McCall on the brink as Jags slump again

PARTICK THISTLE manager Ian McCall knows the pressure is building on his position after his side suffered their sixth defeat in a row.

However, McCall remains confident he can turn around the Jags’ form slump and be challenging for promotion but insists their next outing against Arbroath at home next Saturday is now a must win.

Morton closed the gap on leaders

Ayr United to three points as goals in either half from Efe Ambrose and Cameron Blues sealed the win.

Anton Dowds had drawn Thistle, who had Olatunji Akinola sent off in stoppage time, level after the interval.

Partick have now lost five on the spin in the Championship, as well as a defeat by Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup, to drop to seventh in the league. McCall said: ‘I’m under serious pressure. We need to win our next game. Confident I can turn it around? 100 per cent. I’d like to think we’ll have three or four players back for next week and I’m confident if we get them back, get to January and stay within four or five points then we’ll be right in the mix.’

Morton went ahead after 21 minutes when Ambrose headed home a Robbie Crawford corner and then produced his trademark backflip celebration. The hosts appealed for a penalty when Crawford tumbled in the box after being clipped by Lee Hodson but referee Graham Grainger ignored their appeals, then booked Crawford for his protests.

Partick drew level just before the hour mark as Dowds produced a clinical finish.

With 11 minutes remaining, Blues restored Morton’s lead and then in stoppage time Akinola was shown a straight red for hauling down Jai Quitongo when he was in on goal.

Morton boss Dougie Imrie said: ‘We are in a good place but we won’t get carried away.’