GREGOR Buchanan insists Morton must find consistency in the cut-throat Championship if they are to maintain their play-off challenge this season.

The Greenock side came away with a point from Saturday’s clash against current league leaders Ayr United.

It leaves the Cappielow outfit sitting in fifth, two points off the play-offs after 14 games, just over a third of the way through the campaign.

While they have picked up wins against the likes of title favourites Ross County this season, they have suffered heavy defeats to teams such as Ayr, and also lost to one of the bookies’ favourites for relegation Alloa Athletic at home.

The centre-back, who joined the club this summer, helped both St Mirren and Livingston to promotion from the division last season and he thinks Morton are more than capable of finishing in the top four.

Asked if the play-offs are still the target, the defender told the Tele: “Of course they are.

“It’s such a competitive league you couldn’t predict what the scores are going to be each week as you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“Saturday way another point on the road this year and if we can bring a consistency to our game I’m sure we can stay in the hunt for the play-off places.”

Ton were the first team to stop Ayr scoring at home this season after a goalless draw.

The Honest Men are unbeaten at Somerset Park in all competitions so far this season.

The game was fairly even until United had Craig Moore sent off after 60 minutes for kicking out at Buchanan.

Despite the opposition going a man down, Buchanan thinks they deserve a lot of credit for shutting out the Honest Men, especially after previous heavy losses to Ian McCall’s men.

Morton have let in eight goals against Ayr this season, being on the wrong end of 3-1 and 5-1 results in the Betfred Cup and the league respectively.

Buchanan added: “We didn’t hide from it before the game.

“They’ve scored eight goals against us in two games, and we had to stop them scoring more goals!

“You have to give Ayr United a lot of respect because they’re flying at the top of the league.

“If you were told Lawrence Shankland, Craig Moore or Michael Moffat weren’t going to score you’d probably fancy your chances to take something from the game.

“Especially after the disappointment of last week. After being beaten by Alloa it was important to bounce back and you’d probably have taken a point against them before kick-off.

“But with the situation that unfolded you’re hoping to get a goal but they did well on Saturday to stay in the game.”