MORTON’s winless run now extends to six matches after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by relegation-haunted Raith Rovers, but manager Jim Duffy has refused to be too critical of his team. With three games to go of the regular season, the Ton are still all but sure of a play-off place, so Duffy sees no need to push the panic button.

“The scoreline was a bit harsh on us, as I can't remember our goalkeeper having too many saves to make,” he said. “I’m not saying their keeper has been overworked, but we did hit the post three times.

“The players have put an enormous amount of work in and we need to keep things in perspective. If someone had said at the start of the season, you will be eight points clear in a play-off place with three games to go, we would have taken it all day long.”

Ricki Lamie took just five minutes to rattle the post after rising highest to meet a Ross Forbes delivery, while the same fate met an instinctive effort from Kudus Oyenuga and a curling shot from distance by Jon Scullion in the second period.

By contrast, Raith were clinical with their scant sights of the target. Craig Barr’s glancing header from a Chris Johnston corner broke the deadlock after 28 minutes, and just before the hour, man-of-the-match Ross Matthews put the finishing touches to a slick move involving Barr and Jason Thomson. The result ended the home team’s three-day stay in the Championship’s relegation places, but they are still just a point clear of ninth-placed Dumbarton.

Morton have now scored just two goals in those half-dozen games without a win, and Duffy conceded that his team’s form has “definitely dipped considerably”. But they were seen as outsiders for a top-four berth at the start of the campaign, so are still ahead of expectations.

A victory over bottom-placed Ayr on Saturday will ensure them of a play-off slot at last even if fifth-placed Dunfermline win at Falkirk. And if the Pars fail to win, Duffy’s men will be in the play-offs whatever result they get.