Dee-light as super sub Mullen earns a point
MORTON 2 Mcguffie (41), Colville (69) DUNDEE 2 Cummings (65), Mullen (81) Dundee dug deep to twice come from behind and earn under-pressure boss James Mcpake a valuable point.
Morton had looked set to climb above their opponents in the table but an inspired substitution from Mcpake brought Dundee alive with Danny Mullen creating Jason Cummings’ goal that cancelled out Craig Mcguffie’s opener.
The Dens Park sub then helped himself to Dundee’s second leveller after Luca Colville had put Ton back in front.
Dundee had Charlie Adam missing from their line-up with the former Scotland international believed to be self-isolating and they could have done with his finesse in a game that was more competitive than cultured.
Mcpake’s afternoon got off to bad start when he was cautioned by referee Craig Napier on two minutes for comments to stand-side assistant Alan Mulvanny following a monstrous throw-in
from Lewis Strapp that prompted an aerial joust in the visitors’ box.
Morton had the first effort on target on five minutes when Cameron Salkeld got behind the Dundee defence and fired low at Jack Hamilton with the shot-stopper scrambling the ball away for a corner.
The Dark Blues’ had a glimpse of goal soon after when Shaun Byrne picked out Paul Mcgowan but he sent a lobbed effort high over.
At the other end the Cappielow men came within an inch of scoring when Mcguffie’s curling cross was met by a deft flick from Salkeld, the ball creeping just wide.
Home keeper Aidan Mcadams clawed the ball away from Cummings’ foot after Lee Ashcroft had headed a corner goalward. Two minutes later the visitors came close again when Liam Fontaine flighted a cross to the back post but Osman Sow headed over.
A goal arrived four minutes from the break and it came in fine style with Mcguffie smashing home from 20 yards after Strapp nodded down a Brian Mclean pass.
Dundee were more positive after the break and Sow created space for a shot at the edge of the box. However, it ran straight into the arms of Mcadams.
Morton were dropping deep into their half, allowing the visitors plenty of possession.
However, with moves consistently breaking down, Mcpake made his move just after the hour with Max Anderson and Mullen coming on.
The change worked almost instantly as Mullen headed on a Hamilton clearance to Cummings and the former Hibs hero darted forward before firing in a left foot shot.
With their tails up, Dundee went looking for a second and Mcmullan ran 40 yards before slipping a pass to Cummings but this time his shot was headed wide for a corner.
Morton responded to Dundee’s resurgence by retaking the lead on 69 minutes when Mcguffie sent over another inviting cross and Colville rose high to nod home.
A minute later, Mullen rattled the home side’s bar with a six-yard shot and an equaliser looked on when the ball fell to Anderson. However, his stabbed effort was headed off the line by Ton’s Sean Mcginty.
With the game taking on a basketball feel, Cameron Blues sent a 25-yard shot whistling inches wide of Hamilton’s goal.
Instead a second equaliser arrived nine minutes from time when Mcmullan darted clear on the left and his back post cross was met by Mullen who nodded in from close range.
Anderson almost grabbed a late winner for the visitors but Mcadams rose to push his shot over.