BRIAN McLean says Morton won't hold back when they face Airdrie at Cappielow as they aim to complete their Championship safety mission tonight.

Ton have the upper hand going into the play-off final second leg thanks to Robbie Muirhead’s 95th-minute header at the Penny Cars Stadium on Tuesday night.

McLean has urged his team-mates to build on their lead instead of holding on to what they have as he looks forward to playing in front of the Cappielow faithful first time in over a year.

The veteran defender, whose delivery set up Muirhead's winner, admits that he is expecting another tough game after an extremely physical contest in North Lanarkshire.

He told the Tele: “I think it was really important that we took something into tonight’s game and it gives us something to build on when we kick off again tonight, not protect – to build on.

“It’ll be important to try and get an early goal and put the game to bed, which we tried to do on Tuesday but it didn’t quite happen for us.

“Airdrie were really organised and direct, with a lot of energy in the middle of the park and there was a period in the second half where they managed to break through the lines and sort of penetrate us into the backline unfortunately.

“But overall, we dealt with everything really well and it’s important that we recover really well and we show up because Kyle Jacobs is struggling after Tuesday and even Scott Fox - coming in at the last minute to help us out - has embraced the challenge and it’s up to us to complement that.

“It’ll be a blow to Airdrie for us to have scored when we did, essentially at half-time in the grand scheme of things.

“It’s important that we don’t protect it and we go out there and make a stance and show what we’re all about, especially at home and crucially we’ve got 500 fans hopefully coming to watch us.

“It’s important that both sides turn up in numbers.

“They were the 12th man for us last week up on the hill and it’s great that they’ll be allowed into Cappielow tonight for the final game of the season.

“I don’t think fans really understand the importance that they have in a matchday scenario and it’s important that they’re behind us as much as they can be and as much as we’re trying to get that victory to ensure that the club are playing Championship football next season.”

McLean was delighted his quick thinking to meet Cameron Blues’ short corner before his pin-point cross set up Muirhead's goal paid off.

The former Hibs defender issued a rallying cry for his team-mates to prove their mental strength and not let the goal advantage faze them come kick-off.

He added: “You could say that it was a rush of blood that prompted me to bomb up the line, it’s something a bit different and you’ve just got to go for it in situations like that.

“Ironically I started out as a right winger when I was younger but I’m happy to contribute as much as I can.

“It’s pleasing for us to have gotten through that, tie but ultimately we’ve got a clean sheet and it's up to us with how we deal with things in a mental capacity now.

“We’ve got to ask ourselves the question of how do we respond to being one goal up going into the tie.

“Our approach and commitment to the games this season has been second to none and I know that we’ll continue to do that.”