BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
GARY OLIVER is adamant Morton will go down all guns blazing if their promotion dream ends at Tannadice on Friday night.
The Cappielow men trail Dundee United 2-1 following a breathless playoff first leg on Tuesday evening, ensuring Ray McKinnon’s men are firm favourites to finish the job at home and progress to a tie against Falkirk.
However, Morton have punched above their weight all season and – vowing that it is ‘only half-time’ – Oliver insists there is no way they will bow out of the race for the Premiership with a whimper.
The former Hearts front-man said: “We could have been 3-0 up at half-time on Tuesday, so we know we can more than match them – and there is still 90 minutes left to play. This is far from over.
“This could be our last game of the season, so there is no point holding anything back. We need to go for it, leave everything on the pitch and see where that takes us.
“This is the last push – and hopefully we are still training next week. Normally at this stage of the season, the boys are looking forward to a holiday. That would be the worst thing that could happen to us!
“None us are thinking about the beach – we want a tie against Falkirk.”
Oliver admits to some heavy legs in the Ton dressing room, with Jim Duffy largely relying on the same group of players throughout the campaign, with young talents Aidan Nesbitt, Jamie Lindsay, Mark Russell and James McDonagh all pivotal.
That fatigue is evidenced by the fact Morton have not tasted victory since defeating Falkirk 1-0 in the middle of March.
Proud
Nevertheless, as Duffy’s weary stars steel themselves for one final push, Oliver is adamant the future is bright in Greenock regardless of the result tonight.
He added: “The boys were a bit tired after the game on Tuesday; of course there are some bumps and tired legs. We are a tight squad and a young team, so that’s only natural.
“Most of the boys here are under 22 and still learning the game, so we will take a lot from this season. We are not one of the biggest teams in the league, but we have punched above our weight and run ourselves into the ground.
“I think we have done ourselves and the club proud by coming so far – but we don’t want it to end now.”
