Jim Duffy: Hibs are at the peak of their powers

Morton manager Jim Duffy. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Duffy was impressed, but not surprised, that the Edinburgh side could make seven changes to their starting line-up against Alloa on Sunday and still run out 3-0  winners.

The one-time Hibs manager said: “It is okay having numbers to make a lot of changes but Alan has more than that. He has strength and quality throughout his squad as well. He has built that over the last 18 months and his side are probably at the peak of their powers just now.”

Duffy also reckons that getting the Hibs fans on board makes his side’s job even harder in the capital. “The crowd are also right with them as well now,” he added. “Beating Hearts in the Scottish Cup last week was a huge result and has given them buoyancy. Home games cannot come quick enough for their players and fans at the moment. We have to stand up to that.”

A win would move  Morton back above Queen of the South and into fifth place, but Duffy knows only a perfect 90 minutes will take his side close to three points.

He said: “We actually played okay in our game with Falkirk at the weekend but the performances from both sides were over-shadowed by the injury to Connor McGrandles.

“Falkirk edged a 1-0 win but I did not think that we deserved to lose. We were knocking on the door a lot in an attacking sense but could not get in.

“At the other end we had one lapse of concentration and it costs us the goal that won the game. The same will happen against Hibs if we make a mistake so we have to put in an error-free performance if we are to take anything home with us.”

The Greenock squad look set to be five players down tonight with Luca Gasparotto, Frank  McKeown, Alex Samuel and Peter MacDonald all ruled out and Michael  Miller struggling.