AFTER an excellent week's work Morton will look to round things off with another positive result as they travel to take on Raith Rovers today.

Ton cross the Forth in fine fettle, having followed up a crucial Championship victory over Queen of the South with a midweek penalty shootout triumph over Dunfermline.

Taking a big step towards to safety and then reaching the third round of the cup should give them a timely boost as they head into the home stretch of the campaign.

It also represents an excellent start for new manager Gus MacPherson, who has settled in quickly to the job.

The vastly-experienced former St Mirren and Queen's Park boss has provided a steadying influence at a critical time of the campaign.

He's come across as an assured and authoritative presence as he looks to steer Ton towards consolidation in the second tier following what has been a fraught campaign for all sorts of reasons.

It is obviously early days but on the evidence so far the appointment of MacPherson and his trusted number two Andy Millen looks to have been exactly what was required at Cappielow.

Things already appear more settled and the players are responding well to the direction of the new management team, something which is cutting through in terms of both performances and results.

MacPherson and Millen have quickly identified the imbalances in the squad and have tried where possible to make changes.

Having someone coming in with a fresh set of eyes and giving everyone a clean slate looks to have rejuvenated things.

The most eye-catching change has been the surprise introduction of Darren Hynes into the side, with the 22-year-old a revelation at right back in a way which made you wonder why he has not been given an opportunity until now.

There has been a decisiveness, but MacPherson has also shown flexibility and been much more willing than his immediate predecessors to make changes. 

Off the park he has also been able to utilise his contacts to add a proven quality player in the form of Stephen McGinn, who should be better placed to prove his worth as he regains full sharpness between now and the end of the season.

There is still clearly a lot of work to do, but the initial signs are encouraging that Ton could be a different proposition under their new stewardship.

They will now aim to build momentum by taking something from this afternoon's visit to Stark's Park, and if they can maintain the standard of their last couple of performances they won't go far wrong.

Ton were well worth their win over Queens last Saturday.

There was a lot on the line in the game and defeat could have been disastrous, but the players handled the occasion well.

It was refreshing to see Morton tackle a game by imposing themselves on their opponents from the start, and going with two up top.

On far too many previous occasions this season the team had been set up negatively to contain and spoil, with little thought of ever getting on the front foot.

They responded well to recover from the setback of losing an equaliser right on half time, scored a lovely second goal and held on comfortably for the three points.

They then had to show their nerve on Tuesday in the cup tie and were delighted to claim victory in a shootout at the fourth time of asking this term.

There has been very little to choose between Ton and the Pars in all four games this season but the hosts had a good measure of control in the second half, in a way that was night and day to the goalless draw between the sides at the same venue in January.

With Tuesday going all the way it remains to be seen what it has taken out of the tank and it'd be no surprise to see the pack shuffled once again today.

Ton's opponents were also in action as they knocked out Stirling Albion, but John McGlynn's men are without a win in four in the league as a hitherto impressive season stutters somewhat.

They have comfortably held the whip hand in the two fixtures between these two so far this season, meting out a 5-0 thrashing in Kirkcaldy before easing to a comfortable 1-0 win in Greenock in February.

Morton let themselves down in different ways on both occasions and will feel they are due a performance against Rovers.

In this bizarre season, there are more places than points between the sides in the table. 

Raith may be sitting second with Ton still looking over their shoulder in eighth, but the visitors are only five points adrift of them.

It indicates the sides are much more evenly matched than the two previous meetings would suggest - but Ton now have to go out and demonstrate that.