ALLAN MOORE is delighted Morton ended 2012 on top of the Irn-Bru First Division.

But the Cappielow boss knows the biggest task will be staying up there until May.

Wins over promotion rivals Partick Thistle and Dunfermline in the last week have put Ton top of the standings.

They kick off the new year against bottom-of-the-table Dumbarton this afternoon and boss Moore said: "Everybody expected Thistle to go to Airdrie and turn them over, but there are no easy games in this league.

"It is great to go into the new year top of the league, especially as we have done it the hard way – we have come from behind.

"We have not been sitting up there, we have had two very hard games. The last time we played Thistle and Dunfermline we felt that we should have got six points out of six.

"We have beaten the two teams that were above us and now we are up there.

"The problem is that we are there to be shot down, it is a challenge.

"We probably won't stay at the top of the table all the way until the end of the season.

"There will be ups and downs, but as long as come the beginning of May we are up there I will be happy."

The Cappielow clash will see Dumbarton aiming to defy the league table and upset the odds to boost their First Division survival bid.

New boss Ian Murray claimed his first win as Sons gaffer with a 4-3 triumph at Falkirk at the weekend and he is pleased at the progress that is being made.

He said: "Being able to train during the day has been a big bonus for us with the boys being off work.

"At night during the week you are training on quarter or half pitches so to get the whole facility means we could actually work on a few things.

"Over the last few weeks it has been not having many games, but training has been excellent and the guys have done really well."