FALKIRK 1 Miller (90+1) MORTON 1 Kilday (86)

MORTON missed out on the chance to snatch three points from promotion rivals Falkirk as a Lee Miller injury-time header clawed back a point for the Bairns in a physical battle that left the Greenock side reeling.

Peter Houston’s men created the bulk of the chances in the match, only for Lee Kilday to deflect a Ross Forbes free-kick past Danny Rogers with three minutes remaining.

Miller’s late equaliser appeared to have broken the heart of a despondent Jim Duffy, as the manager lamented: “When you lose a goal with 10 minutes to go and you finish 1-1 you say that is not a bad result.

“You lose a goal in the dying seconds and it is a kick in the teeth – and a lot more painful.

“Over the 90 minutes, I don’t think Falkirk deserved to lose but when it happens in those dying seconds then it’s a punch in the solar plexus.

“The guys are gutted and I am gutted but we leave with a point, so it’s not the worst result in the world.”

Both sides fielded rigid 4-4-2 formations that cancelled one another out as each were well aware of each other’s promotion ambitions.

The only chance of note in the first half fell to Ross Forbes who curled his free kick just wide of the upright.

The Bairns launched quickly into attack at the restart, with Luke Leahy finding space on the left to fire in an effort that deflected off the upright from a tight angle.

Morton receded into their own half with the visitors grateful for the athleticism of Derek Gaston as the keeper acrobatically spurned a netbound James Craigen effort.

Kilday’s opener against the run of play rallied the Bairns with Luca Gasparotto forcing Gaston into a great save from a header in the last minute before Miller’s late, late heroics.

Bairns gaffer Peter Houston admitted afterwards there is still a lot to work to be done if his side are to push for the Premiership.

He stated: “We need to turn games like today into three points rather struggling for a point at the end.”