DAVID Hopkin hailed Aidan Nesbitt and Kyle Jacobs as Morton’s key men after they helped salvage a point at the death against Dunfermline.

The midfield duo, who made their return on Saturday after recovering from injuries, added some much-missed steel and spark, with Nesbitt causing both full-backs multiple problems and Jacobs putting in an outstanding performance to keep Pars’ winger Ryan Dow quiet.

Jacobs eventually played the crucial long ball that led to skipper Jim McAlister’s equaliser after an excellent defensive display as he showed his versatility.

Hopkin told the Tele: “Aidan’s come back in and has been fantastic. He’d only trained for the first time on Tuesday since hurting his hand and he was brilliant.

“He’s been working hard to get back quickly.

“We had a late blow in training with Nicky Cadden and Lewis Strapp missing out last minute due to knocks, but the way both Aidan and Kyle Jacobs have come in has been fantastic.

“Kyle came and filled in at left-back for me and I thought he was magnificent against Ryan Dow.

“He’s a player that can play anywhere for me.

“Fair play to the guys who came and filled in because they worked hard, they kept their shape and their discipline and they kept fighting right until the end.

“I can’t ask for much more than that.

“We thoroughly deserved the point we took from the game.”

The Ton boss was pleased that McAlister’s 94th-minute header kept his side’s unbeaten home record intact and believes that his players have made a solid start to life in the Championship this season.

Hopkin now hopes to finish the first quarter of the season with a strong performance away to Dick Campbell’s Arbroath on October 19.

He added: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to remain unbeaten at home, but we’ve not even completed the first quarter of the season yet.

“We’re on 10 points, I’d have preferred 12 but we’ve still got a very difficult game away to Arbroath, so it was important that we took something from the game.

“We need to make sure that we make it hard for everyone who comes to Cappielow, we need to make it a battle in every game.

“We limited them to hardly any chances and we played very similarly against Dundee.

“We need to take points in our home games if we want to remain in the league this season.”