MORTON manager Jim Duffy has praised Livingston boss David Hopkin ahead of the meeting between the two sides today.

Livi were promoted last year from League One after winning the title and are now sitting in second place in the Championship and look on course for a play-off place.

The Ton have their own play-off ambitions, after Dunfermline and Dundee United both picked up wins in midweek to nudge the Greenock side down into fifth, two points off fourth place.

And Duffy was full of compliments for the job former Morton midfielder Hopkin has done at Livingston.

Duffy said: “I’ve got nothing but admiration for the job Hoppy [David Hopkin] has done there.

“They’re a remarkably consistent side, notoriously difficult to score against, they defend well and are a side who are brimming with confidence, they are rightfully where they are and it will be another difficult game.

“In this league every team is competitive, it makes every game a contest and that’ll be the case today.”

Morton have lost twice and drawn once against the West Lothian side so far in the league, with a very close game between the two last month.

Gary Oliver looked to have given the visitors victory against 10-man Livi in March, with only two minutes of regulation time left.

But Jackson Longridge’s strike deep into injury-time gave the hosts a share of the spoils, cruelly denying Morton the win.

And Duffy knows his side will be in for a tough fight again this afternoon.

He added: “We’re not going into unfamiliar territory, we played them relatively recently so we’ll go there and we know what type of game it’ll be.

“It’ll be a game for a real strong mentality and we’ll go there with a chance.”

Livingston have notably changed their style of play and adapted well to life in Scotland’s second tier, going with a more direct approach this season.

But the Ton boss says they are a much more varied team than people give them credit for, and they remain the only side Morton haven’t beaten this season in the Championship.

He added: “He did probably change the style there from last year, they were in a division where they maybe dominated most of the play. They had Danny Mullen who did really well for them but then went on to St Mirren.

"It’s unfair to Livingston to say they just play the ball forward. That’s not the case, they get it wide, they get the ball in the box, they’re a threat, they press really well, they defend really well.

“They’re not a one dimensional team, they can mix it up but they have strengths, but that’s what every team wants to do, play to your strengths.

“They’ve recruited the likes of Ryan Hardie and Lee Miller and that’s given them a focal point up front.

“They’re having a terrific season and they’re a handful for any team and I’m sure they will be for us, but we’ll hopefully cause them a number of problems as well.”