Flattering to deceive

They were bright, positive and created three decent opportunities.

It was just the aggressive opening their manager James Grady had been looking for pre-match, and the visiting support must have been impressed.

But from then on it was the league leaders who began to take a secure grip of proceedings. Indeed, had it not been for Colin Stewart in the Morton goal, it would have been the Dark Blues who would have gone in at the interval with their noses in front.

One save in particular, from Craig Forsyth's close range shot, was a piece of instinctive inspiration.

It is the major flaw in this Morton side that too often they flatter to deceive. For all that they play attractive football under new management duo James Grady and Allan McManus, theirs is a blade without a rapier thrust and, in the other hand, is a shield too often made of putty.

Dundee eventually showed why they will win this league. They have better players than anyone else and they have a bench from which they can pluck others able to make a real contribution.

Barring the kidnap of men such as Leigh Griffiths and Gary Harkins, there is no one capable of playing football more effectively in the First Division than Jocky Scott's Dark Blues.

James Grady's after-match comments suggest he has reached the conclusion that, however hard they try, this group of Morton players have to be strengthened if the ambitions of the club, the support and he and his assistant are to be realised.

Changes will be made, in the January window if possible, and certainly at the end of the season when much of the squad is out of contract.

And players such as Neil MacFarlane and Allan Jenkins will soon make their reappearance to add much needed drive and experience.

Some of Morton's football was very pleasing at times, and in those opening stages they raised a few eyebrows among the Dee support.

In 10 minutes Iain Russell, restored to the side after his loan spell at Alloa, stretched to reach a Monti pass but could only loft the ball well over.

A Peter Weatherson free kick from near the left corner of the penalty area, produced a fine, diving save from Douglas at the expense of a corner.

From the flag kick by Carlo Monti, Erik Paartalu got his head to the ball only to send a rather soft effort straight to Douglas. But it was enough for the travelling fans to find their voices.

It was a false dawn, however. Rather than encourage Morton to more substantial efforts, Dundee became galvanised. First Stewart Greacen had to bring off an excellent interception to prevent a dangerous ball finding its target, then a Gary Harkins drive produced a good full length save from Colin Stewart.

Hart and Griffiths combined intelligently to create another opportunity for Harkins who just failed to get on the end of Griffiths' ball across the goalmouth.

Dundee were surging forward and in 29 minutes they seemed certain to open their account, but Stewart brought off a superb stop to deny Forsyth from close range. The ball squirmed away from him and young Monti kicked it off the line at the right post with Dundee claiming the ball had crossed the whitewash.

A Harkins shot struck Stewart and the intervall finally arrived goalless, but with Dundee having snatched the early initiative away from the visitors.

Ten minutes into the new half, Dundee struck, Leigh Griffiths steeling in on the blind side of the defence to connect with a perfect, inswinging Forsyth ball from the left.

The glee of Dee was, however, dramatically cut short five minutes later, with a goal of remarkable similarity. This time Kevin Finlayson supplied the cross from wide right, and there was Peter Weatherson at the back post to head strongly past Douglas.

Once again the Morton faithful found their voices, but another five minutes brought another goal, this time for the hosts.

It was a piece of play which typified the fragility Morton show too often at both ends of the park. The visitors were on the attack and Kevin Finlayson did very well to whip in a cross from the right byeline.

It was begging for a near post runner, but none was there for Morton, the ball was comfortably cleared and Richie Hart proceeded to run fully 50 yards before executing a perfect cut-back from the left onto which Gary Harkins strode to side-foot home.

The tempo was fast and furious by now. Griffiths just missed a Forsyth cross, then McMenamin shot past the right post, before Morton found a reply through Erik Paartalu's stinging long-range drive, parried by Douglas.

Weatherson hooked a Finlayson cross well over the target, then Griffiths fired a 20-yard drive which dipped narrowly over the crossbar.

Still Morton were trying to respond and Jim McAlister did well to cut inside from the left only to strike his parting shot wide of the right post.

With time running out, Dundee killed the game with a third goal, and it was, frankly, deserved reward on the run of play. The ball was swept into the goalmouth from the left and Dominic Shimmin put it out for a corner on the right with no one near him.

Over came Forsyth's excellent flag kick and Eddie Malone, up in support, rose among a throng of bodies to get the back of his head to the ball and send it into the net.

There was no way back for Morton.Their saving grace at present is the relative poverty of Ayr and Airdrie.

There are still players such as Jenkins and MacFarlane to return, but this game may just have been the point at which ruthlessness of management takes over from the lack of it on the pitch.

DUNDEE (4-4-2): Douglas; Paton, Lauchlan, MacKenzie, Malone; Harkins, Hart (Klimpl 85), Kerr, Forsyth; McMenamin, Griffiths (Clarke 83).

Subs not used - Cameron, Benedictus, Soutar.

Bookings: Hart 48, Malone 72.

MORTON (4-4-2): Stewart 8; Van Zanten 6, Greacen 6, Shimmin 6, Reid 6; Finlayson 7, Paartalu 6, Monti 6, McAlister 6; Russell 6 (Kane 77 3), Weatherson 7.

Subs not used - Wake, McGuffie, MacGregor, McWilliams.

Referee: Callum Murray 7.

Attendance: 4,259.