By Callum McFadden at Cappielow Park.
Dundee United moved four points clear of Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship title race with a crucial 1-0 win at Cappielow Park.
Morton started the game brightly by winning a free kick at the edge of the Dundee United penalty box inside the opening minutes.
Unfortunately for the Ton, there was not a player on hand to add a much-needed touch to Alan Power’s driven effort across goal.
Dougie Imrie’s side were not afraid to go direct when it suited them and they came closest in the first half, when Robbie Muirhead missed a glorious chance in the tenth minute after United goalkeeper, Jack Walton, dropped a long Lewis Strapp throw in at his feet.
A few moments later, Dundee United had a shout for a penalty when Jack Baird blocked a Miller Thomson header from close range, but referee Lloyd Wilson was having none of it.
The league leaders took the lead in the 26th minute with a goal of real quality. Experienced forward Tony Watt put in a delicious cross that Louis Moult converted from close range despite the best efforts of Morton goalkeeper, Ryan Mullen.
After the break, Moult spurned a great opportunity to double the visitors lead when he sliced an effort at goal from a Craig Sibbald cross.
Jordan Tillson was the next player to come close for United on 67 minutes when he saw a thunderous effort at goal tipped behind by Ryan Mullen.
Morton applied pressure on United as the second half progressed by trying to bring Robbie Muirhead into play with a number of direct balls forward and crosses into the box.
The closest they came, however, was on70 minutes when Robbie Crawford saw a low, driven shot from the edge of the box parried away by Jack Walton before, they had a penalty claim turned down in the eighty-third minute when Michael Garrity went down in the United box following a challenge by Jordan Tillson.
Ultimately, they could not find and equaliser and it was Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United side who clinched all three points.
The away win for Dundee United sees them move four points clear of Raith Rovers in the race for the Championship title.
Meanwhile, Morton remain in fourth place with Scottish Premiership side Hearts coming to Cappielow next Monday for a mouthwatering Scottish Cup quarter final tie.
WFi player of the match: Miller Thomson (Dundee United) – The nineteen year old was a thorn in the side for Morton’s defenders all evening with his quick turn of pace and trickery.
Greenock Morton: Mullen, Strapp, O’Connor, Baird, Blues, Muirhead, Quitongo (Garrity, 54), Crawford, Power, Gillespie (McGrattan, 72), French
Substitutes: Murdoch, Waters, McGrattan, Garrity, Bearne
Dundee United: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Moult (Greive, 72) Sibbald, Tillson, Docherty, Thomson (Fotheringham, 77), Gallagher, Watt (Middleton, 81), McMann
Substitutes: Newman, McClelland, Graham, Greive, Middleton, Meekison, Fotheringham, Mochrie, Cudjoe
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