Published: Monday, 24th November, 2008 12:30pm

Just Paar-fect

by Roger Graham

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DUNFERMLINE 0 MORTON 1

I’M THE MAN: Goalscorer Erik Paartalu celebrates with a delighted Allan Jenkins chasing him.
Pic by: James McFadden

MORTON boss Davie Irons was a delighted man after this deserved win at East End Park on Saturday.

He said: “From a football perspective I thought we played some really good stuff in the first half.

“In the second half we had to dig in a bit, but even then I thought we had the better chances.

“Kevin Cuthbert dealt with everything he had to, but I thought the boys in front of him dealt with virtually 99 per cent of what Dunfermline had to offer.

“We needed to dig in. The second half was always going to be a bit of an onslaught because they are a good side, but we showed a real character to get the result that I thought we deserved.”

On the club’s revival encompassing four wins from their last five games, which has taken them up to third bottom place in the table, the manager explained: “It’s just been hard work.

“The pressure started to mount a bit after going through nine games without a win. We were getting a bit nervous but when we got that first win we really kicked on.

“We have shown a real belief and I think we have got real strong characters now.

“They’ve gone through a real tough time and they’ve bounced back. They know what it’s like and they know they don’t want to go back there.

“Hopefully they’ve learned their lessons from that poor start they had.”

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Asked about skipper Allan Jenkins’ contribution, Irons said: “I thought some of his surging runs were incredible.

“He’s just become a dad and that’s why we gave him the additional honour of leading the team out today.

“It’s been a memorable week for him. Stewart Greacen is going through a similar thing, that’s why he wasn’t playing today. His wife is ready to give birth at any minute.

“When you go into management you think all you’ve got to deal with is football, but then you’ve got to deal with pregnant women.”

There was laughter as one pressman asked Irons how many pregnant women he had had to deal with. “Not me personally,” replied the manager.

“Fingers crossed, everything’s well and hopefully he’ll [Greacen] be a dad in the next day or two.”

The victory sets Morton up nicely for the meeting with Airdrie tomorrow night at Cappielow and Irons said: “It was just as well because obviously Clyde had a great win today and jumped over Airdrie.

“The target is just to keep going. I’ve said all along that there isn’t an outstanding team in this league. I’m not saying where we are going to end up, but anyone can beat anyone in this league.

“If you can put a run of games together you can change the whole complexion of your season. Hopefully we can keep this run going. Four or five weeks ago we were rock bottom and adrift.

“Now we are third bottom and with a chance to get in touch with another couple of teams.”

Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre was frank in the aftermath, saying: “We were poor today and we got what we deserved.

“Morton were the better side and deserved to win. You can’t have six or seven players off it and expect to win a football match.”

Morton striker James Grady, taken off after a succession of knocks during the match, limped out to meet the press and grinned: “I’m in tatters. I’m delighted with the three points.

“I think the defence has got to take a lot of credit again. To a man they were brilliant today. They were under a lot of pressure in the second half, which you would expect being away at Dunfermline. They defended manfully.”

Asked about the injuries he had sustained, the wee striker replied: “Normally it’s my lack of ability that gets me taken off.

“I’m sore now and I’ll be sore for a few days. Normally these big meat-heads at the back just give you it from behind and you don’t see it.

“I don’t think there was any malice in the challenges, but they’ve caught me in the right places.

“We’re going in the right direction and hopefully it continues.”