Duffy: Jai’s goal was fit to grace any stage
Manager Jim Duffy described Saturday’s 2-1 triumph at Queen of the South as an ‘outstanding result’ and reckons Jai Quitongo‘s goal was fit to grace any game.
Morton picked up three precious points at Palmerston to record back-to-back Ladbrokes Championship victories and move up to third in the table.
Hitman Quitongo had a huge hand in the outcome, laying on Ross Forbes’ opener before scoring the second with a wonderstrike that has received widespread acclaim.
Thrilled Cappielow gaffer Duffy praised the quality of the 20-year-old’s contribution and also expressed his pleasure at seeing last season’s top scorer Forbes open his account for the campaign.
He told gmfc.net: “As we stated before the game, it was always going to be an extremely difficult match, so to come back with all three points was an outstanding result.
“We got a grip of the game after 10 or 15 minutes and scored a couple of quick goals to give us the opportunity to eventually go on at win it.
“On the back of scoring the winner last week, Jai was brimming with confidence and the goal was an exceptional goal at any level of football.
“The first goal is terrific, direct, dynamic play from Jai, which you’re always looking for. You’ve also got to try and pick people out with the final ball.
“Although I think he’s trying to find Gary Harkins, it’s fallen to Ross. It’s not an easy finish by any stretch of the imagination – it’s coming to him 15 yards out with a host of bodies in front of him.
“But he didn’t go for power, he went for accuracy and control, and it’s a lovely finish. I’m delighted for Ross, that’s his first league goal of the season.”
The Ton boss also had words of praise for the way his side held out for win against a side replete with goalscorers despite conceding immediately after netting their second .
He added: “They have a lot of firepower in their team, with Chris Kane, Stephen Dobbie, and Derek Lyle, and they certainly tested us right throughout the game.
“It was an extremely difficult afternoon, particularly because we lost a goal so quickly after scoring the second goal.
“You see it time and time again with teams when they suffer a lapse of concentration after scoring a goal. That’s what happened with us. It allowed them to get back into the match.
“From then on in it was a game where we had to make sure we stayed focused and defended properly. Ultimately, we managed to do that, albeit with a couple of fantastic saves from Derek Gaston.
“In the second half, we were resilient, we were committed, and we had an excellent goalkeeper – and those elements helped earn us all three points, which we were delighted with.”
Image: David Bell
