Don’t write Morton off just yet, says Duffy

Morton manager Jim Duffy can understand why his side’s chances of progressing from their play-off quarter-final at Dundee United have been written off – but the Cappielow boss reckons that nothing should be taken for granted.

The Tannadice side lead 2-1 from the first leg on Tuesday and look on course to meet Falkirk at the semi-final stage with former Dundee and Brechin City boss Duffy saying: “Dundee United are big favourites now as they have the goal advantage and will be backed by a big home support.

“However, football is not a game of certainties. If we play like we did in the first half in midweek then we will give ourselves a chance to turn things around.”

During that opening 45 minutes Morton led through a Thomas O’Ware goal and came within a whisker of a second when Michael Tidser rattled the bar with a shot.

Duffy added: “Fine margins have had big influences in football since the game was invented.

“We were well on top and could have been two goals up but the ball hit the bar and that was that. However, that does not mask the fact that the biggest change was that we went from dominating the game in the first half to being dominated in the second.”

“We were on top for the opening 45 minutes and they were well on top in the second. A draw would have been fair result but when United changed their system at half-time we struggled to cope with it.

“Our players have been great all season but the turnaround in the score left us a bit deflated and for the final 20 minutes we did not have much in the tank.”

Aidan Nesbitt could return after illness and skipper Lee Kilday is prepared to play despite needing an ankle operation in the summer.

Football is not a game of certainties, claims boss Jim Duffy.