Crawford felt his team should have left Greenock with victory after dominating from start to finish against fourth-top Morton.

He said: “It’s never pleasing coming away with just one point but we’re pleased how solid we were at the back. I can’t remember their goalkeeper making one save.

“We probably didn’t create enough chances in the first half but we had 15 in the second, although we lacked that cutting edge.”

The Fifers, playing their first game of 2021, looked ring rusty and took a while to settle.

In 20 minutes they finally created their first opening when Iain Wilson latched on to a poor clearance, but his low 17-yard effort was held well by goalkeeper Aidan Mcadams.

Dunfermline, undefeated in their last four matches since losing to Morton on December 12, began to warm to the task and in 28 minutes Wilson’s effort was deflected for a corner on the left.

Dom Thomas swung the ball over to the near post but Euan Murray flicked his shot wide.

The Pars, who have failed to win in Greenock in their last three seasons, were easily in charge of a first period where chances were at a premium.

In 41 minutes Thomas came close again when he tried to curl the ball into the top right hand corner, but goalkeeper Mcadams, trying to punch clear, just managed to push the ball wide for a corner.

Seconds later Thomas was involved again with a cross from the right which drifted just over.

With this encounter being the first since the direction to curtail any goal celebrations, both sides looked for the most part not to be tested in that regard, although Dunfermline looked the more likely.

The Pars continued where they left off after the restart and in 56 minutes Declan Mcmanus forced Mcadams into a full length save to palm the ball round his right hand post. Dunfermline’s best chance of the night came in 74 minutes when Ryan Dow pounced on a loose ball which broke to sub Kyle Turner, but his goalbound effort from 16 yards was blocked by defender Markus Fjortoft.

Nine minutes from time Lewis Mccann came perilously close for the Fifers with an angled drive which Mcadams tipped wide.

Crawford added: “It’s 18 days since our last game at Inverness so maybe we were lacking a bit of sharpness but we finished the game strongly and probably deserved to win.”

Morton caretaker boss Anton Mcelhone said: “It’s a very good point for us. Dunfermline are a good team and came here to make it tough for us.”