Greenock Morton 0-0 St Mirren

Morton and St Mirren's first league meeting in 15 years ended in stalemate but nonetheless the match was rich in entertainment if not quality football.

Referee Greg Aitken ruled out a powerful header by St Mirren's Steven Thompson that ought to have stood, but it was the home side who were on top.

Denny Johnstone and Peter MacDonald were thwarted several times by St Mirren goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.

And though Saints' Luke Conlan was sent off in the 55th minute, they held on.

Prior to kick-off Morton manager Jim Duffy had said his players would need "focused minds to win" against their old rivals from Paisley and they certainly showed an appetite for the task at Cappielow.

Ton goalkeeper Derek Gaston enjoyed an almost stress-free first 45 minutes, but he had the referee to thank for keeping a clean sheet, the official deciding that he had been fouled when he rose to clear a Scott Agnew corner and Thompson had headed home in the seventh minute.

His only other telling contribution before a second-half clattering ended his involvement was to get down smartly to smother an Agnew half-volley in the 16th minute, the dynamic Saints midfielder having latched on to a lengthy Langfield punt.

Most of Langfield's efforts, however, were spent denying Morton a goal.

St Mirren's Luke Conlan is horrified to be sent off by Greg Aitken in 55 minutes

They had five chances in four first-half minutes, three falling to Johnstone, the 20-year-old Scot on loan from Birmingham, and two to the wily veteran MacDonald.

Bobby Barr also had a chance but his powerful strike was tipped over by the former Aberdeen keeper.

St Mirren were unbeaten in their last six visits to Greenock but that record looked in danger when, five minutes before the interval, Sean Kelly allowed a long ball from Morton defender Ricki Lamie to bounce towards goal.

Johnstone brushed Kelly aside and sent a left-foot lob a fraction past the far post and MacDonald's clipped free-kick that drifted narrowly wide rounded off a half full of Ton chances.

Agnew and Stefan McCluskey each had efforts that were too high before Conlan was shown a straight red card for a sliding challenge that sent Barr up in the air.

The Morton and St Mirren players exchange views after an incident involving Jim Goodwin

Saints boss Ian Murray withdrew Agnew for Jordan Stewart and it looked like the rest of the game would be characterised by plucky Saints defending - but they too had chances to win the game.

A stinging shot from MacDonald from Ross Forbes's lay-off at a free-kick tested Langfield yet again in 65 minutes.

As the tackles flew in, McCluskey was booked for catching Jim Goodwin in the head with his boot and, just after the Saints midfielder had got back to his feet, another player was felled, this time keeper Gaston from a kick in the mid-riff as Thompson raced in to meet a high ball.

That was Thompson's last contribution, his place taken by Calum Gallagher, the Buddies' signing from Rangers, and Gaston hobbled about briefly before being replaced by Grant Adam to come on to face one of his former clubs.

The substitute keeper made an immediate impression, keeping out Goodwin's rasping drive and he made an even better save in injury time to keep out the Irishman's free-kick.

But before that Langfield stretched to tip away a MacDonald snap shot from Barr's terrific counter attack, saved another shot from the attacker and saved a Lee Kilday header to further frustrate the home fans.

Jamie Langfield had one shaky moment near the end of the match but was otherwise in inspired form