MORTON gaffer Gus MacPherson believes his side were well worthy of a point as they opened their Championship campaign with an excellent performance against Dunfermline.

Goals from Gary Oliver and Lewis McGrattan either side of second-half strikes from Nikolay Todorov and Kevin O’Hara were enough to secure a draw against the Fifers and the Ton manager was pleased with the way his players reacted after going a goal behind with 15 minutes to play.

MacPherson believes the display against one of the league favourites is something they can build on - but says he is still in need of four new players to bolster his squad.

He told the Tele: “I thought that we thoroughly deserved at least a point from the game.

“I thought that in the first half we showed a good energy and we were attacking with great purpose.

“We’d said to the players that they needed to keep the back door shut and in the second half there was a moment of slackness and then their heads went down.

“What was pleasing was the reaction we got after that because the players picked themselves up and the changes that we made came on to make an impact too.

“We were slightly fortuitous for the goal with the deflection that it’s taken off Josh Edwards’ leg but we’ll take it.

“The change of formation was just about forced upon us really because of how good Dunfermline have been in pre-season.

“They’ve got a great attacking presence and we had to make sure that we were a bit tentative at the back, but the energy in front of the back three was key for us.

“It made it difficult for Dunfermline to get into their passing routines and tempo they play at, we played the game at a tempo that suited us and for the majority of it we managed it quite well.

“When we lost the goal from the set-piece you’re left sitting asking yourself 'is it going to be one of these days?'

"Thankfully got the reaction we did and that’s the main thing to take away from the game.”

MacPherson has been impressed with the way his players have started the campaign.

With new signings still to arrive and players reaching full fitness after a disrupted start to the campaign, the Ton boss believes the early signs are encouraging.

He said: “It was encouraging that the team played this well so early on in the season, but we’ve been encouraged by the majority of the games.

“We’re only three or four games behind because of Covid and things like that, but that’s us played a couple of games now where we’ve had a good taste of things to come against Kilmarnock away and against Dunfermline at home to see just what’s required at this level.

“We’re still short of numbers, there are no bones with that, and we’re looking to get four players in.

“Although, when you look at that it’s a good start and something to build on.

“Today was okay but we know we can learn from it and get better and stronger.”