PARS 1 MORTON 3

DUNFERMLINE have slipped four points adrift at the bottom of the Championship after Morton claimed their second win of the campaign at East End this afternoon.

A double from Gary Oliver, taking his tally against the Pars to 10 in 19 games for the Cappielow club and Queen of the South, and one from former Par, Gozie Ugwu, condemned Greg Shields and Steven Whittaker's side to defeat.

Matty Todd, with his first goal for the club in his first start of the season, had given them hope with a first half equaliser, but it wasn't enough to prevent a sixth defeat in 13 league games.

Morton climb out of the bottom two, five points clear of Athletic, with Queen of the South, four points bettter off in second bottom after a draw at home to Raith Rovers.

Dunfermline, for long periods, lacked energy and spark, and they struggled to fashion a huge number of chances.

Those few fans who didn't depart after Oliver's penalty late on - given for handball against Mark Connolly - booed their side off at full-time, and whoever takes the reigns from Peter Grant will be under no illusion as to the task at hand.

And, immediately, that has to be focused on trying to avoid a scrap to avoid the drop.

Shields and Whittaker immediately made their mark with their team selection, which included bringing Matty Todd in for his first start since a Scottish Cup tie - against the 'Ton - in March as well as Kai Kennedy and Mark Connolly, the latter available after missing last week's loss to Arbroath.

On the opposite side, former Pars duo Ugwu and Robbie Muirhead were in the Morton line-up, while another, Gavin Reilly, was named on the bench.

The home side began with a 4-2-3-1 system, with Paul Allan and Todd sitting in front of the back four, as Dom Thomas, Ryan Dow and Kennedy were tasked with providing support for Kevin O'Hara - who netted twice in the 4-2 loss at Gayfield - up front.

Despite trying to start on the front foot, with Thomas having an effort blocked, it was Morton who struck first.

The visitors worked the ball into the area and kept the ball alive, with Ugwu showing good strength to hold it in.

He laid it on to Oliver who, from the edge of the box, sent a low drive into the bottom corner for his ninth goal in 19 against the Pars since they returned to the Championship in 2016.

It was a bitter blow for the hosts, who were pretty subdued following that goal for a spell, with the crowd not having much to latch on to.

They did have a penalty appeal when O'Hara went to ground trying to connect with a Dow centre, only for referee Bobby Madden to wave play on, as he did following a risky challenge at the other end.

Kennedy, at least, did try to spark something just before the half hour mark when he took on a shot after some neat and patient passing play, but his effort from the right edge of the area wasn't troubling Jack Hamilton on its way past his post.

O'Hara then tried his luck with a curling shot, which again finished off-target, but there was a lack of energy or rhythm to Dunfermline's play in the opening half an hour.

They had been pretty flat, and not really given the crowd much to latch on to, until the 34th minute - and what a moment it was for Todd.

O'Hara was the architect, sending over a quite superb inswinging cross that the 20-year-old, who had ghosted into the six-yard box unattended, headed home for his first-ever Pars goal.

That gave the home players a huge lift and, as a consequence, their play suddenly became much sharper and with a quicker tempo.

Allan fancied a goal from distance, but pulled his effort wide, but there were no further goals before the break.

Thomas tried to replicate his recent spectacular strike against Raith Rovers early in the second half, but couldn't find the target this time, and it was Morton who found themselves back in the lead just past the hour.

From a corner, Michael Ledger headed the ball down and a visiting player then managed to flick the ball into Ugwu's path who, from less than six yards, lashed the ball high into the roof of the net.

That then prompted Shields and Whittaker to substitute Thomas - which was met with some audible boos from the crowd - for Craig Wighton, and soon Rhys Breen was only denied a sight of goal from close range thanks to a superb defensive clearance from a low ball in by Oisin McEntee.

From the second of two successive corners, Connolly headed over as Dunfermline tried to find a route back into proceedings, with Nikolay Todorov and Kyle MacDonald entering the fray as the clock ticked towards the final 10 minutes.

Wighton looked like he was about to head them level from a corner, only for a Morton defender to head off the line, but it was the visitors who wrapped the game up from the penalty spot with three minutes left.

Substitute Lewis McGrattan - who scored the equaliser in the 2-2 opening day draw between the teams - was allowed to work his way infield far too easily, with little challenge, and shoot.

The ball hit Connolly's hand and Oliver duly stepped up to send Fon Williams the wrong way from the spot to seal Morton's second win of the season - and leave Dunfermline marooned at the bottom.

Pars: Fon Williams, Comrie, Breen, Connolly, Edwards, Dow, Allan, Todd (MacDonald 78), Thomas (Wighton 66), Kennedy, O'Hara (Todorov 78).

Subs not used: Gaspuitis, McCann, Pybus, Mehmet.

Goal: Todd (34).

Booked: Todorov (83).

Morton: Hamilton, McLean (Ledger 39), Lithgow, McEntee, Lyon, Oksansen, Knowles (Reilly 84), Russell, Oliver, Muirhead (McGrattan 59), Ugwu.

Subs not used: Strapp, Jacobs, Blues, Allan.

Goals: Oliver (13, 87 (pen)), Ugwu (61).

Booked: Oksansen (71).

Referee: Bobby Madden.

Attendance: 3,531.