JIM McAlister believes that Morton’s battling qualities are starting to shine through after two courageous performances against the two Dundee clubs in recent weeks.

The Ton skipper, who netted in the 1-1 draw with former side Dundee at the weekend, says that he and his team-mates are beginning to look like a well-oiled machine as their impressive start to 2020 continues.

The veteran midfielder insists the Ton showed great character after being reduced to ten men with a third of the game to go when whistler Bobby Madden when he gave Kyle Jacobs his marching orders.

He believes that they were well worth the point against James McPake’s side.

He told the Tele: “It was a battling performance from us in the second half, especially after going down to ten men.

“That’s been evident in our play over the last four or five weeks, we showed great battling qualities at Tannadice and unfortunately we conceded so late on.

“At the weekend when we went down to ten men, we were organised, and we frustrated them a lot.

“We limited them to very few chances and in the end, it was probably a very good point to get.

“I didn’t think we started the game particularly well.

“We were a bit sluggish and sloppy and we conceded a soft goal early on but it’s often said that goals can change the game and against Dundee I thought that happened.

“It gave us a spring in our step after we managed to get back into the game and then we started the second half very well.

“Unfortunately, the red card came at an important time, but it was good that we battled with them so well.”

The skipper is adamant that Ton need to remain focused as they sit four points off the play-offs ahead of their home clash against Queen of the South on Saturday.

He believes that they need to take it a game at a time as they look to climb up the table.

He added: “It’s good to be sitting seventh and think that we’re away from the dogfight at the bottom of the table.

“It’s insanely tight, you could go next week and get beaten and be dragged right into it.

“But we’ve all said it the last few weeks, you can never look beyond the next game.

“We had a wee run of fixtures where we played the teams in and around us and now we’ve got the two Dundee teams out the way.

“We’ve got Ayr United coming up as well, so that will be tough, but if we can keep picking up points against teams near the top then maybe we can start climbing, you never know.”