Derby win would be so sweet for Barr
IT’S not all about Rangers and Hibs. In the Championship, strange things are happening. Unexpected challengers are emerging. Twelve months ago, Morton’s Bobby Barr was working in a cake factory, his day beginning at 6am. Granted a second chance of full-time football, the icing on a slowly rising career would be a 15-point lead over rivals St Mirren by the end of Friday’s Renfrewshire derby. Creeping into the play-off places after their fourth league win in a row, Morton are surprising everybody. Pre-season expectations were of a grim battle for survival. A dogfight with Alloa and Dumbarton to avoid the drop as St Mirren challenged the top two and Falkirk. On-loan striker Denny Johnstone has been the difference. The former Celtic youth player, now on Birmingham City’s books, made it five in four games with his double against Queen of the South. Barr, a close challenger for the sponsor’s man of the match, is savouring another taste of full-time football. ‘I was working in a cake factory last year — it paid the bills and you cannot complain,’ he said. ‘But this is what you want to do, be full-time and play every Saturday. ‘The hours here are totally different from working from six until half two every day and then going to training at night. So it does make you appreciate it more.’ Johnstone looked to be having one of those days until his terrific strike broke the deadlock on 51 minutes. He added a second — his eighth of the season — with a close-range header when he was left unmarked. ‘It’s a great win and takes us into the top four for the first time this season,’ said Barr. ‘It’s brilliant — that’s four wins on the bounce, we’re playing well and the confidence is high. And now we are looking forward to Friday and the derby with St Mirren.’ The crying shame for Morton is the crowds, with less than 2,000 at Cappielow on Saturday. However, Friday night’s derby with St Mirren in Paisley should hold more appeal for Morton fans. ‘That’s massive for us,’ admitted Barr. ‘It showed in the first game down here against them that there was a good atmosphere. We were unlucky not to win the game.’ Queens boss James Fowler admitted his team were up against it from the start. They were fortunate to lose just two goals. He said: ‘We knew it was going to be a tough game. We are disappointed with the goals we conceded.’