Queen of the South claimed their first win of the season in an entertaining affair at Cappielow.

In what was a fairly even contest, Gus MacPherson was left to lament the lack of composure in the final third that might well have given the Greenock side a share of the points.

Indeed, a harsh call to book Gary Oliver for simulation when the hosts were trailing 2-1 seemed like an odd decision given the player’s clear pathway to goal had he not gone down, but MacPherson was philosophical about both the defeat and the decision.

“I haven’t seen it back but it wasn’t a turning point in the game,” he said. “What is more disappointing is out inability to defend a straightforward free-kick into our box.

“We made poor decisions and gave Queen of the South a lot of encouragement and they capitalised on that. There was effort and there was endeavour, but we lacked composure in the final third.

“We need players in before the window closed but that didn’t have an influence on the game.  It is just decision making.

“It reinforces how tight this league is. On any given day any team can anyone. It is a coat of paint between the teams.

“But if you can’t defend a set piece then you are going to have problems.”

Kyle Jacobs had a tough shift in the middle of the park. Culpable in conceding a penalty for the opening goal – Ally Roy’s effort was saved before he converted the rebound – the midfielder was unlucky as the ball came off of him for Queen of the South’s second.

In between times he had pulled his side back onto level terms when the visitors turned a deaf ear to the pleas from Allan Johnston to ‘watch Jacobs’ as he was allowed to drift unmarked through the box and flick the ball into the net.

With Queens 2-1 up, Morton threw everything as they tried to get themselves back into the game.

They were caught out on the counter-attack as the Dumfries side added their third of the afternoon.

Lee Connolly was played in just behind Jacobs and although Jack Hamilton parried his shot, Lewis Strapp was unable to get back quick enough to prevent Ruben Soares Junior tapping the ball into the back of the net.

Morton, to their credit, kept at it. Alan Lithgow’s cross forced Solomon Brynn to take the ball over the line under pressure from Gozie Ugwu with the hosts keeping the pressure up for the latter minutes of the game.

Queen of the South were able to withstand everything that came at them in the final flurry of the game with Johnston relieved to get the first points of the season on board.

“I’m delighted to come out on top because we know how hard a place it is come and play,” he said.

“I thought my defenders were excellent. Morton were really direct at the end and threw Alan Lithgow up but they stood up to that.

“We’ve played better this season and not taken anything but we knew this was going to be a battle.

“We had that wee bit of quality from Willie Gibson, winning the penalty and then delivering a great free kick for the second goal.

“It’s great to get the first three points of the season. It keeps us in the mix because it’s such a competitive league.

“I felt there was a foul on our goalkeeper for their second goal but I’ll need to look at it.”