MORTON skipper Grant Gillespie says that his side’s free weekend has presented itself as a double edged sword...even if it’ll give his side a fresh impetus heading into their next game away to Livingston.

Ton were out of action at the weekend after failing to qualify from their League Cup section following defeats at the hands of East Fife and St Johnstone - results which the midfielder says still annoy him several weeks later.

Dougie Imrie’s side have since picked up form at the beginning of the league campaign, with draws against Partick Thistle and Hamilton Accies.

Gillespie, second right, says the free weekend could be a blessing in disguiseGillespie, second right, says the free weekend could be a blessing in disguise (Image: Kenny Ramsay)

So, when asked if the free weekend had come at the wrong time, Gillespie told the Tele: “A little bit, yeah. We were obviously disappointed not to have qualified from the League Cup group, so that’s frustrated us a little bit.

“But on the flip side, it has been a tough six weeks for us since coming back.

“It gave boys who’ve played a lot of minutes for us that chance to get a few extra days rest over the weekend.

"That can only benefit us going into the next week, because we know that Livingston away will be a really tough game.

“I don’t think that anyone in the Premiership liked going there, and they’ve just came down from there, so we know it’ll be a tough place to go.

“They’ll be itching to win the game as much as we are, because we both want to push up the league.

“It’s important that we remain focused and understand that it’ll be a tough game that’ll take a lot to get anything from.

“For such a new look side to have gone and got the results we have is pleasing, Partick particularly. They were everyone’s favourites for the league.

“We knew how big a task that was going to be, but coming off that game we came away thinking we’d done enough to even get three points.

"Training has been good and at a high tempo. But it’s important that we keep those standards and pushing ourselves so that come this Saturday against Livingston we can keep doing the right things.”

The Ton skipper says it’s vital that his side make inroads in the goalscoring department sooner rather than later, but he’s pleased to have picked up two clean sheets in his opening two games of the season.

He says the Cappielow side have given, and will continue to give, themselves a platform to build from, should they continue to keep the back door shut.

He added: “We’ve kept two clean sheets which is good. If you can’t keep them, then you make life harder for yourself.

“It’s just important now that with the chances that we’re creating, we get that first goal.

“When you do find that first goal it gives you the platform to build from.

“I don’t think that over the last two games, that anyone could say it could’ve gone either way. We’ve deserved our points.”