MORTON manager Jonatan Johansson says his side should be looking up the table if they keep up the performance levels from their game against Falkirk.

The Ton drew 1-1 with the Bairns on Friday night in the first football game to be televised on the new BBC Scotland channel.

Greg Kiltie put the hosts in front with a spectacular solo effort, before Zak Rudden headed the visitors back level just eight minutes later. Falkirk were reduced to 10 men when Paul Dixon picked up his second yellow card just after the hour mark, but the Greenock side were unable to break down the opposition and had to settle for a point in the end.

The draw kept Morton in sixth place in the Championship, but it moves Johansson’s side to within three points of the promotion play-offs and lifts them further away from the relegation zone.

The Ton boss believes his team performed well on Friday, and says they deserved to come away with all three points.

He told the Tele: “The sending off made things more difficult for us.

“We had dominated the game before they had a man sent off and with them starting to sit in we couldn’t break them down.

“Over the 90 minutes I thought we were the much better side. We dominated possession and the best chances were ours, so overall I was pleased with the performance and I thought we definitely deserved a win on Friday.

“If you get a performance like that then you’re looking upwards. Overall our shape and passing was good, our bravery on the ball was good and we created enough chances to score at least two goals here.”

Rudden’s equaliser was the first goal the Ton have conceded on their home turf in 2019, and Johansson’s side have lost just three times at Cappielow this season in all competitions.

He added: “That’s the first goal we’ve lost here this year. That’s the one disappointing thing, we didn’t press the set-play from the throw-in.

“We didn’t press the thrower and we let the striker run across from us, it’s difficult to defend that and that was disappointing, but otherwise I felt we were very comfortable at the back on Friday.”

The atmosphere proved to be tense at the ground again, with former Morton manager Ray McKinnon returning to Cappielow after he left the club back in August.

But the Ton boss feels his side dealt with the occasion well.

He said: “Overall I was pleased with the atmosphere and the game and I think it was a good showcase for Morton Football Club on the telly as well.

“I loved it, it was a good game of football, it was an exciting game. We created chances throughout the game.

“Chris Millar had a great chance to win it at the end, and we created some chances from corners and I think we should have finished one of them off.”