MANAGER Ray McKinnon was happy to see his side get another 90 minutes as Morton’s pre-season preparations continued with a 0-0 draw against Forfar Athletic on Saturday.

The two sides were unable to be separated at Station Park, with chances at a premium for both teams. While McKinnon’s men enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, they were unable to put away their chances and the final ball was lacking.

But it was more about increasing the players’ fitness levels, who have one more friendly against Queen’s Park on tomorrow night before the competitive action starts on Saturday in the Betfred Cup away to Ayr United.

McKinnon told the Tele: “It’s another game under our belts. “The conditions were tough, the park was very dry and Forfar were very organised and it was good to get another 90 minutes in for the lads.

“I thought the players’ work-rate was excellent, they dominated the first half for long periods of the game.

“Forfar were well organised and had a lot of men behind the ball.

“We kept the ball and worked hard so it was a good runout.”

Morton shaped up with a 4-3-3 formation, but McKinnon said it was one of a number of formations he was looking at.

The defence consisted of Lewis Strapp and Lee Kilday playing as full-backs, with Gregor Buchanan and Jack Iredale playing as centre-backs. Chris Millar, Jim McAlister and Charlie Telfer made up the midfield, while Ross MacLean, Bob McHugh and Gary Oliver were the front trio.

But the manager said he was likely to change the formation going forward, and that 4-3-3 allowed all his players to get a chance to get some game time on Saturday.

He added: “I’m just looking around to see what the best system is right now and fits right for the players.

“I’ve not made my mind up exactly how we’re going to play, and we still have a few players still to come back into the team.

“That formation helped get everyone an opportunity to play on Saturday.”

The first clear-cut chance of the game fell to the opposition, as striker Dale Hilson thought he had put the hosts ahead on 13 minutes.

The former St Mirren forward’s neat lobbed finish over Ton goalkeeper Ryan Scully landed in the net, but luckily for the visitors the Forfar man was adjudged to be offside by the assistant referee.

McAlister, making his return in a Morton shirt after leaving the club back in 2010 after a seven-and-a-half year stay, was called into defensive action minutes later.

He raced back to pull back former Morton forward and now Forfar assistant manager and player John Baird’s lay-off, with Jamie Bain waiting to pounce on the edge of the box for the home side.

Morton were tested once again shortly before the half-hour mark when former Ton loan midfielder Gary Fraser’s took charge of a freekick from 25 yards out.

It called Ton shotstopper Scully into action, who was forced to get down low and save low at his near post. Morton’s first meaningful attempt came via Strapp, the 18-year-old’s header being knocked back for a corner, but Telfer’s cross was cleared to safety.

MacLean threatened down the right-hand side for Morton, and flashed a low cross into the box, but there were no players from the Greenock side who could latch onto the delivery.

But while the visitors were enjoying having the majority of the possession, it was the home side that were having more chances, and came close again on 41 minutes.

Baird beat Scully to Bain’s cross, and the 32-year-old diverted the ball past the Ton goalkeeper, but his attempt landed on the roof of the net.

Morton didn’t make any changes at the break, but were forced into making a substitution after Telfer landed awkwardly on the ground.

The midfielder caught his right ankle in the ground, and was taken off just before the hour mark, with Millar and McHugh also coming off for Michael Tidser, and the two trialists Dean Hawkshaw and Kyle Thomson.

The flow of the game was disrupted after both sides made a raft of substitutions and water breaks were made in the scorching temperatures.

The Loons had a further chance on 72 minutes, when Scully was called into action to punch away Fraser’s free-kick. Tidser almost made a positive impact for the away side minutes later, but the midfielder’s cross was cut out by Michael Travis, with Oliver lurking behind him.

With seven minutes to go, Forfar thought they had grabbed the winner, but luckily for the Ton the offside flag again came to their rescue.

Iredale hooked Dylan Easton’s cross from the left onto Bain, with the ball bouncing in off the attacker.

But luckily for the Australian defender and Morton, Bain was adjudged to be offside.

Morton were to have the final say in the game, as Tidser and Buchanan almost combined to give visitors a late winner.

Midfielder Tidser floated in an inswinging free-kick from the right, and Buchanan arrived in the box to latch onto the attempt, however, the cross was just too high for the defender, who narrowly missed the attempt. Morton remain unbeaten during their pre-season, after securing a 2-1 win over Motherwell in a closed-doors friendly last Tuesday, and will look continue their positive run against Queen’s Park tomorrow night.

Morton (4-3-3): Scully, Kilday, Strapp, Buchanan, Iredale, Telfer, Millar, McAlister, McHugh, Oliver, MacLean. Substitutes: Tidser, K Thomson, Hawkshaw, Langan, Waddell, Farrell. Forfar (3-5-2): McCallum, Meechan, Whyte, Munro (Easton, 46), Travis, Reilly (Malone, 66), MacKintosh (Trialist, 46), Fraser (Allan, 86), Hilson, Baird (Starkey, 75), Bain. Substitutes: Easton, Malone, Clark, Allan, Starkey, Trialist, Muir. Referee: Scott Lambie. Attendance: 275.