DETERMINED Morton defender Tyler French says his side want to make a statement that they won't go down without a fight when they walk out against Dunfermline this weekend.

Ton fell out of the play offs for the first time since January last weekend, off the back of their defeat to Partick Thistle at Firhill.

But they could go straight back into fourth spot on Saturday, with rivals Airdrie out of league action as they play in the SPFL Trust Trophy final.

A win would be good enough to hoist them back up the table, but French has warned it will be tough with the Pars wanting revenge after the last meeting between the sides saw Ton thrash them 5-0.

He told the Tele: "It's a massive game against a good team that have been picking up form of late. We want to try and get ourselves back into the play off spots.

"We know how good Dunfermline can be, but we also know how they are if they're off the pace, after what happened the last time. I'm sure a better Dunfermline will come down to Cappielow this weekend. They'll be wanting to prove a point after our last game with them, which is only natural.

"But it's the same with us as well. We want to go out there and make a statement of our own. We are looking to make a statement and hopefully we can let people know that we're not going away quietly.

"We went on that run of sixteen games undefeated, which was amazing, but we've lost the last four. I think people are beginning to push us to the side again. So it would be good if we could go out and get a win which would put us back in the play off spots.

"We plan on finishing in there, so we need to go out and get results in order to achieve that."

Ton have been written off by doubters on more than one occasion this season, with French more than aware of the fact. But he insists that his side's doubters only spur him and his team-mates on.

He added: "We know in our changing room that we are a good group of players. There's a lot of quality in there. Whether other teams see that or not is up to them, but either way it doesn't really bother us.

"We know what we've got, especially with the results we've had this season. We're happy for them to push us aside because it means we'll give out a few surprises along the way."