JIM Duffy insists Morton’s 1-0 victory over closest challengers Falkirk last weekend has kept spirits high in training ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Dunfermline — helped by the fact it coincided with several squad birthdays.

Morton notched another win on the road at the Falkirk Stadium thanks to a goal from birthday boy Kudus Oyenuga and Duffy believes the win has brought about a happy atmosphere around Cappielow this week.

But it’s not just been the crucial victory that has had Ton stars enjoying their week, as a few players celebrated their birthday on the Parklea training pitch.

Duffy told the Tele: “There’s been a couple of birthdays, it’s been a busy week. Thomas O’Ware (24), Mark Russell turned 21-years-old during the week, and Kudus [Oyenuga] and Jon [Scullion] last week.

“And obviously when you win matches, doesn’t matter what game it is, there’s a better atmosphere.

"I think particularly against one of the top teams away from home, there's a more buoyant atmosphere. But football can change in a fraction so you have to get better and improve rather than sit back and think 'we're doing okay'.

"As soon as you do that, the tide can turn."

Sixth placed Dunfermline Athletic come calling today and Duffy says they are to be respected after some big results over the course of the season, including the 2-1 win over Ton at East End Park in December.

He said: "Dunfermline have played well at times. They drew with St Mirren, which on their form is a good result, and they drew 1-1 with Queen of the South in a game that I was at, and they were unlucky not to win it.

"They lost last Saturday at home and that's what can happen in this division, you can't guarantee anything. On their day they can be a really potent side and have a lot of goals in them and are very good going forward.

"Like any team in this division they are to be respected."

Of December's 2-1 loss, Duffy said: "It was a day where Jai [Quitongo] got injured and there were two short pass-backs, we didn't get too many breaks on the day.

"So that proves that you can't go into any game thinking if we turn up, we'll win. You've got to do what you've been doing, you've got to be resilient and organised, you've got to be determined and have to add creativity.

"I think over the last couple of weeks our results have been great but we've lost a wee spark in the final third and we've got to try and find that again. If we can add that extra spark and creativity and ally that to our organisation then that can give us a different aspect to our game.

"We'll keep striving to achieve improvement all the time."

Morton can go a full calendar year unbeaten if they avoid defeat on Saturday, but Duffy insists those statistics are for everyone else to consider - not for him or his team.

He added: "Everyone at the club is aware of it, because everyone makes you aware of it. So we're not unaware, but that's an incidental aspect of Saturday, in a game that can only be relevant if you win the match.

"Therefore we've got to be positive, take the game to Dunfermline and see on the day if we play well enough to win."