Morton 0 Dundee 1 IT says much for the number of goalscoring opportunites created that each team's goalkeeper was their most valuable player on an afternoon when Dundee returned back to Tayside with all three points.

It took a beautiful strike by little Leigh Griffiths to end the stalemate, but Morton will look back on the 90 minutes and wonder quite how they did not manage to score at least one of their own.

Looked at positively, they can say they took at least as much, probably more, from their performance as the promotion favourites. But, it is goals which win games, and that is always the bottom line in football.

It was hard not to feel sympathy for home midfielder Ryan McGuffie who had no fewer than five excellent second half opportunities, none of which he managed to convert.

Some of that was down to an excellent goalkeeping display by Tony Bullock, though McGuffie himself admitted to anguish at a late headed opportunity which he failed to execute properly.

Perhaps more harmful than the defeat, however, was a second half injury to McGuffie's midfield partner Allan Jenkins which seems likely to rule him out for some time.

Having sustained a knock on his knee, he then aggravated the injury when he fell awkwardly after sending in a cross from the byeline. The early prognosis of medial ligament damage is not good news.

Nevertheless, Morton can take comfort from a display which promised much.

There was also the remergence of the famous Cappielow bugler, stirring memories among older fans of the exciting days of Hal Stewart's side of the 60s. It is presumably not the same person and, unfortunately for him, his efforts proved to be a last post rather than a triumphant fanfare.

The first real danger came in 10 minutes when Peter Weatherson did well to get away an angled shot from the right, Bullock having to dive to his right to palm the ball away. Jim McAlister managed to divert it goalwars only for Cowan to clear off the line.

The same player then showed his defensive qualities when he backtracked to nick the ball away from Paton and prevent a dangerous counter attack by the Dark Blues.

In 14 minutes Dundee might have taken the lead when a miskick by Colin Stewart was collected by Forsyth and Griffiths netted his pass only to be, correctly, given offside.

Stewart then did well to beat down a McHale drive as the visitors pushed forwards and again he had to look sharp when space opened up for Forsyth whose 20 yard drive was tipped round the left post by the goalkeeper.

Back came Morton and Brian Graham's cross was just too high for Peter Weatherson to get good direction with a header at the near post.

Half-time arrived with honours even, probably deservedly so.

Former television commentator Arthur Montford then made a presentation of ex-Ton hero Jimmy Cowan's first ever international jersey to one of his sons, Ronnie, who is a season ticket holder at Cappielow. It was a nice moment and a little bit of colourful Morton history evoking memories of one of Scotland's finest ever custodians.

Seconds into the new half, Ryan McGuffie rose at the back post to head Jim McAlister's cross goalwards only for Bullock to pull off an instinctive block. A minute later it was McGuffie again, popping up in the box only to see Bullock get his fingertips to the shot and divert it onto the left post.

A Colin McMenamin strike was ruled out as being offside as Dundee hit back, then Griffiths shot a foot wide of the right post following McKenzie's nod down.

It then was Stewart's turn to perform heroics when he excellently saved a fierce Forsyth drive.

Then came Allan Jenkins' injury when he twisted his knee after cutting the ball back from the right byeline, Ryan McGuffie sweeping a shot narrowly wide. Jim McAlister had a snap shot just off target, McGuffie shot high and wide before David MacGregor did exceptionally well to make an excellent recovery tackle after being skinned by Griffiths.

It was a warning and, in 77minutes, it was the same player who finally broke the deadlock. Paul McHale found him with a perfectly weighted through pass, Griffiths turned on the after-burners to leave Greacen for dead and then lifted a beautiful chip over Stewart for the decisive moment of the match.

The player was then booked after taking an excessive amount of time to retie a boot lace and Morton threw on Carlo Monti for Neil MacFarlane in a last attempt to add more creativity. Twice, however, he failed to get crosses in from good position.

Malone and McManus were booked for a spot of handbags in the penalty box and Dundee breathed a sigh of relief when the final whistle ended after several minutes of added-on time.

Morton will play worse and win.

MORTON (4-4-2): Stewart 8; Finlayson 7, Greacen 7 McManus 7, MacGregor 7; McGuffie 7, Jenkins 7 (Paartalu 61 4), MacFarlane 7 (Monti 79 2), McAlister 7; Graham 7 (Wake 75 4), Weatherson 7.

Bookings: McManus 81.

Subs not used - Harding, McWilliams.

DUNDEE (4-4-2): Bullock; Paton, Cowan, McKenzie, Malone; Hart (Kerr 83), Klimpl, McHale, Forsyth; Griffiths (Higgins 89), McMenamin (Clarke 75).

Subs not used - Cameron, Soutar.

Bookings: Griffiths 78, Malone 81, Clarke 90.

Referee: Brian Winter.

Attendance: 2,217.