BOB McHugh says the ‘heated’ atmosphere at Cappielow helped spur the team on to victory on Saturday.

The Ton’s match against Falkirk was a fiery one after previous manager Ray McKinnon left Morton after just three months to join the Bairns.

It was McKinnon’s first return to Cappielow since leaving the club and the fans made sure it was a hostile environment. 

McHugh revealed the players tried to ignore the pre-match build-up but believes the atmosphere during the 90 minutes worked in Morton’s favour, with the striker coming off the bench to score the winner against his former side.

He told the Tele: “We distanced ourselves from the build-up before the game, but you can’t hide from the atmosphere once you’re at the game. It was a heated atmosphere which the players all thrived on, and it’s something as players that you like to play with.

“It helped the players get right up for the game, not that we needed it, but it gives the game that edge and every time that atmosphere has been there the boys have stepped up to it.

“The atmosphere gives the players that lift, that extra bit of per cent, and it’s great to be involved.”

McHugh has been on the bench for the last few matches after being dropped from the Ton’s 1-1 draw against Dunfermline last month.

But he’s hoping his fourth goal of the season against Falkirk can help him work his way back into the starting line-up.

He added: “That’s what you hope, that you can come on and have a positive impact on the team and hopefully have a chance of starting next week. I’ll need to work hard this week at training.

“It’s frustrating not starting, as it’s one of those ones where you find out on the Friday night and you’re disappointed.

“A million things run through your head but you need to clear your head for coming into the game for Saturday and thankfully I managed to do that.

“When I am disappointed luckily I am able to respond in a positive manner.”

McHugh has now scored the winner in the Ton’s last two wins, scoring both of those in front of the Wee Dublin End of Cappielow.

The striker revealed he’s fired in most of his goals during his time at Morton into that net.

He said: “I’ve got a knack for scoring in that goal, the majority of my goals seem to be there.

“I’m delighted from a personal point of view, when you come into the game when you find out you’re not in the team you try and get over that disappointment of not starting and to turn it around into a positive, that’s what I managed to do.

“But the three points was the main thing for us on Saturday, and it was the manager’s first three points and a clean sheet, also which is something we’ve been working on. 

“It was a good day’s work. It was deserved. 

“I felt we were on top apart from the first 10-15 minutes when it was a bit scrappy. 

“After that we were the team on top.”