Desire is the key for Ton

Martin Greig • Published 27 Feb 2010 12:00 0 Comments

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Allan McManus.

ALLAN McMANUS insists honest endeavour has been the key to picking up two successive league victories.

The Morton co-manager, along with James Grady, has been working hard to change the team's style of play from a direct approach to a more fluid, passing game.

However, McManus believes that it is the level of desire they have shown in recent victories over Raith Rovers and Queen of the South that has been responsible for the change in their fortunes.

"We have shown in the past few games that our work-rate has been different class and we want to try and keep those standards," said McManus.

"Every game is difficult in this division. It is the same thing we say every week, but we say it because it is true. We know that if we drop our work-rate at all we become a very ordinary side. If our work-rate is high then we will win more than we will lose. The key is to have that work ethic and desire to succeed."

It is now five months since Grady and McManus took over from Davie Irons. It has taken a while for the pair to get their message across to the players. Carrying on their recent good run with victory over Dunfermline at Cappielow today, assuming play goes ahead, would be a clear sign that they are starting to achieve the one thing which has eluded them - consistency.

Asked if he felt they had started to get their message across to the players, McManus said: "Ask me that in another six games and I'll say 'yes'. Previously we have had one or two good results and then, for whatever reason, complacency has crept in. That is something we need to keep working on.

"To be successful at this level you have to work day-in-day-out and not allow complacency to set in. We will keep demanding more from them. Consistency is the hardest thing in football. The higher you go, the more consistent players are. We believe that working hard is the easiest part of the game."

McManus also confirmed that the squad is in good shape for today's visit of Jim McIntyre's side, who are currently nine points and two places above Ton in the First Division. "Everyone is fit and ready to go at the weekend so, hopefully, the weather will allow us to play and the park will be in good condition," he added.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 27 Feb 10

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