Ben Wilson was back among the goals as Airdrie twice came from behind to draw with Morton, with a point the least the Diamonds deserved after a battling performance.

Rhys McCabe named the same starting XI and subs as last weekend at Hampden, but the side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation as they looked to improve at both ends of the park.

Ex-Diamonds Cammy Ballantyne and Arron Lyall both started for the visitors, who had slipped to ninth in the table last week.

Airdrie took the game to the Greenock men in the early stages, Adam Frizzell and Flynn Duffy linking well and forcing a hurried clearance from Ballantyne after six minutes.

After another Frizzell chance was hacked clear, Morton responded through Cameron Blues, who threw himself at a tenth-minute header but sent it wide of Kieran Wright’s post.

The legs of Ton goalkeeper Ryan Mullen denied Wilson three minutes later, with a flying tackle seeing McGrattan’s shot behind from the rebound. Mullen kept out McGrattan’s effort from the resultant corner, and the visitors survived the latest spell of pressure.

Zak Delaney fired into the side netting after a Craig Watson slip let the full-back through midway through the half, and Lewis McGregor went close against his old side on 25 minutes, curling just wide after a good Wilson pass.

With half an hour played Morton took the lead, Cameron Blues stroking home after a collision on the edge of the box saw defenders and attackers alike looking to referee Matthew MacDermid, who waved play on as Blues kept his head.

Morton’s Motherwell loanee Filip Stuparević had a chance to double his side’s lead on 33 minutes later, but Wright dived to save from the Serbian striker.

A minute later the Diamonds had the opportunity to level from the spot, Ballantyne clipping Wilson’s heels as the striker took a McGrattan pass in on goal. The ex-Airdrie man was perhaps fortunate that Wilson was heading away from goal, or the yellow card he was shown would have been red.

Diamonds top scorer Wilson calmly powered home the spot-kick to grab his first league goal of the campaign, and the relief was palpable as the Northern Irishman celebrated the equaliser.

Airdrie’s joy was almost as short-lived as Morton’s had been, as Jordan Davies slammed home after bringing down a pass through the middle. The Diamonds claims that the Morton forward had used an arm fell on deaf ears, and the goal stood.

An Airdrie onslaught early in the second half failed to produce an equaliser as Frizzell and Gavin Gallagher spurned decent chances with shots which cleared the bar.

McGregor tried his luck from a tight angle on 51 minutes, but was unable to squeeze home.

Some dazzling footwork from Gallagher handed Frizzell another chance six minutes later, and although the Diamonds captain hit the target this time, Mullen was equal to his shot.

Wilson saw a cross well blocked before Watson fired straight at the keeper on the hour mark as the Airdrie pressure continued.

Mullen held McGrattan’s 69th-minute strike before a number of bookings and substitutions killed the Diamonds’ momentum,

After Davies had sent a 75th-minute header wide, Wilson popped up to equalise for a second time, smashing in a low shot at the far post after Frizzell’s cross had skewed off Sam Graham’s outstretched leg.

Substitute Owen Moffat almost put his side in front again in spectacular fashion, but his 82nd-minute curler just missed the top corner.

Mullen saved well to deny Airdrie sub Chris Mochrie with seven minutes remaining, and Airdrie’s penalty claims were turned down four minutes later as Rhys Armstrong fired into a crowded area.

There was to be no further goalmouth action as a late Morton corner came to nothing, and the points were shared.

With the lion’s share of possession and chances, Airdrie will feel they deserved more than a point from the match, but with two more home fixtures looming, a point – and two goals are a good start.