MORTON have the chance to write a happy ending to a troubled and unprecedented season tonight by saving their Championship status.

As 600 fans return to Cappielow for the first time in over a year, Ton take on Airdrie for the right to play in Scottish football's second tier next term.

They go into the decisive leg of the play-off in good shape after defeating the Diamonds 1-0 in Lanarkshire on Tuesday evening.

The Greenock men had to wait until the 95th minute to get the winner but they were good value for it and have now made themselves favourites to prevail.

There is still a job of work to do though.

The biggest trap Ton could fall into now would be to believe they have done the hard part.

There is still a long way to go in this tie and you can be sure that Airdrie will arrive in town hungry and ready to fight tooth and nail.

If Morton want to stay on top then they will have to build on Tuesday's showing and produce another strong performance.

They were excellent throughout the first leg and well worthy of their win.

Robbie Muirhead was the late goal hero but this was a team triumph, with the visitors full of purpose and showing their superiority in each department.

Emergency loan goalkeeper Scott Fox, below, only arrived at the club the day beforehand but he had a quiet introduction and was barely called into action.

His defence was ultra switched on, with Brian McLean using every bit of his experience in the centre of defence and even finding time to send in the inch perfect late cross for the goal.

In midfield Ton had to contend with the loss of Kyle Jacobs through a serious-looking injury and coped very well with the disruption, with Reece Lyon coming on, playing a key role and carrying a goal threat.

Beside him, Stephen McGinn followed up his best display in a Ton shirt in the semi-final against Montrose by posting another composed and classy performance against what is a lively Diamonds engine room.

Up front Cameron Salkeld had to be urged to relax by his manager at one point during the first half as he put in an all-action display which saw him involved in several openings and a couple of flashpoints, giving his markers plenty to think about.

Ton's overall performance was commanding enough that they will possibly feel they could have left with a more handsome lead.

To borrow a racing phrase, when their hosts had no extra Ton were staying on strongly.

They were holding possession comfortably and continuing to attack as the match entered the 98th minute, following a second half punctuated by a series of stoppages for injuries.

While the received wisdom might be that Airdrieonians have run their race and could have little left in the tank, especially with such a tight turnaround between these games, it would be a dangerous and unwise assumption to make.

Airdrie have made a habit of turning things around this season against all odds.

They had been ruled out of the promotion race by most until a strong late run of good form carried them up the League One table.

They looked down and out in the semi-final against Cove Rangers when they lost a goal in the 93rd minute, only to storm straight back up the park and level before winning in extra time.

Their manager Ian Murray will now look to summon up one more push from his players and throw everything at it.

While the stakes are huge for Ton ahead of this summer's change of ownership, the prize for Airdrie is massive as well - the chance of a return to the second tier after a decade in the wilderness.

While they will look to come out and get the first goal, the task for Morton is to stay on the front foot.

They ended the game on Tuesday firmly in control and while there will doubtless be nervy moments tonight, they must show intensity and not give their opponents any encouragement or chance to settle and turn the tide.

The home support can hopefully help play their part by pushing the team on, as they eagerly await a return to the old ground for the first time since last March.

Both sides seemed to get a spark from having supporters back in the stands on Tuesday and Cappielow is a stadium which lends itself to a better atmosphere than Airdrie's.

Hopefully the home fans will have plenty to cheer from behind their facemasks as the curtain finally comes down on an eventful campaign late tonight.