GUS MacPherson was full of praise for match-winner Robbie Muirhead after his injury-time header secured Morton a crucial advantage in the Championship play-off final against Airdrie.

The 25-year-old stepped up to the plate to give Ton a slender lead going into Friday’s second leg at Cappielow.

Morton overcame an early setback to secure victory last night after key man Kyle Jacobs was forced off injured in the first half.

And the Ton boss is delighted his men will take a crucial lead into the return leg against Ian Murray’s side with Muirhead’s late goal.

He told the Tele: “I think the longer the game went on you want the players to go and control things and when things are sitting at 0-0 you just want to make sure that you don’t concede on the counter attack.

“I’m delighted for Robbie Muirhead because he’s been excellent, especially since myself and Andy [Millen] have come in.

“He’s been asked to play up front himself on a couple of occasions, which isn’t his preferred position, but he’s stuck in there and done a job for us. Tonight — and even against Montrose — we played two other strikers up there alongside him and it’s helped him a lot and we’re all really happy for him.

“You’d always rather be one ahead as opposed to one behind, which we found ourselves last time out against Montrose, but it doesn’t mean a great deal as it’s another game of football. Apologies for using the old cliché, but it’s only

half-time.”

Airdrie fans were welcomed back to the Penny Cars Stadium last night for the first time this season.

MacPherson now hopes that the Cappielow faithful prove to be the 12th man and give his side an extra edge in the return fixture on Friday.

He said: “We’re in for another tough 90 minutes, but it was fantastic to have supporters back in the ground.

“They were reacting to incidents and driving their team forward, it was fantastic.

“Even if I’ve been scouting or watching analysis back for Morton, it’s been soulless, it’s really difficult to watch even though we’re working.

“It’ll be great to have them back and hopefully they can make all the difference for us on

Friday.”