ANDY McNeil reckons Morton have had a Jekyll and Hyde start to the season with their league form out of place with their excellent cup run.

The Ton began the season with an impressive campaign in the Betfred League Cup where they dispatched Premiership outfits Kilmarnock and Hamilton Accies, as well as defeating Berwick Rangers and Clyde.

They didn’t concede a goal in Group H on their way to a quarter final tie against Dundee United which will be played on Tuesday night.

But things have soured a bit since then and they have now failed to win any of their five Championship fixtures while also crashing out of the Irn-Bru Cup.

McNeil said: “It’s been a funny old start to the season with our success in the new League Cup format, and we’ve got the game on Tuesday that we’re looking forward to.

“We started off in the league quite well against St Mirren and Falkirk, when we were lucky not to take full points from both those games.

“We’ve had a wee dip in the last couple of weeks after a tough game against Hibs, but we just need to get back on track.

“The start of the season overall though, for me, has been quite positive.

“It’s just that all the strong results have been in the cup competition.

“It seems like it doesn’t look as good as it has been, I think.”

McNeil and his colleagues welcome Dunfermline to Sinclair Street today as they look for that elusive first league victory.

And the goalie thinks home advantage could well play its part against the Fifers.

Ton have played three away matches on the trot and McNeil is looking forward to heading back to his team’s own ground.

He said: “For a lot of teams to come to Cappielow it’s a wee bit of a journey and that could have an effect on them.

“As a player at Cappielow nine times out of 10 you’ve got that slope against the wind in the second half, so it can be difficult.

“So we’ve got that home advantage and it’s a good opportunity to get back to winning ways, playing well and doing what we do.”

Despite Ton’s current troubled spell McNeil has won plaudits for his showings since replacing the injured Derek Gaston between the sticks.

He drew particular praise from Ian McCall after making a series of fine stops to prevent the Ayr manager’s side scoring more goals last Saturday at Somerset Park.

Former Scotland under-20 cap McNeil now hopes he can hold on to his place in the staring line-up.

He said: “It’s given me an opportunity to play more games and try and do the best I can for the team.

“Obviously you relish getting the opportunities to play.

“But it’s whatever the gaffer wants and needs. 

“I’ve always said that when you sign a contract it’s a commitment you make to the manager and to your team-mates.

“You have to fulfil that commitment and that’s what I intend to do.”