JIM Duffy was pleased his team fought back to earn a draw against Queen’s Park in Tuesday night’s Betfred Cup clash — but admitted the result was harsh on Gus MacPherson’s visitors.

Late goals from Bob McHugh and Darren Barr cancelled out Bryan Wharton and Thomas Orr strikes and Duffy says he’s content with the result considering the lateness of the comeback.

But the Ton boss added that Queen’s Park can feel hard done after losing lead with seconds of the match remaining.

He said: “The first half I thought we played well, we controlled the game, passed the ball well and had really good movement. You’ve got to capitalise on that good play and score, and we didn’t.

“Queen’s Park grew in confidence because of that, then in the second half we had a couple of half-chances, but never really looked like scoring.

“We just ran into a bit of a brick wall and all credit to Queen’s Park because they were very organised and denied us space.

“We put in a lot of crosses but just didn’t get on the end of them.

“I thought it was one of those games where we might nick one, but when you go two goals down with five minutes to go, you think the games is beyond you. However we kept going and, in the end, I think it’s a wee bit harsh on Queen’s Park, if I’m honest.

“You’ve got to earn the right to win football matches and the only way you do that is by scoring goals. 

“We had a similar situation on Saturday where we controlled most of the game but didn’t take our chances. Tonight the longer the game went on, Queen’s started to believe that they might have the chance of a result.”

“From that perspective I’m delighted to get two points because, with five minutes to go, we had none.”

Duffy singled out a few players for their contributions, including the two new players Gary Harkins and Barr. But it was Scott Tiffoney who came away with individual praise from his manager for his role in creating both goals from the bench.

He said: “Gary and Darren bring knowledge. In the first half I thought Gary was outstanding and Darren was solid before scoring the goal. 

“I was also delighted with young Tiff because he was prominent in the two goals. For the first, he’s got a good pull-back for Bob McHugh and the next one he’s got in behind, won a corner and we’ve scored from it.”

Meanwhile, Queen’s manager MacPherson admitted he was terrified to go home last night after substituting his son Ewan early in the second half for ex-Ton striker Orr.

While MacPherson might feel justified as Orr netted the second goal, he still knew he was in for an earful on the journey home.

He joked: “I’m frightened to go home tonight because the wee one is raging about coming off! So the missus can deal with that one.

“Thomas Orr would’ve been disappointed not to start because he was coming back to his old club, but we’re trying to chop and change to give everyone game time.”

MacPherson reckons his side can be proud of the point at Cappielow, though, despite letting a two-goal lead slip in the dying embers of the cup tie.

He said: “I think at that stage of the game you’ve got to see it out, but there is a physical difference between the levels of football that the two teams are at. We don’t carry that size of player and that’s where the pressure was coming from.

“The second goal not so much, but the first goal was disappointing. That gives Morton the bit of blood that they smell, but that’s it. We’re delighted. We’ve came to a Championship team and their record down here is phenomenal. So to come here, chop and change a wee bit and be competitive, we were fine.”

MacPherson added: “The last goal was a foul. But you’re not going to get it at that stage because there were a few bodies in there. But these things happen.”