MORTON boss Dougie Imrie has hailed the impact of his squad's experienced players for the 'invaluable' role they played him helping his side lift out of the bottom two.
Former Aberdeen forward Niall McGinn was a standout in a dominant Morton display as they swept Airdrieonians aside at Cappielow on Saturday.
Imrie believes that McGinn and his more senior colleagues are beginning to form a really experienced spine in his squad, and are passing on crucial words of wisdom to the club's younger players.
And he lauded their impact on the tie when it looked as if things might begin to change after Airdrie were forced to play with 10-men following Rhys Armstrong's sending off.
"I think the experience in any team is vital," he told the Tele.
"We've got a good spine of players here. We have Kirk Broadfoot, Jack Baird coming on, Niall McGinn and Ali Crawford.
"These players are helping the younger players during the game, who are trying to make a name for themselves.
"The experience that these guys can pass on is invaluable.
"Airdrie got a lot of plaudits last season for the way they play, and I thought we played them off the pitch at times.
"I thought up until Airdrie got their man sent off, who was probably a bit naïve to dive in the way he did on a booking, we showed a lot of maturity.
"Then after the sending off we went a bit slack and we started to do things we weren't in the first 65 minutes.
"But the quality of Niall McGinn, Ali Crawford, even Arron Lyall and wee Owen Moffat at the top end of the pitch was excellent.
"Then we had Iain Wilson sweeping everything up in the middle of the park who was superb."
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