MORTON boss Dougie Imrie has vowed to stick to his principles as he issued a Cappielow rallying cry ahead of tonight's Championship clash against Ayr United.

Friday night football returns to Cappielow this evening and the Morton chief has urged his side to show their bounce back ability against Scott Brown's men to bring an end to a run of three consecutive defeats.

And Imrie says it is important to forget last week's mauling at Falkirk quickly ahead of a crucial period of fixtures for the Greenock side.

He told the Tele: "You want to try and be there to help the players - to improve and also to bounce back.

"We know we could've done better for all of the goals, it's not as if we conceded brilliantly from long range. It was four crosses, a penalty and a shot from the edge of the box.

"But you need to try and eradicate the performance and the result as quickly as possible. We've looked at it. We know it wasn't good enough and we cannot afford to let it fester because we've got massive games coming up.

"We've got three games in eight days coming up, a result like that can happen at any time in football - it's about how you react to that.

"We've been here before during my time at the club - we've been through tough periods. It's all about how you react.

"The football won't change. We'll keep playing the same way.

"We'll keep passing it through the thirds and trying to get the ball wide and into the box. We've done it really well at times and other times it's not worked so well, which is part and parcel of football.

"We've shown we can do it - so just because we've lost a couple of games it doesn't mean we're about to go route one and shell the ball 70 yards.

"I believe that what I'm seeing is working, although the final third needs to be better, which in line with the hardest part of football.

"We need to start putting the ball in the back of the net.

"We've been creating the chances, that's evident for people to see."

Imrie extended his battle cry to the Morton support, who he said are needed more than ever as his wounded side look to get back to their best.

He admitted that football is an industry which can change very quickly as he urged fans to come out and back his side in their numbers at Cappielow this evening.

He added: "We need everybody together. There's no point in being disjointed and angry. You need positivity.

"I'm big enough and ugly enough to take it, but the players need everybody behind them.

"It was the same last season with negativity, then bang we win a few games and you're the best thing since sliced bread. That's football though, everyone thinks it's easy and you just win game after game.

"It's at times like this when people show their true colours and get behind their team if you call yourself a true supporter."