Published: Monday, 15th February, 2010 2:00pm

Morton keep record going at Palmerston

On target: Stevie Masterton fires home the free kick which gave Morton the lead at Palmerston. Picture: Jim McEwan

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 1

MORTON 2

MORTON'S love affair with the fair town of Dumfries continued on Saturday when they extended their unbeaten run there to seven games since returning to the First Division three seasons ago.

Five wins and two draws have made Palmerston Park the Greenock men's favourite venue, and this was another deserved success.

And a delighted Morton manager James Grady said afterwards: "It's a hoodoo as such, but these records are always there to be broken.

"I told the players before the game that they had no right to come down here and think they have a God-given right to win because they have won four out the last six.

"They had to work hard and earn the right to get the result. I think in the first half we definitely did that and in the second half it was more of a backs to the wall performance. But it showed me the players are all fighting for each other and fighting for the cause.

"It's a great three points.

"Kevin's [Finlayson] been sent off - two bookings - at times it will happen to us.

"But today, especially first half, I think Steven Masterton must take a load of credit.

"Before Christmas I told him he could go and find another club because he wasn't doing enough when he didn't have the ball.

"He's got so much technical ability."

That rejection may have been just the spur the player needed, and Grady said: "To be fair he's worked his socks off and he has tried to prove me wrong, hence the reason he was put back in the side.

"Two goals in his first game back, and his work-rate was there for all to see - something that Steven Masterton was always questioned about.

"It's testament to the boy. I've told him I'll never always call it right. Not that I made the wrong decision. But he now acknowledges that I made the right decision.

"Now he's back in the team and he'll stay there if he gives performances like that."

And Grady also gave a special pat on the back to striker Iain Russell, restored to favour at Palmerston.

He said: "Iain Russell has not had a lot of game time for us. He went in today and his movement and hold-up play today was very very good.

"We knew that if we went with the two big strikers it would be meat and drink to big Marvin [Andrews] and to be fair Russell made it look as if we made the right decision."

Stevie Masterton admitted that his manager's decision to let him look for another club had produced the desired effect. He said: "I suppose when he told me that, I could have chucked the towel in.

"But I just worked hard and got my reward today."

A couple of clubs had made enquiries about Masterton, but the player said: "There was nothing that really took my fancy.

"I was coming back from injury. I worked hard to get my fitness back. As I say, I got my chance today and I knew I had to take it. There's a lot more to come.

"Since I started my career my work-rate has been questioned. I thought at the start of the season my work-rate was up there, so it's definitely something I'm enjoying doing now. Maybe since I've got older I've reaslised that it's a big part of the game."

Home boss Gordon Chisholm was deflated with the result and said: "It's disappointing. Our home games are very important.

"To be honest in the first 45 minutes we were absolutely dreadful. We were all over the place - at the back, midfield. We made changes and I thought the second half was better, but it was an unacceptable first 45 minutes."