Shanks: Saturday was about booking play-off berth
Delighted loan striker Lawrence Shankland says Saturday was all about getting over the line and claiming a Premiership promotion play-off place.
Morton claimed a top-four finish at the weekend after drawing 1-1 with Ayr United while both Dunfermline Athletic and Queen of the South lost their respective fixtures at home to Falkirk and Dumbarton.
And although Shankland admitted a share of the spoils at home wasn’t cause for celebration in its own right, the fact they had achieved their target of participating in next month’s play-offs certainly was.
Speaking exclusively to gmfc.net, he said: “It was a good point for us that secures the play-offs. That’s the main thing and we’re delighted with that.
“The match was a bit scrappy at times. We started well in the first half and were the better team probably right up until the last minute of it when they hit us on the counter and scored. Up until then I thought we played well.
“Our objective was to get a play-off place and we can’t be disappointed to pick up a point if it secures that target and means that you’re there. It was good to get it.
“We’ve been looking for it the last few weeks and it’s not happened. But we’ve got it today. We’ve got over the line. Obviously we’re not going to celebrate a 1-1 draw at home, but we’re in the play-offs so there’s no reason not to be happy.
“The least we can get is fourth and the only way is up so we’ll just go out in our last two games and try and win them and see where we end up.”
The Scotland Under-21 cap opened the scoring against the Honest Men, and he was pleased to find the net after previously passing up a couple of decent openings.
Shankland added: “We got in behind them: I got in behind them and Gaz [Gary Oliver] got in behind them a few times in the first half and we missed a few chances.
“We eventually got a goal and I was delighted with that – on my 300th try! I missed a few obviously, but if you keep chapping at the door and get in the right positions then one will go in.
“Gary got turned and hit a shot the deflected up and the defender got caught square and I just managed to nick in behind him and tap it home. They’re probably the best ones to get as a striker.”
Image: David Bell
