Jim Duffy’s men got off to the best possible start when they were awarded a penalty with just five minutes on the clock, Conor Pepper going down under a Jackson Longridge tackle.

Denny Johnstone is in the midst of a scoring streak and stepped up to sweep a confident spot-kick inside the left-hand post and take his tally to three goals in his last three starts.

The hosts spent the majority of the remainder of the game on the backfoot as Livi looked for an equaliser.

Mark Burchill’s side had scored seven goals in their last two outings – impressive wins over Queen of the South and Raith Rovers - but could not find a way through Morton’s stubborn rearguard.

The likes of Luca Gasparotto and Lee Kilday did superbly well to protect goalkeeper Grant Adam, limiting the visitors’ chances despite their territorial control.

In the end, Ton saw the game out reasonably comfortably, with substitutes Ross Forbes and Stefan McCluskey adding extra composure and legs in the closing stages, to claim a valuable victory.

The Cappielow club have now recorded three leagues wins on the bounce to create a considerable gap between themselves and the teams below as well as moving within two points of fourth.

Morton (4-4-2): Adam; Pepper, Kilday ©, Gasparotto, Russell; Barr (Miller, 90+1), McKee (Forbes, 68) O’Ware, Tidser; Samuel (McCluskey, 76), Johnstone.

Subs not used: Scullion, Quitongo, Orr, McGowan (gk).

Booked: Barr (55), McKee (64), O’Ware (83).

Livingston (3-5-2): McCallum; Neill, Gordon, Gallagher ©; Glen, Faria, Gibbons (Sheerin, 67), Pittman, Longridge; Buchanan, White.

Subs not used: Waters, Ross, Hopkins, Ewings (gk).

Booked: Faria (35), Gallagher (39), McCallum (70), Longridge (88).

Attendance: 1,758 Referee: Craig Charleston