St Mirren supporters may take solace from the fact that the website counting the days since Morton last notched a competitive win against them has ticked over to day 6089.

It will seem scant consolation though as a last minute Alex Samuel goal for the visitors earned them a point that in truth, was the very least they deserved from a fiercely contested Renfrewshire debut.

An early goal from Jack Baird following a blunder by visiting keeper Grant Adam looked to have given under-fire St Mirren boss Ian Murray a crucial three points, but Morton’s pressure finally paid in the final minute with substitute Samuel’s poacher’s effort.

The game started at a frenetic pace, as Ross Forbes for the visitors and Scott Agnew for the home side both had decent opportunities in the opening minutes that failed to trouble either goalkeeper.

A fortunate break of the ball then presented a great chance to Saints striker Lawrence Shankland, but he rushed his finish in front of goal and blazed wildly over.

St Mirren got the early goal they were so desperate for after 12 minutes though, and it was one that definitely won’t make Morton goalkeeper Adam’s highlights reel.

Saints won a couple of corners in succession, and from the second of those, Agnew whipped a ball in on top of the keeper.

As he rose to collect, the ball squirmed from his grasp to Baird at the back post, and the defender duly popped his header into the top corner from a couple of yards.

Referee John Beaton then made a huge call when a high ball found Morton’s Stefan McLuskey racing into the box, only to go down under the sliding challenge of St Mirren keeper Jamie Langfield.

It looked as if significant contact had been made, but Beaton raced over to show the Morton winger a yellow card for simulation as the large visiting support behind the goal screamed for a penalty.

The main danger from Morton was coming from the left-foot of Forbes, and twice in quick succession his dead-ball delivery caused panic in the home box.

Firstly, from a free-kick Sean Kelly managed to scramble a header behind, and then from the resultant corner Denny Johnstone really should have made contact with a vicious in-swinger to draw the away side level.

Forbes then burst into the area and swung his weaker right-foot at a cross from the by-line that Langfield could only help on its’ way spinning towards goal, but Agnew managed to get back in the nick of time to acrobatically hook off the line.

Stephen Mallan then showed off his prowess from a dead-ball situation for St Mirren as his swerving effort arrowed towards the top corner only to be clawed away superbly by Adam to redeem his part in the opening goal.

Shankland could have done better than hit straight at Adam with a decent sight of goal at the start of the second-half, before Forbes flashed a ball across goal at the other end that just evaded Johnstone on the stretch.

The pair did link up as Forbes turned his man before finding Johnstone on the edge of the area, but the big striker’s volleyed effort brushed the wrong side of the net.

A wicked free-kick from Mallan was then glanced just wide by Shankland as he nipped in-front of the flapping Adam, before last ditch blocks at the other end denied Forbes and Thomas O’Ware.

O’Ware then glanced a header just wide and Michael Tidser stumbled when in a great position as Morton pushed for the equaliser.

Just as it looked as though all hope was lost, Johnstone unleashed a rocket in the 90th minute that Langfield could only parry, and Samuel followed in as all good strikers should to claim a deserved point.

ST MIRREN: Langfield; Reid, Webster, Baird, Kelly; McMullan (McLear, 74’), Carswell, Mallan, Agnew; Gallagher; Shankland (Thompson, 86’).

Scorers: Baird (12’)

Booked: Mallan (42’), Shankland (60’), Agnew (69’)

MORTON: Adam; Pepper, Gasparotto, Kilday, Russell; Barr, Tidser (McKee, 83’), O’Ware, Forbes, McLuskey (Samuel, 76’); Johnstone.

Scorers: Samuel (90’)

Booked: O’Ware (88’)

Man of the match: Stephen Mallan (St Mirren)

Referee: John Beaton