Published: Tuesday, 14th April, 2009 12:30pm

We'll keep going says Ton boss

RULED OUT: Jim McAlister, pictured, and Stevie Masterton will be suspended when Morton travel to meet league leaders St Johnstone on 2 May.
Pic by: James McFadden

ALTHOUGH accepting after the win over Livingston at Almondvale on Saturday that St Johnstone are firmly in the driving seat for the First Division Championship, Morton boss Davie Irons is not prepared to give up the chase until it is statistically impossible.

In the aftermath of Saturday"s win, Irons stated that it would take a complete collapse by the Perth Saints for Morton to be able to edge past them.

However, he has not yet thrown in the towel. St Johnstone host Queen of the South on Sunday and the Ton boss said: 'I have spoken to a couple of the Queens players and they are desperate to win there [McDiarmid Park]. Then St Johnstone are at Dens Park next, and Dundee won"t want them to win the championship at their ground.

'I"m obviously disappointed Dunfermline didn"t beat St Johnstone on Saturday, but we won"t give it up. Who would have thought earlier in the season that we would have had a chance at all?'

Unfortunately Morton will be without Jim McAlister and Stevie Masterton when they travel to McDiarmid Park a fortnight on Saturday, both players having passed the suspension threshold. Said Irons: 'They will miss the St Johnstone match [on 2 May]. They"ll be all right for Saturday against Partick.'

Irons was especially pleased at the dominance his men established against Livingston, from front to back.

The back three of Stewart Greacen, Allan McManus and Alex Walker have received much deserved praise over recent weeks, but Irons said the wingback pair of Kevin Finlayson and Jim McAlister have contributed a great deal towards the defence"s success with their ability to get up and down the flanks.

'Their energy has been crucial,' said Irons.'They are two of the fittest boys in the team.' He might have said league.

The midfield also received plaudits. 'They were in their [St Johnstone"s] faces all game,' said Irons.

Alex Walker, often an unsung hero, got a mention too, Irons saying that his performance on the left side of the back three was 'very composed'.

Dominic Shimmin, a class act in the defence until injury ruled him out, will find it hard to get back in the team, and Irons commented: 'You would want a player like him [Shimmin] in your team, but if we had, say, three months of the season left, we might have to consider playing him in a different role; maybe as a sitting midfielder.'

Meanwhile Morton have arranged a bounce game against Scotland Under-19s this afternoon at Cappielow. 'Billy Stark asked if we could play them,' explained Irons. 'We"ll mix it up with some of the boys who haven"t been playing.'