‘BOYS LEFT ME LOST FOR WORDS’
Boss says side have been ‘unbelievable’
MORTON manager Dougie Imrie admits his side have left him speechless after they came up with a stunning late victory over Cove Rangers.
The result leaves the Greenock side just one point off the top of the table after leaders Ayr United drew at Inverness and extends their unbeaten run to eight game.
The Ton boss praised his side for their rapid response to conceding a late equaliser to Jim
McIntyre’s side and he was full of praise of summer signing Robbie Crawford, who netted the winner and his first Morton goal.
He told the Tele: “Robbie is a quality player.
“I am just delighted to have him, as I am the rest of the boys.
“They have been unbelievable this season.”
kick from the best part of nearly 40 yards in the 56th minute and saw the left-footed effort come off the outside of the left post, with McKenzie rooted in the Cove Rangers goal.
The thunderous effort would have been on par with his set-piece effort away at Partick Thistle earlier in the season.
Ten minutes later the former MK Dons man came close again.
After some good play between midfielders Blues and Crawford, the striker was found with his back to goal and, working the shooting angle onto his favoured left, he fired an effort which took a slight deflection and was pushed away for a corner by McKenzie.
Strapp found himself in a promising area deep down the left side after receiving the ball from McGrattan, he rounded the onrushing McKenzie but tried to cut the ball back which allowed Reynolds to defuse the danger and put it behind for a corner.
With seven minutes remaining the hosts pulled level through substitute McIntosh.
A cross from the left side seemed to cause confusion at the back post, Schwake was taken out of position and seemingly misjudging the flight of the ball with the conditions again playing their part, and the ball fell to the winger who headed into the empty net.
However, in the 87th minute Imrie’s men responded in brilliant fashion, courtesy of a first Morton goal for Crawford.
A trademark long throw from Strapp broke to the midfielder just inside the area and he slammed the ball home on his right side and into the far corner.
The visitors held on at the end with comfort to seal yet another valuable three points.
With their unbeaten run extending to eight games, Morton head into Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash against Queen of the South in fine fettle.
“It took us a few months to get the team gelling, but we have got a settled side, and a way we want to play.
“I am lost for words for them — on Saturday they were brilliant.”
The 39-year-old feels his team dealt with the tricky weather conditions well, with the wind making the match difficult for both sides.
Imrie said: “They were very difficult conditions.
“The first half was difficult to try and get into our rhythm, but to come in 1-0 up at half-time was really pleasing and we had a few other chances, to be fair.
“I don’t think Cove really caused us too many problems in the first half, which was pleasing for us as well with the conditions.
“They had the wind in the first half, but I thought we controlled the game in the second.
“We lost a really poor goal, but the commitment and the desire from the boys to go and get that winner is clear to see — and what a finish from Robbie.
“We play in the cup next week, so it gives us a break, but the games are still coming thick and fast, and they will get harder and harder.
“We are in a good position, but this league is crazy at times, so we won’t get carried away.
“We are just delighted with the run that we are on and we want to try and keep that going.”
Imrie is delighted that the club are in a strong position on and off the park, but he insists staying in the second tier remains their main objective — despite being just one point off the Championship summit.
He added: “We probably have the lowest budget in the league, but we are working away.
“I am pleased for the board, they have been brilliant and they knew themselves at the start of the season that they were in a tricky position.
“But we got a little bit of help from Dalrada, and they have been brilliant with us and helped the club with a bit of investment.
“I’m delighted with that, but we will not get carried away, our aim at the start of the season was to finish eighth, stay in the league, and we are on track to do that.
“But this league is mental, there is a long way to go and there are a lot of games still to be played.”