The Greenock men leapfrogged their opponents and inactive Raith Rovers into the play-off places with a fourth successive league victory.

Four seemed to be the magic number as it was match winner Denny Johnstone who fired the Ton to victory by netting for the fourth successive match.

After a goalless first-half the Birmingham City loanee accepted a Michael Tidser pass on 51 minutes and curled a beautiful finish into the top-right corner from 20 yards to open the scoring.

And Johnstone took his red-hot scoring streak to five goals in his last four outings when, on 62 minutes, he fought to get on the end of Ross Forbes’ corner and head in his second of the afternoon.

The victory not only moved Jim Duffy’s men up two places in the table but also saw them stretch their lead over rivals St Mirren to a massive 12 points ahead of next Friday’s Renfrewshire derby.

Morton (4-4-2): Adam; Pepper, Kilday ©, Gasparotto, Russell; Forbes, O’Ware, Tidser (McKee, 59), Barr; Johnstone, McCluskey (Samuel, 87).

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

Booked: O’Ware (39), Barr (90+2).

Queen of the South (4-4-2): Thomson; Kidd, Brownlie, Higgins ©, Marshall; Oliver (Harris, 73), Hutton, Miller, Conroy (Russell, 67); Lyle, Heffernan (Coogans, 73).

Subs not used: Jacobs, Pickard, Smith, Atkinson (gk).

Booked: Miller (60).

Attendance: 1,849 Referee: Mat Northcroft