View from the Shed: Morton can begin to look up with Ayr win

With the week of controversy that followed Morton’s insipid defeat at Lesser Hampden, we could all have been forgiven for going into last weekend’s match against Airdrie with a bit of trepidation.

Ton eased a lot of fears with a resounding win over Airdrieonians (Image: alex craig)

But there was nothing to fear. Morton came flying out the traps and dominated from start to finish against their fellow slow starters, climbing above the Diamonds and into mid-table.

Let’s not think for a second that Airdrie being reduced to ten men, after Rhys Armstrong’s second booking early in the second half, had any real impact on the outcome of the game; Morton were streets ahead of their opponents in in every department.

It was only some misfortune in front of goal prevented that prevented a rout before Cammy Ballantyne provided the security of a second late on.

Morton’s profligacy has been a major talking point this season, but credit must go to Lamar Reynolds, who ploughed a lone furrow up top and had probably his best game since arriving in Scotland.

Reynolds staked his claim against the Diamonds (Image: Kenny Ramsay)

Although he wasn't getting the rub of the green in his search for his first Morton goal, with Airdrie keeper Murray Johnson spectacularly saving his fine second half volley.

There were several positives to take from the match. I was particularly encouraged by the blossoming partnership between Owen Moffat and Zac Delaney on the left-hand side, while Aaron Lyall looked very much like the player his boss openly admitted to being so enamoured with before he eventually got his man.

The centre back pairing of Kirk Broadfoot and Morgan Boyes completely strolled it, whilst Ryan Mullen won’t have a quieter afternoon all season, and ex-Diamonds man Cammy Ballantyne put in yet another fine performance.

Whisper it, but the much-maligned Ali Crawford is looking like a sound acquisition. 

Of course, special praise has to go to Iain Wilson, who dominated the match in a way that is rarely seen at Scottish Championship level. Just how Morton’s season pans out really will depend on the availability of Dougie Imrie’s star man.

It also can’t go without note that for the first time in 58 competitive games, no Morton player collected a booking.

Morton boss Dougie Imrie, right, will be reacquainted with ex-talisman George Oakley this weekendh (Image: Kenny Ramsay)

This weekend sees an altogether different task, though, when Morton roll up to Somerset Park to face high-flying Ayr United, and of course our old friend George Oakley.

The Honest Men have had a great start to the season, but have had their wings clipped in recent weeks. Three draws in each of their last three games have left them joint top with Falkirk, having played two games more than the Bairns.

Ayr’s case for automatic promotion was dealt a blow against Partick a fortnight ago, when top scorer Anton Dowds suffered a potentially season-ending cruciate ligament injury against his former club.

With seven goals to his name before his injury, the loss of the prolific hitman can’t be understated for Scott Brown’s side.

I’m not sure there are many Morton fans who will sympathise that Ayr will have to make do with Oakley leading the line, but with the loan window set to close at the end of the month, Ayr potentially being in the market for a striker while Morton are looking to replace the departed Jay Emmanuel-Thomas may not be to Imrie’s liking, given Brown’s significantly bigger budget.

The chasm in resources shouldn’t detract from Morton’s chances of taking something from a team that have failed to beat them in the last five meetings, though, especially after such a convincing weekend victory.

We’ve only really seen Morton struggle defensively when Falkirk visited at the end of last month, and despite our failings in front of goal this term, there’s no reason not to believe that Ton can’t emerge with a positive result from their trip down the coast.

While I don’t wish to get too excited off the back of one fine performance and result, we may just be seeing Imrie’s recruitment beginning to bear fruit as the table starts to take shape.

If Morton could put another spanner in the works of Ayr’s promotion push, it may just be time to start looking up the table rather than over our shoulders.